Money Math: Whole Dollar Amounts – Addition

$1.60

Have your child look at the lunch menu, then solve word problems in real-life situations.  Each word problem is addition-based only, and there is space below each problem to show work.  This workbook has a total of 90 problems and includes the menu, plus the answer key with solutions.

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Menu Math: Whole Dollar Amounts

As students with exceptionalities mature, they will increasingly encounter situations where real-life math skills are required. One such common experience is going on community outings, also known as community-based instruction (CBI), either with their school or parents. On these outings, students may visit restaurants and will need to navigate the process of selecting items from a menu and placing an order. This task, while seemingly simple, requires a variety of mathematical skills, particularly when it comes to making decisions and mentally totaling the value of the items purchased. 

The mathematical skills involved in such scenarios include determining the total cost of items chosen from the menu. These worksheets showcased here are from a 1950s diner, and they only focus on addition.  Mastery of adding items prepares students to confidently think about items they are ordering and make informed decisions when dining out, whether they’re calculating how much money they need to bring or figuring out if they have enough to cover what they want to order.  This menu math activity is designed for students who do not have the skills as of yet to round to the nearest dollar or subtract an item that was not wanted or removed from the order.

To help students develop these essential math skills, a packet with 90 word problems has been created. All the problems are based on real-life scenarios involving diner menu prices. The menu used in these problems is structured with whole dollar amounts to ensure students grasp basic calculations before moving on to more advanced concepts, such as adding dollars and cents. 

The kit provides a menu for students to answer 10 word problems. More advanced students can mentally solve the problems, work them out in the provided space, or use a calculation device like their cell phone or a mini calculator to tally up the total. This worksheet will help the students prepare for more advanced skills, such as making purchases with dollars and cents and having tax and tip included in more advanced worksheets or real-life scenarios.

This packet also has an answer key to aid educators and parents in supporting the student’s learning journey. By the end of this work, students will be better prepared for real-life outings, equipped with the math skills they need to navigate restaurant menus and make informed financial choices independently.

This method builds confidence and encourages mastery before introducing additional complexity. Once students demonstrate a solid understanding, more nuanced problems involving precise amounts of money can be added to the mix.