Menu Math

What You Need:

• Old, extra take-out menus
• Bills and coins
• Silverware tray (to be used as a cash register tray to keep money sorted)
• White out
• Paper
• Pencils

What You Do:

1. Locate some old take-out menus in your house, or you can look up some sample menus online. Prices will likely be listed in decimal form, which kids won't study in detail until third, fourth, and fifth grades. Use your white-out to cover the decimals and just show the dollar amounts on each item.
2. Now tell your child that you will take turns “playing restaurant”, switching off roles of being the customer and the server.
3. You should start out in the role of server, so you can model the procedure first for your child. Your child will pretend to be the customer.
4. Take your child's order on a notepad by asking what he or she wants and writing down each item, along with the cost of the item.
5. Add the value of the items on the notepad for your child to see, state the total cost, and give your child the check. Make change if necessary (no tip required!).
6. For the next round, try allowing your child to add each item themselves.
7. You can repeat this game as many times as you want, switching roles each time. Use a different menu to keep things fresh, or have your child create her own menu.