Math Menus:
A Recipe for Developing Number
Sense
(Grades PK-2)
Elisabeth Johnston, PhD
Elizabeth Ward, 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.
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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
Make 10 Memory
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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
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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
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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
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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
• Elisabeth Johnston, PhD
[email protected]
[email protected]