Math Problem Solving Menus: A Set of Cool Elementary School Math Activities for Kids Who Finish Classwork Early

This book is the ultimate solution to the common "What should my students do when they finish their math work early?" dilemma. Each menu is a sheet with four engaging story problems that call on children to employ a wide variety of strategies, such as Draw a Picture, Make a Chart, Choose Operations, and Work Backwards. There are nine menus in the set, and middle grade students strive to complete as many of the nine as possible before the end of the school year. The menus begin with straightforward, multi-step problems involving addition and subtraction. From there, the menus increase in difficulty and complexity.

Differentiates instruction and provides children in grades 3-5 with interesting opportunities to apply their math skills in real-life contexts.

Promotes goal-setting and an achievement orientation because trying to complete all nine menus before the end of the school year becomes a meaningful, shared classroom goal.

Brings a video game excitement to the classroom as children work at their own pace on optimally challenging tasks and attempt to move to higher levels.

Includes a scoring rubric, answer key, list of possible strategies, management suggestions, and a problem solving template on which students do their work.

Promises to be one of the most effective parts of your overall math curriculum.

Provides simple instructions for how you can access free 8.5 by 11 copies of the book s reproducible pages.