How to Create a 100s Chart Puzzle Game
Make an interactive, engaging, and affordable 100s chart out of a jigsaw puzzle!
Purchase a 100-piece jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle should be 10 pieces by 10 pieces. Puzzles can be purchased from many resources, but a good resource is the Dollar Tree. They have a good selection of 100-piece puzzles for just a dollar.
Step 1: Put the puzzle together. Then flip it over to the backside. You may find it easier to flip the puzzle if you use card stock or a file folder.
Step 2: Number the puzzle from 1 to 100 beginning at the top left-hand corner with the number 1 and ending at the bottom right-hand corner with the number 100.
Your puzzle game is complete so let’s play!
Up to four students can play this game making it an affordable way to teach students about numbers and their relationships to other numbers.
Be the first player to play all your puzzle pieces to win the game.
Step 1: With 4 players, each player selects 20 puzzle pieces. The remainder go in a draw pile. With 3 players, each player selects 25 puzzle pieces. With 2 players, each player selects 35 puzzle pieces. This can also be an independent learning activity with only one student player.
Step 2: All the puzzle pieces must be face down so students can see the numbers. The first player plays a puzzle piece. Then each student plays a connecting piece. If the player does not see a puzzle piece that will connect, they must draw once from the draw pile.
Step 3: Each player continues to play until one player has played all their pieces.
You can make the game more challenging with these fun options:
Game Option A: If a prime number is played, the player gets another play. If they continue to play puzzle pieces with prime numbers, they can continue to get extra plays. Then their turn is over. Even young learners can play this option if given a list of the primes.
Download the free prime numbers chart
Game Option B: Playing cluster puzzle pieces. A player has a piece that will play and there are other pieces in their pile that will connect to one another, then a student can play all the pieces at once. If there is any number in the cluster that is prime, the player gets another play. This option may be better suited for 2nd grade and above.
When Someone Wins:
Once a winner is established, all players help place the remaining pieces, and then turn the puzzle over to see the surprise image. Students may need a sheet of card stock or a file folder to turn the puzzle over. Young learners may need your help turning the puzzle over.
COVID Prevention Tip:
Use a can of Triple-Thick Crystal Clear Glaze to spray the back of the puzzle. (Can be purchased at Walmart and other locations.) Let first light coat dry. Then spray again and let the light coat dry. Spray one final time. This will make the puzzle pieces darker, but with the glaze coating, you can wipe the front and the back of the puzzle with an anti-germ wipe or spray.
Another game using a 100-piece puzzle to learn the nines!
Follow all the rules and steps in the 100s Chart Game with the following exceptions:
Step 1: Put the 10-piece by 10-piece 100-piece puzzle together and flip it over.
Step 2: Number the top row from 1 to 9 leaving the last piece in that row blank. Number the 2nd row from 10 to 18 leaving the last piece in the 2nd row blank. Continue numbering the pieces in this manner until the last row. Number that row from 82 to 90. The last column in your puzzle should be blank.
Step 3: The puzzle pieces in the last column will be used to increase the element of chance in our game. We will draw dots on each puzzle piece. Draw 1 dot on 5 puzzle pieces, 2 dots on 4 puzzle pieces and 3 dots on 1 puzzle piece.
When a student has one of the puzzle pieces with dots, they get extra turns.
1 dot = 1 extra play
2 dots = 2 extra plays
3 dots = 3 extra plays
Options: Extra plays for primes and playing clusters can apply to this game as well.
Download the free prime numbers chart
Storage Tips
Storage is always a problem for classroom teachers. At The Learning Station we have some good storage ideas for the 100-piece puzzles.
Storage Idea 1: Ziplock bags. Look for bags with the zipper. It is easier for young children, actually all children, to secure the bag than the press bags.
Storage Idea 2: Pencil pouches. We love using pencil pouches at The Learning Station because they can usually be secured in a binder as a part of a thematic unit. The small, affordable ones are the best for holding the 100-piece puzzle.