I was surprised to learn last week that I don’t have game instructions on the blog for one of our favorite games- Race to 100.  This is a game that helps us understand the concept of place value, reinforces basic facts, and prepares students for dynamic addition (carrying).

Play is fairly simple.  Using the stamp game, students roll a dice to collect unit pieces.  When they collect ten units, they exchange for a ten piece.  

11 units

1 ten and 1 unit

The goal is to be the first player to trade ten tens for one hundred piece.

When I first introduce the game, we use one dice and play several cooperative rounds.  I require them to count out each unit piece prior to doing any exchanging.  As they become more proficient, they start to figure out what number they need to roll in order to earn another ten.  Don’t tell them, but this prepares them both for mental math, carrying in addition, AND even algebra (figuring out the missing amount to make ten).

In order to play, a student does not need to know the nomenclature or rote counting for all of the numbers 1-100.  Honestly the only skill they NEED to have is the ability to count to 10.  While we play, however, I take advantage of responding with the correct nomenclature.

“Look, Mommy!  I have 3 tens!”


“You do have 3 tens! You have 30!”

When they count tens, I will do the same thing and echo back skip counting by ten instead of one.

As they are fluent in game play and making exchanges, I add a second dice.  This adds more basic facts practice and enforces mental carrying.  At first they will add 6 + 6 and take 12 units…until they start to realize that they can collect 1 ten and 2 units up front and then not have the extra steps.

Because I know not all of my readers will have a Montessori stamp game, I will give you a hint that you can also play with a set of base ten blocks.  If you are still feeling left out, I have made it even easier for you by creating a digital version of the Race to 100 Game, available in the Work and Play, Day by Day Teachers Pay Teachers store.  The digital version includes more detailed set up and playing instructions, printable game pieces and playing boards (shown above), and more pictures than I have included here.

This is one of several games that are much anticipated favorites for the next kid coming up the ranks in our house.  The older crew will often take a break from what they are doing to come and participate in these lessons and look forward to an excuse to procrastinate on their own assignments play a round after it has been introduced.  Today, Caleb and I were playing with Logan and Aidan pipes up (from the couch where he was supposedly reading a book), “Mom, did you know that when you only play with one dice you have to play at least 17 turns in order to get to 100?  But you’d have to roll a six every time so that’s not very likely to happen.”

Haven’t you always wanted your child to be this excited about the number 100?!?!