Menu Math

Welcome to Menu Math! This page represents my attempt to curate a collection ideas involving a task structure that I invented while playing the the notions of building functions to specifications. [That collection of work can be found on the “Custom Functions” page].

A Math Menu is a collection of constraints that appear as an unordered list generally about 6-10 constraints long. Each menu prescribes a type of mathematical object that needs to be designed to satisfy these constraints. That object could be a certain type of function (as was the original idea), an expression, a shape, a number, etc.

The key to a Menu Math task is this: Each constraint must be satisfied at least once, and students try to complete this goal using as few mathematical objects as possible. This mechanism preserves a low entry point (where teachers might ask students to design objects that satisfy one or two constraints), but escalates the possibility as students analyze which constraints pair well together and which cannot pair together.

The menus have been collected in the table below. Each has been formatted into a downloadable word document.1 This is to help with preparation time as well as encourage edits of the constraints to fit your specific classroom context. These menus are published under this Creative Commons licence. They are available in both English and French thanks to the translation work of Joce Dagenais! Also, some wonderful coders have started converting Menu Math tasks into Desmos activities. You can gain access to an evergreen list of these activities here.

Take this as your open invitation to implement, adapt, share student thinking, and contribute new ideas. Communicate via Twitter (using the hashtag #menumath) or the Contact Page!

TopicSujetContributor / CréateurEnglishFrançais
Quadratic functions in vertex-graphing formFonctions quadratiques forme canoniqueNat BantingHandoutDoc
Linear functionsFonctions linéairesAmie AlbrechtHandoutDoc
SlopeNat BantingHandoutDoc
Polynomial functionsFonctions polynomialesStephanie GowerHandoutDoc
Systems of linear inequalitiesSystèmes d'inéquations linéairesNat BantingHandoutDoc
Exponential functionsFonctions exponentiellesSheri Walker & Tania AsselstineHandoutDoc
Logarithmic functionsMary BourassaHandoutDoc
Angles in standard positionMeghan DonnellyHandoutDoc
Sinusoidal functionsFonctions sinusoïdalesDylan KaneHandoutDoc
Sinusoidal functions 2Fonctions sinusoïdales #2Dave MartinHandoutDoc
Rational functionsFonctions rationnellesMary BourassaHandoutDoc
Calculus functionsFonctions Calcul différentiel et IntégralErick LeeHandoutDoc
Parent functionsMeghan DonnellyHandoutDoc
Building trianglesConstruction de trianglesAmie AlbrechtHandoutDoc
Building triangles 2Construction de triangles #2Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Building quadrilateralsConstruction de quadrilatèresAmie AlbrechtHandoutDoc
Building quadrilaterals 2Construction quadrilatères 2Mary BourassaHandoutDoc
Area and perimeter of rectanglesMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
ShapesFormesChad WilliamsHandoutDoc
3D shapesFormes 3DMary BourassaHandoutDoc
3D shapes 2Formes 3D #2Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
3D shapes 3Formes 3D #3Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Line and point symmetryJavier CabezasHandoutDoc
CurrencyChad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Characteristics of numbersCaractéristiques des nombresChris HunterHandoutDoc
Characteristics of numbers 2Caractéristiques des nombres #2Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Characteristics of numbers 3Caractéristiques des nombres #3Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Numbers and operationsNombres et opérationsChad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Numbers and operations 2Nombres et opérations #2Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Two-digit additionMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
Multiplication sentencesMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
Division with remaindersMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
DivisibilityMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
Growing patternsHeather TheijsmeijerHandoutDoc
Linear EquationsCarly HartHandoutDoc
Base-10 blocksBlocs en base 10 #1Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Base-10 blocks 2Blocs en base 10 #2Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
3D vectorsVecteurs 3DMary BourassaHandoutDoc
Polynomial expressionsPolynômesMarieta AngjeliHandoutDoc
FractionsFractionsJosh GiesbrechtHandoutDoc
Fractions 2Fractions #2Chad WilliamsHandoutDoc
Decimal operationsDave MartinHandoutDoc
Adding fractionsDavid PetroHandoutDoc
Fractions and decimalsMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
Improper and mixed fractionsMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
Percentages with fraction and decimalsMaegan Giroux & Kyle WebbHandoutDoc
Square roots Kirsten DyckHandoutDoc
Data setsSérie de donnéesJosh GiesbrechtHandoutDoc
  1. You do not need to request permission to access the document. Simply download the file from Google Drive on to your computer.