Counting to 100
“Leticia,” Mr. Thomas called, “it’s time to wash your hands and set the table for dinner.”
“21, 22, 23, 24, 25,” Leticia finished counting. “I’m coming.”
Leticia happily walked into the kitchen and went right to work. She set the table for her family.
“What have you been up to?” Mr. Thomas asked. “You’ve been in your room the entire time since arriving home from school.”
“I’m counting to figure out what I have 100 of,” Leticia replied. “I have 119 stickers, 104 books, and 102 pennies, but only 74 crayons.”
“Why do you require 100 things?” Mr. Thomas wondered.
“Tuesday is the 100th day of school,” Leticia chirped. “As a 100th day project, everyone needs to gather 100 of an item and present them to the class.”
“Maybe your mom, your brother, and I can assist with this project, but first we need to eat. Can you get Tyson and tell him it’s suppertime?”
100 of Something
After the family cleaned up the dishes, they talked about Leticia’s project. First, Leticia showed them a large piece of paper. It measured 20 inches on one side and 20 inches on the other. In total, 100 squares were marked on the giant paper grid.
“I have to glue 100 objects into the 100 squares,” Leticia worried.
“If you use your head, that could be easy,” Tyson replied.
“It might be easy,” Leticia said, “but I want it to be special, not easy. My teacher requires our projects to show creativity. Personally, I want mine to highlight my feelings about school.”
“Oh, I see, so gluing down crayons or pennies wouldn’t work,” Mrs. Thomas said.
“I guess buttons and bottle caps are out, too,” Tyson blurted.
“Yeah,” Leticia smirked, “now you see.”
“Well,” Mrs. Thomas said, “let’s put our heads together and brainstorm. What have you been doing in 100 days of school?”
“Well, we read a new book every day,” Leticia answered. “I think reading’s extremely cool.”
Making Little Books
“What do you enjoy about books?” asked Tyson.
“I enjoy everything about books,” Leticia said with a smile. “I like the covers, titles, pictures, and stories. I love listening to my teacher read, and I love reading books myself. But books won’t fit on the project grid.” Leticia looked at Tyson and frowned.
“We could help you make tiny doll-sized books. Little books might fit on the grid,” Tyson said, “and that wouldn’t take long.”
Leticia wasn’t sure, but she started to conceive an idea. “Well, if we made little miniature books, perhaps I could write in them.”
“Of course you could, Leticia,” Mrs. Thomas smiled. “This is completely your project.
Remember, we’re just your helpers.”
“Right,” Tyson agreed, “it’s your decision!”
Leticia definitely liked the sound of that.
Secret Messages
Leticia spent the evening in her room constructing little blank books and then writing in each of the books. She was careful to use her best handwriting, and she had to write very small. After a while, she shared the work in progress with her family. They were impressed by her idea to write in the books.
“Cool,” Tyson confirmed. “Yes,” her mother agreed, “this undoubtedly looks creative.”
Her family then helped her complete the assignment.
On the 100th day, everyone brought their projects to school. Leticia put hers up with the others’ in her class. At the top, she wrote 100 Reasons I Love to Come to School. The title made her classmates curious, and they began to read the messages inside the tiny books.
The Special Project
“Kate, this one’s about you,” Mia squeaked. “It says, ‘I like to see Kate smile.’”
“This book’s about George,” Kevin joined in. “It says, ‘George is always nice to people.’”
Soon a crowd formed around Leticia’s project. Finally, their teacher decided to read the little books to the whole class. It took a long time, considering there were 100 books, yet after each book, the entire class clapped for the person the book was about.
There were books for every student in Leticia’s grade and every teacher at the school. There was a book for the custodians, school bus drivers, principal, librarians, and the cafeteria workers, too.
Leticia successfully found a creative way to celebrate the 100th day of school. Her 100 reasons why she liked going to school informed 100 people why they were special.
Glossary
brainstorm (v.) share ideas, often on how to solve a problem.
celebrate (v.) to do something special to honor an event.
conceive (v.) to think of; to cause to begin.
creative (adj.) having or showing the use of imagination or the ability to think of new things.
grid (n.) a set of straight lines that cross each other to form squares.
highlight (v.) to call attention to something.
miniature (adj.) very small.
project (n.) an organized activity or assignment that requires planning and work.
undoubtedly (adv.) without a doubt.
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