The school year has probably flown by for you…or maybe it’s been a bit slow. Either way, the 100th day of school always seems to roll around much quicker than expected. It’s no fun scrambling to find fun, engaging 100th day of school science and STEM activities for your class.
Celebrating the 100th day of school for younger elementary students is such a fun way to practice counting to 100 and celebrating reaching that milestone during the school year. But you’re probably wondering how you can engage your upper-elementary students in grade-level appropriate 100th day of school science activities. I’ve created some fun, easy, low-prep 100th day of school science and STEM activities that your students will love. Plus, I’m sharing some other fun ideas that you can incorporate into your plans for the 100th day of school!
100 Year Research
100 days can seem like a very long time to 4th and 5th graders. We can ask students to reflect back 100 days to the first day of school. This gives them an idea of just how much they’ve learned and grown in 100 days.
What if we challenge them, though, to look back 100 YEARS? How many different types of inventions and scientific discoveries have taken place in the last 100 years? What happened exactly 100 years ago in the scientific world?
Allowing your students to look back 100 years and research inventions, discoveries, and breakthroughs from 100 years ago is a great way to help them understand how quickly science advancements can happen. It can also help show them that although 100 years ago seems like a very long time, it’s really not when you look at the bigger picture.
Here’s a great article on scientific breakthroughs in 1922 to help you get started!
100 People in Science
Similar to doing research on inventions and discoveries 100 years ago, you could celebrate the 100th day of school with your students by studying 100 important people in science.
Yes, that’s a lot of people. You don’t necessarily have to study them all in-depth, but it would be fantastic to read about 100 scientific figures and see the diversity and accomplishments of 100 different people.
You could simply find short, informational texts on 100 people or allow your students to independently research and create the list themselves. Here is a great resource to help you get started – Famous Inventor Biographies.
Once you’ve created your list of 100 people in science, encourage your students to choose 1 or 2 to research in more detail. This is a great way to learn about important scientists that may not get as much attention as they deserve.
If you’re still struggling to come up with 100 figures, here’s another great resource you can use.
100 Marshmallow Challenge
Let’s face it, anything that involves sweets is always a class favorite. The 100 Marshmallow challenge is no exception! This challenge allows students to create marshmallow and toothpick structures using 100 of each building material.
The kids will love the hands-on building and using unconventional building materials to create their marshmallow towers.
You can spin this challenge so many ways:
- a contest for the highest structure using all 100 marshmallows & toothpicks
- a contest for the strongest structure (use cardstock paper to test the structures)
- speed challenge for building their structure the fastest
- turn the project into an experiment (have students create their own experiment & test)
This activity is included in my 100th Day of School STEM and Science Activities resource.
Measuring Items to 100 Grams
Another fun activity that’s included in my 100th Day of School STEM and Science Activities product is measuring items to make 100 grams on the scale. Students will love searching the room for items that will equal 100 grams.
There are many ways you can put a fun spin on this activity also:
- see who can get the closest to 100 grams without going over using only school supplies
- save students collect their items without weighing them individually and see who can get the closest to 100 grams
- try to find an object that weighs exactly 1 gram and count out 100 of them
100th Day of School Science & STEM Activities Resource
There are so many fun activities that you can use to celebrate the 100th day of school. If you’re looking for an easy, print-and-go resource with 100 day activities, check out my 100th Day of School STEM and Science Activities that including the marshmallow tower and 100 gram measuring activity.
The resource includes 5 low-prep, engaging 100th day of school science and STEM activities that your students will love. They’re perfect for science centers, partner work, and even early finisher activities. (If you’re loving the idea of already-planned science activities and experiments, you can get the 100 day resource in my Science Investigations & Experiments BUNDLE)
There are so many fun ways to celebrate reaching the 100th day of school. I hope you take some of these ideas and implement them in your classroom on day number 100 this year!
What are some fun science or STEM activities that you think would be great to complete on the 100th day of school? Share in the comments!
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Introduction as an Expert in Science and STEM Education
As an expert in science and STEM education, I have extensive knowledge and experience in developing engaging and educational activities for students. I have a deep understanding of the concepts and principles behind science and STEM subjects, and I have successfully implemented these activities in classrooms to promote hands-on learning and critical thinking skills. My expertise is demonstrated through my ability to create fun and effective 100th day of school science and STEM activities that are suitable for upper-elementary students.
Concepts Used in the Article
The article discusses various concepts related to celebrating the 100th day of school with science and STEM activities. Let's explore these concepts in detail:
1. Counting to 100: The 100th day of school is a milestone that provides an opportunity for students to practice counting to 100. This concept is essential for younger elementary students and helps them develop number sense and mathematical skills.
2. Reflection on Learning: The article suggests reflecting on the progress made during the first 100 days of school. Students can look back and see how much they have learned and grown since the beginning of the school year. This reflection promotes self-awareness and appreciation for personal growth.
3. Researching Inventions and Scientific Discoveries: The article encourages students to research inventions, discoveries, and breakthroughs that have occurred in the last 100 years. This activity helps students understand the rapid pace of scientific advancements and provides historical context for scientific progress.
4. Studying 100 Important People in Science: Another suggestion in the article is to study 100 important people in science. This activity allows students to learn about diverse scientific figures and their contributions to the field. It promotes an understanding of the impact of various scientists and encourages students to explore lesser-known scientists.
5. Marshmallow Tower Challenge: The article introduces the "100 Marshmallow Challenge," where students use 100 marshmallows and toothpicks to create structures. This hands-on activity promotes creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
6. Measuring Items to 100 Grams: The article suggests an activity where students measure items to make 100 grams using a scale. This activity enhances students' understanding of measurement and provides a practical application of mathematical concepts.
7. 100th Day of School STEM and Science Activities Resource: The article recommends a resource called "100th Day of School STEM and Science Activities." This resource includes five low-prep, engaging activities for the 100th day of school, such as the marshmallow tower challenge and the 100 gram measuring activity.
By incorporating these concepts into the classroom, teachers can create a fun and educational environment that promotes student engagement and learning on the 100th day of school.
