Lesson start ideas	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	Mathematics
What age group	Doesn't matter
What topic	Numbers to 100
Quantity	1
Any other preferences

Starting a math lesson can often be a tricky business because not everyone is equally enthusiastic about the subject. Therefore, teachers need to come up with creative ideas to make the topic seem interesting and relevant.

One potential approach is to give the students a context to relate to. For this particular lesson on numbers to 100, the teacher could initiate with the following activity:

Activity

1. Ask the students to think about all the different types of numbers they encounter in their daily lives - phone numbers, license plates, street addresses, and so on.

2. Once they've made a list, tell them that all of these numbers fall within a specific range - between 1 and 100.

3. Ask them to think about the significance of having such a range - why is this particular set of numbers so important and what makes it unique compared to other ranges of numbers?

This activity sets the tone for the lesson by helping students realize that numbers are not just abstract symbols, but part of their daily lives. Furthermore, the teacher can follow up with the more traditional aspects of the lesson, such as practicing counting, recognizing patterns, and performing basic operations.

Key concepts

Once the students are engaged and focused, the teacher can proceed with imparting knowledge on numbers to 100. Here are some essential concepts that can be covered in this lesson:

Counting to 100

• Can be done using both forward and backward counting.
• Helps identify the number that comes before and after a given number.
• Helps with the recognition of patterns, which is a crucial element of number sense.

Place Value

• Understanding that each digit in a number has a place and value.
• Helps with the ability to recognize the significance of a digit's position in a number.
• Important for understanding the concept of expanded notation.

Basic operations

• Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers to 100.
• Helps with problem-solving and prepares the students to move on to more complex operations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this lesson on numbers to 100 can be made more interesting and engaging by starting with a relatable activity that helps students see the relevance of the topic. Once engaged, the teacher can move on to imparting essential concepts such as counting, place value, and basic operations. This will provide a strong foundation for the students to build upon as they progress in their mathematical studies.