Lesson Plan
Menu Math Mastery
Students will be able to identify prices on a menu and calculate the total cost of up to two items.
Understanding menu math helps students make independent choices when ordering food, manage money, and participate in social activities like going out to eat. It builds confidence and practical independence.
Audience
10th Grade Students with Cognitive Impairments
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through visual aids, direct instruction, and hands-on practice with a sample menu.
Materials
Small Restaurant Menu (real or Sample Menu), Menu Math Slides, Menu Math Script, Menu Math Warm-Up, Menu Math Worksheet, Menu Math Answer Key, and Menu Math Cool-Down
Prep
Preparation Steps
15 minutes
- Review the Menu Math Lesson Plan and all generated materials (slides, script, worksheet, answer key, warm-up, cool-down).
- Print or display the Sample Menu for students.
- Gather real small restaurant menus if available, or print several copies of the Sample Menu.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for the Menu Math Slides.
- Print copies of the Menu Math Worksheet for each student.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What's for Lunch?
5 minutes
- Distribute the Menu Math Warm-Up.
- Engage students with a brief discussion about their favorite foods and where they like to eat. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
- Students will draw or write one food item they love to eat.
- Review warm-up as a class.
Step 2
Introduction to Menu Math
5 minutes
- Present the Menu Math Slides (Slide 1-3).
- Introduce the concept of a menu and its purpose. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
- Explain how to find prices next to food items.
- Discuss why menu math is a useful life skill.
Step 3
Practice Finding Prices
5 minutes
- Display the Sample Menu on the board or distribute printed menus.
- Guide students to identify prices for specific items on the menu using Menu Math Slides (Slide 4-5). (Refer to Menu Math Script)
- Ask students to find the price of a hamburger, then a soda, etc.
- Provide positive reinforcement.
Step 4
Calculating Total Cost (One Item)
5 minutes
- Using the Menu Math Slides (Slide 6-7), demonstrate how to calculate the total cost for one item.
- Work through an example together: “If I want a pizza, how much does it cost?” (Refer to Menu Math Script)
- Have students practice with another single item.
Step 5
Calculating Total Cost (Two Items)
5 minutes
- Using the Menu Math Slides (Slide 8-9), introduce calculating the total cost for two items.
- Model how to add two prices together using a simple addition strategy (e.g., counting on, using fingers, or a calculator). (Refer to Menu Math Script)
- Work through one example: “If I want a hot dog AND fries, what is my total?”
- Provide guided practice with another two-item combination.
Step 6
Worksheet Activity
5 minutes
- Distribute the Menu Math Worksheet.
- Students will work independently or with a partner to complete the worksheet, finding prices and calculating totals for one and two items. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
- Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
Step 7
Cool-Down: My Order!
5 minutes
- Distribute the Menu Math Cool-Down.
- Students will write or draw what they would order from the menu and calculate its total. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
- Collect cool-downs to assess understanding.
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Slide Deck
Menu Math Mastery!
Ready to become a menu master?
Welcome students to the lesson. Engage them with a question about their favorite foods. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
What is a Menu?
- A list of food and drinks at a restaurant
- Shows prices for each item
- Helps you decide what to order!
Introduce what a menu is and its purpose. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Why is Menu Math Important?
- Order what you want!
- Know how much money you need
- Be independent when eating out!
Discuss the importance of menu math in real life. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Finding Prices
Look for the number right next to the food item. That's the price!
Explain how to locate prices next to items. Use the Sample Menu. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Let's Practice! Finding Prices
Can you find the price of a:
- Hamburger?
- Pizza?
- Soda?
Guide students through finding prices on the Sample Menu. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Calculating Cost: One Item
If you want one thing, the price is easy!
Just find the item and its price.
Demonstrate calculating the cost of one item. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Example: One Item
I want a Cheeseburger.
On the menu, a Cheeseburger costs $7.00.
My total is $7.00!
Work through a single item example. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Calculating Cost: Two Items
If you want two things, you need to ADD their prices together!
Introduce calculating the total for two items. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Example: Two Items
I want a Hot Dog AND Fries.
Hot Dog: $6.00
Fries: $4.00
$6.00 + $4.00 = $10.00!
Work through a two-item example. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Your Turn! Menu Math Worksheet
It's time to practice your new skills! Use the menu to answer the questions.
Transition to the worksheet activity. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Wrap Up! My Order!
What would YOU order? Find the total cost!
Prepare for the cool-down activity. (Refer to Menu Math Script)
Script
Menu Math Mastery Script
Warm-Up: What's for Lunch? (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start our day with some food talk! I want to hear about your favorite foods. What's one food you absolutely love to eat?"
(Allow students to share. Distribute the Menu Math Warm-Up.)
Teacher: "On your warm-up sheet, please draw or write one food item you love to eat. Take about two minutes for this."
(After 2 minutes)
Teacher: "Okay, let's quickly share a few! Who wants to tell us what they drew or wrote?"
(Call on a few students. Transition to the lesson.)
Introduction to Menu Math (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 1)
"Today, we're going to become 'Menu Math Masters'! Has anyone ever been to a restaurant before?"
(Allow for responses.)
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 2)
"When you go to a restaurant, they often give you something called a menu. Look at our slide. A menu is just a list of all the yummy food and drinks they have, and it also shows us how much each item costs. It helps you decide what you want to order!"
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 3)
"Why do you think it's important to understand a menu and know how to do 'menu math'? Well, it helps you order exactly what you want, know how much money you need to pay, and be more independent when you eat out with friends or family! It's a super useful life skill!"
Practice Finding Prices (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 4. Show the Sample Menu to the class.)
"Let's look at our sample menu. How do we find the price of something? You look for the number right next to the food item! That number tells you how much it costs."
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 5. Point to items on the Sample Menu as you ask.)
"Let's practice! Can you find the price of a Hamburger on our menu? Take a moment to look."
(Wait for responses. Guide students to point or say the price.)
Teacher: "Great! What about a Pizza slice? How much does that cost?"
(Repeat for Soda.)
Teacher: "You're doing an amazing job finding those prices!"
Calculating Total Cost (One Item) (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 6)
"Now, let's figure out how much things cost. If you only want one item, finding the total cost is super easy! It's just the price listed right there on the menu."
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 7)
"Let's try an example together. Imagine I want a Cheeseburger. I look on the menu, and I see a Cheeseburger costs $7.00. So, my total is just $7.00! Simple, right?"
(Ask students to try one:)
Teacher: "If I want a Chicken Sandwich, how much would my total be?"
(Guide them to find the price and state it.)
Calculating Total Cost (Two Items) (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 8)
"What if you're really hungry and want two things? Then we need to do a little bit of math! We need to ADD the prices of the two items together to get our total."
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 9)
"Let's look at another example. I want a Hot Dog AND some Fries. First, I find the price of the Hot Dog – that's $6.00. Then I find the price of the Fries – that's $4.00. Now I add them together: $6.00 + $4.00 = $10.00! So my total is $10.00."
(Demonstrate with a simple addition strategy on the board if helpful, e.g., using fingers, drawing tally marks, or a calculator if allowed.)
Teacher: "Let's try one more together. If I want a Pizza slice and a Soda, what would my total be? Find the prices and then add them up."
(Guide students through finding prices and adding them. Provide support as needed.)
Worksheet Activity (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 10)
"You've done great with finding prices and adding! Now it's your turn to practice on your own. I'm handing out a Menu Math Worksheet. You'll use our Sample Menu to answer the questions. You can work by yourself or with a partner."
(Distribute the Menu Math Worksheet and Sample Menu. Circulate around the room to assist students.)
Cool-Down: My Order! (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Menu Math Slides - Slide 11)
"Alright, future Menu Math Masters! We're almost done for today. For our cool-down, I want you to imagine you're at the restaurant right now. On your Menu Math Cool-Down sheet, I want you to write or draw what you would order from our Sample Menu AND calculate the total cost for your order! It can be one or two items."
(Distribute the Menu Math Cool-Down. Allow students time to complete it. Collect them at the end of class.)
Teacher: "Fantastic work today, everyone! You've taken your first steps to becoming Menu Math Masters! See you next time!"
Reading
Lenny's Lunch Spot
Main Dishes
- Hamburger ........................ $7.00
- Cheeseburger .................... $8.00
- Hot Dog .......................... $6.00
- Pizza Slice ...................... $5.00
- Chicken Sandwich ................ $9.00
Sides
- Fries ............................ $4.00
- Onion Rings .................... $5.00
Drinks
- Soda ............................. $3.00
- Water ............................ $2.00
Warm Up
What's for Lunch?
Think about all the yummy foods you love to eat!
Your Task: Draw or write one of your favorite foods in the space below.
Bonus Question:
Where do you usually eat this food? (e.g., at home, at a restaurant, at school)
Worksheet
Menu Math Practice
Use Lenny's Lunch Spot Menu (Sample Menu) to answer the questions below.
Part 1: Find the Price!
Look at the menu and write down how much each item costs.
- Hamburger:
- Onion Rings:
- Soda:
- Chicken Sandwich:
- Pizza Slice:
Part 2: Calculate the Total!
Look at the menu. Add the prices to find the total cost for these two items. Show your work!
-
Hot Dog + Fries
- Hot Dog Cost:
- Fries Cost:
- Total Cost:
- Hot Dog Cost:
-
Cheeseburger + Soda
- Cheeseburger Cost:
- Soda Cost:
- Total Cost:
- Cheeseburger Cost:
-
Pizza Slice + Water
- Pizza Slice Cost:
- Water Cost:
- Total Cost:
- Pizza Slice Cost:
-
Chicken Sandwich + Onion Rings
- Chicken Sandwich Cost:
- Onion Rings Cost:
- Total Cost:
- Chicken Sandwich Cost:
Answer Key
Menu Math Answer Key
Part 1: Find the Price!
- Hamburger: $7.00
- *Thought Process: Locate