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Menu Math: Real-Life Skills

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Lesson Plan

Menu Math: Real-Life Skills

Students will be able to apply basic math operations (addition, subtraction) to real-life scenarios using restaurant menus and accurately calculate costs and change.

This lesson helps students develop essential money management skills for everyday situations, fostering independence and confidence in handling financial transactions.

Audience

High School Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive lecture, guided practice, and independent application.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Menu Math Slide Deck, Menu Math Worksheet, Menu Math Answer Key, and Play Money (optional)

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Menu Math Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
    - Print copies of the Menu Math Worksheet for each student.
    - Have the Menu Math Answer Key ready for quick reference.
    - (Optional) Gather play money or calculators if students need extra support.
    - (Optional) Collect various fast-food or casual dining menus for students to use, or print examples.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's for Lunch?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "Imagine you're going out to lunch. What's one thing you love to order?" (1 minute)
    - Introduce the concept of menu math: "Today, we're going to become menu math masters, so you can confidently order and pay for your meals!" (1 minute)
    - Present the Warm-Up Activity to activate prior knowledge. (3 minutes)

Step 2

Introduction to Menu Math

7 minutes

  • Use the Menu Math Slide Deck to introduce the topic.
    - Slide 1: Title Slide - Briefly reiterate the lesson's goal.
    - Slide 2: Why is Menu Math Important? - Discuss the real-life relevance of calculating costs, knowing if you have enough money, and checking your change.
    - Slide 3: Basic Steps - Explain how to add items, calculate tax (if applicable, keep it simple for this lesson), and figure out the total. Demonstrate a simple example from the slide.
    - Slide 4: Calculating Change - Show how to subtract the total cost from the amount paid to find the change. Demonstrate another simple example.

Step 3

Guided Practice: Let's Order!

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Menu Math Worksheet.
    - Go through the first one or two problems on the Menu Math Worksheet together as a class, projecting it if possible. (4 minutes)
    - Encourage students to work with a partner to solve the next problem, circulating to offer support. (4 minutes)

Step 4

Independent Practice: Your Turn!

7 minutes

  • Have students continue working independently on the remaining problems on the Menu Math Worksheet. (5 minutes)
    - Remind them to show their work.
    - Circulate around the room, providing individual help as needed and checking for understanding.

Step 5

Cool Down: Quick Check

3 minutes

  • Ask students to complete the Cool Down Activity as an exit ticket. (2 minutes)
    - Collect the worksheets and cool-down responses to assess understanding. (1 minute)
    - Briefly review one problem from the worksheet using the Menu Math Answer Key to reinforce concepts before dismissal.
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Slide Deck

Menu Math: Real-Life Skills

Today, we're becoming menu math masters!

Welcome students and get them ready for a fun, practical lesson. Ask a few students what their favorite restaurant food is to get them engaged.

Why is Menu Math Important?

  • Know how much your meal will cost.
  • Make sure you have enough money.
  • Check if you get the correct change.
  • Feel confident when ordering food!

Explain why this skill is important for their everyday lives. Connect it to personal independence and avoiding common money mistakes.

Basic Steps: Adding Your Order

  1. Choose your items: Look at the menu!
  2. Add up the prices: Sum the cost of everything you want.
  3. Don't forget tax! (We'll keep it simple for now)
  4. Example: Burger ($5.00) + Fries ($2.50) = $7.50

Walk through a simple example. You can use an item from a pretend menu or one of the examples from the worksheet. Emphasize adding all items together.

Calculating Your Change

  1. Find your total cost.
  2. Decide how much money you will pay with.
  3. Subtract: Amount Paid - Total Cost = Your Change!
  4. Example: Pay with $10.00. Total cost $7.50. Change? $10.00 - $7.50 = $2.50

Explain how to calculate change. Use a different simple example. You can ask students to volunteer the steps.

Time to Practice!

Let's apply what we've learned to some real menus and situations!

Introduce the worksheet and explain that they will practice these skills.

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Warm Up

What's Your Favorite Meal?

Imagine you're at your favorite restaurant. What's one thing you would absolutely order? What do you think its price might be?





If you also wanted to order a drink, what would you choose, and how much would it cost?





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Worksheet

Menu Math Challenge!

Instructions: Use the menu below to answer the questions. Show your work!

## Speedy Eats Menu
### Burgers
- Cheeseburger: $6.50
- Hamburger: $5.75
- Veggie Burger: $6.00
### Sides
- Fries: $2.50
- Onion Rings: $3.00
- Side Salad: $3.50
### Drinks
- Soda: $2.00
- Juice: $2.25
- Water: $1.50

---

Question 1: You order a Cheeseburger and Fries. What is your total cost?





Question 2: Your friend orders a Veggie Burger and a Soda. What is their total cost?





Question 3: You have $10.00. You want to buy a Hamburger and Onion Rings. Do you have enough money? How much change would you get, or how much more money do you need?










Question 4: You want to buy a Cheeseburger, a Side Salad, and a Juice. What is your total bill?





Question 5: You pay for the order in Question 4 with a $20.00 bill. How much change should you receive?










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Answer Key

Menu Math Worksheet Answer Key

Question 1: You order a Cheeseburger and Fries. What is your total cost?
* Cheeseburger: $6.50
* Fries: $2.50
* Total: $6.50 + $2.50 = $9.00

Question 2: Your friend orders a Veggie Burger and a Soda. What is their total cost?
* Veggie Burger: $6.00
* Soda: $2.00
* Total: $6.00 + $2.00 = $8.00

Question 3: You have $10.00. You want to buy a Hamburger and Onion Rings. Do you have enough money? How much change would you get, or how much more money do you need?
* Hamburger: $5.75
* Oring Rings: $3.00
* Total: $5.75 + $3.00 = $8.75
* Do you have enough? Yes, $10.00 is more than $8.75.
* Change: $10.00 - $8.75 = $1.25

Question 4: You want to buy a Cheeseburger, a Side Salad, and a Juice. What is your total bill?
* Cheeseburger: $6.50
* Side Salad: $3.50
* Juice: $2.25
* Total: $6.50 + $3.50 + $2.25 = $12.25

Question 5: You pay for the order in Question 4 with a $20.00 bill. How much change should you receive?
* Amount Paid: $20.00
* Total Bill (from Q4): $12.25
* Change: $20.00 - $12.25 = $7.75

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Cool Down

My Menu Math Moment

What is one new thing you learned or practiced today about calculating costs or change when ordering food?





How will practicing 'Menu Math' help you in your daily life?





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Menu Math: Real-Life Skills • Lenny Learning