Hundred Chart (Part 1)

One useful visual tool in early mathematics is the hundred chart. I've had this one for about six years. It was originally posted on our playroom wall, well before my son knew what it was or what patterns exited. I particularly like this one because the columns have alternating colors, which makes it easier to visually track numbers (also for distinguishing even and odd numbers later on.)

Once your child is familiar with locating numbers on the hundred chart, you can use it to teach him/her to count up from a given number. For example, start at 6 and count 10 more. What number did you land on? You can start modeling how to record this process with a number sentence: 6 + 10 = 16.

Similarly, you can have your child count back on the hundred chart. For example, start at 15 and count back 10. What number did you land on? (15 - 10 = 5)

You can also ask slightly more challenging questions such as: I counted 10 and landed on 21. What number did I start with? (? + 10 = 21)