Students work in groups to solve math problems created by the teacher based on paper menus gathered from a local restaurant.
Grades(s) 5, 6, 7, 8
Subjects(s) Math
Objective
Students solve addition and subtraction word problems; calculate sales tax, tips; percentages;
Materials
Menus, paper, pencil, calculators (optional)
Word problems written by the teacher
Lesson
Lead a class discussion about dining and ordering food in restaurants. How do they or their parents usually pay for the food? Are they aware of sales tax and tips? Do they think a customer should always leave a tip? Do they know what gratuity means? Divide the students into groups of four. Give each group the same menu and set of questions. The teacher can tailor this activity to meet the needs of her students.
Sample questions:
1) What is the cheapest thing on the menu?
2) How much change would you receive if you ordered lasagna, a house salad, and a drink and paid with a $20 bill?
3) If you and a friend split nachos and each ordered a large drink, how much would you owe? How much tax would be added to the bill? How much would a a10% tip be? A 20% tip? If you included a 15% tip, how much money would you each have to pay?
4) Using the menu, ask how much more one entrée is than another.
5) What words on the menu make the food sound appetizing?
6) How much would it cost if you ordered every item on the menu?
7) Write three questions to share with the other groups.
Assessment
1) Responses to questions.
2) Quality of three questions written to share with other groups.
References
percentages, addition, subtractions, word problems, menus, sales taxBetty/blogs/bettyb/default.aspx