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Written By Teacher Mindset

FREE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL HISTORY AND WRITING ACTIVITY

The 100th day of school was always a fun milestone, but during my time teaching in the classroom, I was looking for something a little different to celebrate the day. While counting collections, crowns, and simple writing prompts are classics, and I love a google simple craft and activity, I wanted to put a spin on this day to give my students the chance to think deeply and creatively.

Back in 2021 I created my own activity to celebrate the 100th Day of School. I created a PowerPoint presentation sharing what the world was like back in 1921. I shared old photos of cars, leisure activities, and a picture of President Warren G. Harding (who was in office in 1921). Then I tailored the presentation to show photos of our city from 1921. I found the city specific photos in our local library’s archive. Students loved seeing how much the world changed in 100 years. We then drew pictures of what the world would be like 100 years from now (2121) when students would be 105 years old. For my class, students drew pictures of one thing that would change over the next 100 years.

After completing this activity with my class, I knew that I wanted to share this activity with my TPT followers but I had one major challenge; all of the photos in the original presentation were not available for commercial use (major copyright infringement!!!). This means I couldn’t post the activity online (not even for free) because I did not have permission to share the photos in the presentation. I put the presentation on the back burner and didn’t return to it until now.

Fast forward to 2026 and I’ve taken the time to redesign the presentation with photos that are approved for commercial use (yay Canva Pro!). It took some time but now I am ready to share this freebie with the world. This free resource gives students the opportunity to look back at life 100 years ago and then imagine what life might be like 100 years in the future. It still celebrates the 100th day, but in a way that feels more meaningful and engaging for students.

If you needed a few reasons why you should download this resource (other than the fact that it’s free), I’m sharing a few reasons why you should grab this resource today!

FUSE HISTORY & WRITING WITH A TWIST

Many 100th day activities focus only on math or simple writing. This resource adds a social studies connection by introducing students to real images and facts from the 1920s. Students compare what life was like then to what life looks like today, which helps them better understand how the world changes over time.

This makes the 100th day feel more purposeful while still keeping it fun and age appropriate.

ENCOURAGES CRITICAL THINKING

Instead of answering basic prompts, students are asked to imagine the future. After learning about the past, they think about how homes, transportation, clothing, and daily life might look 100 years from now.

This type of thinking pushes students to explain their ideas, make predictions, and use what they learned from history to guide their writing. It is a great way to build creativity while also encouraging deeper thinking.

LOW PREP & EASY TO USE

Teachers are busy, especially on special theme days. This resource is designed to be simple to use without extra planning. It includes a ready to go slideshow with real photos and discussion prompts, along with student worksheets for writing and drawing.

You can use it as a whole group lesson, a writing center activity, or even a calm, focused option during a busy 100th day schedule.

REUSABLE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS

One of the best parts of this resource is that it is not just a one year freebie. The activity focuses on life in the entire decade of the 1920s, not just one specific year. That means teachers can continue using it through 2029 and it will still align perfectly with the 100th day of school.

This makes it a resource you can come back to year after year without it feeling outdated or inaccurate.

WORKS WITH MULTIPLE GRADE LEVELS

This resource is flexible enough to be used across a wide range of classrooms. I personally used it in my PreK classroom, but it can easily be adapted for kindergarten, first grade, and up through third or even fourth grade.

The student pages include a variety of layouts, from drawing and labeling to short paragraph and essay style responses. This makes it easy to scaffold for different skill levels and support students wherever they are in their writing development.

A SNEAK PEAK INTO THIS RESOURCE

WAYS TO USE THIS RESOURCE IN YOUR CLASSROOM

Here are a few easy ways to fit this activity into your day whether you have a full day planned or just want one meaningful activity to anchor your celebration:

  • Use the slideshow for a whole class discussion on the 100th Day of School.

  • Have students complete the future writing pages independently or in small groups.

  • Connect the activity to both writing and social studies standards.

BOOKS TO SUPPLEMENT THIS LESSON

If you want to extend your 100th day of school lesson and spark more thinking about the future, here are a few books that fit perfectly with this activity. These titles work well as read alouds or independent reading for preschool through second grade students.

These books can be used to kick off writing prompts, guide classroom discussion, or simply inspire students to think creatively about what the future might hold. You can grab the 100th Day of School History and Writing Activity for free by using the link below. I hope your students enjoy this resource as much as my student did. Be sure to share your experience using this resource in the comments below.

100TH DAY OF SCHOOL FREEBIE
Teacher Mindset
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