Math Menus: A Recipe for Developing Number

Sense(Grades PK-2)

Elisabeth Johnston, PhD

Elizabeth Ward, PhD

Wendi Earnheart

Jessica Walls

Amanda Wright

Math MenusWhat is a math menu? • A way “to provide learning activities that can include problems, games, and

investigations that students work on independently” • Required and optional tasks are given • Within a menu students are able to make choices of the optional tasks

What is the purpose of math menus? • A way to give ownership of learning to the student • New concepts can be explored • Review older concepts

Marilyn Burns, About Teaching Mathematics A K-8 Resource (Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions, 2007) p. 60.

Why Math Menus?1. Can’t see the forest for the trees2. Students stay engaged in mathematics3. Lowers affective filter4. Lots of fun-for the students and you

Make 10 Memory

• Start with 2 players• Starter set- A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 • Add more cards and players once children

understand the game• Use pictures on cards for help• The player with the most matches is the winner

Go Fish for 10

• 2-4 players• Use cards A-9• Each player starts with five cards• Rest of deck in center of playing area• Player with the most matches is the winner

Addition War• Basic Addition War• Opposite Addition War• Three Addend Addition War• Three Player War

– Addition of L, M, G cube

Subtraction War• Basic Subtraction War• Opposite Subtraction War

Close to 100• Play with cards A-9• Each player draws 6 cards• Select 4 cards to play• Make 2 two-digit numbers• Score is how far away sum is from 100

5 2

4 7

Create a House Number

Three-Shape Menu(Westphal, 2011)

• Complete one activity for each shape

• Easy to understand

Tic-Tac-Toe Menu(Westphal, 2011)

• Three in a row• Might include free

choice• Easy to use• Students might complete

a product out of comfort zone

Meal Menu(Westphal, 2011)

• Select one item for each meal.

• Dessert is extra• Real-world application

Give Me Five Menu(Westphal, 2011)

• Must earn five points• 2-5-8 version (10 points)• More points higher level

thinking skill• More control over learning• Flexibility for different

ability levels

Differentiating Instruction with Menus(Westphal, 2011)

• K-2, 3-5 books• Overview of different types of

menus• How to grade items• Examples-

– Numbers/Number Sense– Operations – Geometry– Measurement

Contact Information• Elizabeth Ward, PhD ekward@txwes.edu• Elisabeth Johnston, PhD elisabeth.johnston@sru.edu