Learning how to use a hundreds chart is an important skill for 1st grade and 2nd grade students. Once students see the patterns on a hundreds chart, it helps them with number sense and adding 2 digit numbers. Today I’m going over 7 hundreds chart printable blank activities to help students build number sense and be successful adding 2 digit numbers.
I’ve learned that students find success with 2-digit addition and subtraction strategies when you teach them the mental math skills involved and emphasize common mistakes. I have a FREE guide that outlines those for each 2-digit strategy. Grab your copy here: The Ultimate Teaching Guide for 2-Digit Addition & Subtraction Strategies
Hang up a hundreds chart in your classroom. Ask students daily questions where they have to use the hundreds chart to answer.
Before I give my students a blank hundreds chart to fill in, I like to have a large hundreds chart printable resource that I hang up where we do our daily math meeting. Each day I can ask students questions that they have to use the hundreds chart to answer. I may ask a student to find a number on it. Or I may have a number in mind and then students have to give me one more or ten more than that number. I like having this large hundreds chart printable resource laminated because then I can write on it with a dry erase marker. This is especially helpful when I teach the students how to add 2 digit numbers on the hundreds chart.
Hundreds Chart Printable Blank
After my students get a little bit of a feel for a hundreds chart, they need a little bit more support before they are ready to fill in a hundreds chart printable blank resource. I start off giving them a hundreds chart with some of the numbers missing. I will first project a version on the whiteboard and students have to help me fill in the blanks. We use patterns to help us, like one more or ten more.
Scaffold student activities with hundreds charts by having them do worksheets where some of the numbers on the hundreds chart are missing. After this practice, they will be better able to fill out the hundreds chart printable blank resource.
Then I have students complete their own hundreds chart with missing numbers. After they practice that, I like to give them my hundreds chart printable blank activity. It is a blank hundreds chart where they have to fill in all the numbers. This helps me see who needs more help with the patterns of a hundreds chart.
Hundreds Chart Puzzles
When I see students need a little more support with hundreds charts, I like to have them do hundreds chart puzzles. I print off a hundreds chart and laminate the page. Then I cut it apart to make puzzle pieces. I create multiple puzzles on different colors of card stock. I first use these as a math center activity. Then I set them out as a fast finisher activity for students. For more ideas on fast finisher activities you can use in your classroom, read this blog post: 12 Fast Finishers That Are So Fun
Students love these hundreds chart puzzles. They help students who struggle to fill out the hundreds chart printable blank resource.
Once I can see that students know and understand the patterns of a hundreds chart by filling in the hundreds chart printable blank resource, I know they are ready to use those patterns to add 2 digit numbers.
Adding On a Hundreds Chart
When I give students an equation like 54+35, I have students start at 54 and circle it. I model this with my large hundreds chart printable resource that I have hanging up in my classroom. Then I ask, “how many tens are in 35?” Students answer three. Then I ask for students to tell me where we go on a hundreds chart if we want ten more. They know by the patterns that we go down. I show students how we go down 3 tens.
Then I ask, “how many ones are in 35?” Students answer 5. Then I ask for students to tell me where we go on a hundreds chart if we want one more. They know we go right. So I model for students going right 5 times. We land on the answer 89.
After showing students this, I like to make an anchor chart on how to add on a hundreds chart. That way students can refer to it whenever they need help.
Students can look at our “Adding on a Hundreds Chart” anchor chart whenever they need help. I even like to have it hanging up during our unit test.
Then I get my students lots of practice. I like to do this by having my students do a scoot activity. I have equations around the room and students have a recording sheet. I like to have my students work with a partner. This way students are getting the support they need, plus I love to hear them talking about the math. Students go around the room solving 2 digit addition equations. There are hundreds charts on their recording sheets to help them out.
Use these hundreds chart activities for centers so students can master adding on a hundreds chart.
Then I give students other hundreds chart worksheets to solve 2 digit addition equations so students master this skill. These are great for math centers. I will even have a mini hundreds chart printable resource. I print out a mini hundreds chart for each of my students. I’ll laminate them and then write students’ names on the back. I have my students keep these in their pencil boxes. That way whenever they need to use a hundreds chart, they have one.
My students use their mini hundreds charts all the time. They are especially helpful throughout our 2-digit addition strategies unit.
Adding on a hundreds chart is a great strategy for students. But in order for students to be successful with it, they need to learn the patterns of a hundreds chart. This comes from from hundreds chart printable blank activities. Find all the hundreds chart activities I have mention in this blog post here.
Teaching other 2 digit addition strategies and need help? Check out this blog post: 2-Digit Addition Strategies that Work
When it comes to students being successful with math strategies, they need a solid foundation on addition and subtraction math facts. I have a free resource to help you build that solid foundation with your students: The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency. Download your free copy here.
