Menus

Designing a menu allows the teacher to control some of the activities students will do, but it also gives students a choice in activities as well. A teacher may choose to set up a menu for a few lessons, a summative assessment, or even a whole unit if students enjoy them.

Consider setting up a menu like this:• Appetizer

• A list of smaller assignments or mini projects• Students must complete one of these tasks

• Main Dish• An assignment or project that everyone must complete

• Side Dishes• A list of add ons for their Main Dish project (include a

visual, a handout, get the class moving, etc.)• Students must pick two

• Dessert• Optional assignments that could be counted as extra credit• Could be enrichment activities• Options should be high interest and challenging

*Scroll down for an example of a menu*

(Menu outline adapted from On Target: Strategies That Differentiate Instruction Grades 4-12 edited by June Prezler)