Cambridge Bay (Mar 07/05) - Anyone who doesn't think learning is fun has never been in Debbie Gray's class at Kullik Ilihakvik school in Cambridge Bay.

One of the things you learn in Grade 1 is how to count to 100. That lesson turned into a very long party.

"We had a 100-day celebration," she said. "We started counting on the first day of school and doing everything we could with numbers."

The children coloured a new picture every day that was turned into a link in a chain of artwork. They would also try to skip rope and count to the number they were at.

"Every day we did something with that number," she said.

One of the highlights for many of the children was adding a new layer to the pair of pinatas the class fashioned complete with goodies inside.

On Day 100, Feb. 11, the students took turns trying to smash the pinatas while blindfolded.

"I had a lot of fun with the pinatas," said Kassidy Koaha-Laube, 6. "This was my second time making them - I did it in day care when I was four years old."

The class also read books together that included an opportunity to count. In Koaha-Laube's case, her favourite story was the Naughty Little Monkeys.

Looking around their classroom, the students clearly enjoyed all of the games and artwork, but can that really teach you your numbers?

"I can count to 112 now," said Koaha-Laube.