Math Menus:
A Recipe for Developing Number
Sense
(Grades 3-5)
Elizabeth Ward, PhD
Elisabeth Johnston, PhD
Wendi Earnheart
Jessica Walls
Amanda Wright
Math Menus
What 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.
2.
3.
4.
Can’t see the forest for the trees
Students stay engaged in mathematics
Lowers affective filter
Lots of fun-for the students and you
Activities for Addition/Subtraction/Estimation
Menu
1. Shopping with $10
2. Krypto
•Illuminations website
http://illuminations.nctm.org/
•Flip 5 cards, 6th is the target number
•Basic and advanced version
Possible Solutions
• 3 + 7 – 10 + 5 – 4 = 1
• 10 + 5 – 7 – 4 – 3 = 1
• (7 * 5) – (10 * 3) – 4 = 1
Activities for Multiplication Menu
1. Array Game
2. Product Game
Activities for Measurement Menu
1. Cups and Gallons
2. Area and Perimeter Tic-Tac-Toe
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
• Elisabeth Johnston, PhD
ekward@txwes.edu
elisabeth.johnston@sru.edu