Overview - BASIC MENU MATH SOFTWARE W/MONEY CALC
Skillfully produced in an engaging game format, Basic Menu Math Software provides hours of fun while improving independent math skills, basic reading skills, and sight reading skills. Full-color food illustrations and voice narrations make the program ideal for individuals who have limited or no reading skills.
PCI's Janie Haugen-McLane developed the creative, colorful, and high-interest Basic Menu Math programs after observing students in her class struggling to order within their personal budgets at three types of restaurants. In Basic Menu Math Software, students are given lists of foods and drinks to buy, and then use the menus to determine the total cost of meals.
Featured restaurants include:
• Fast Food: Biggie Burger and Chicken Basket
• Restaurant: American Cafe and Around the World
• Cafeteria: Mom's Cafeteria
Students select the type of food and the specific restaurant they want to visit. If a student has already completed all of the activities for a particular restaurant, that sign appears gray and the student is not allowed to choose it. Upon entering a restaurant, the student hears a short introduction, and a worksheet appears on the screen. As students select the first food or drink item, they hear the name of the menu areas read aloud by placing the cursor over each icon. Voice prompts cue the players when incorrect choices are made.
When the correct menu item is chosen, a large icon of the food or drink item appears with one or more price choices. The student clicks on the correct price, as well as any specific selections (size, flavor, etc.). After the correct price is chosen, the program returns to the worksheet. The student repeats the above process until he or she has assigned prices to all menu items on the worksheet.
When all food and drink items have been filled in, three "total" amounts appear in the menu area. Students add the prices from the worksheet, either mentally or using a calculator, and clicks on the correct total price. After the student has chosen the correct "total," a new worksheet appears. This process continues until the student completes all of the worksheets in a specific restaurant, or the student clicks the Return or Click button.
Teacher's Guide
A booklet provides detailed instructions for playing the Basic Menu Mach Software game, including explanations on how to start a new game, save a game under each student's name, and continue a previous game. The guide also features instructions for using the assessment tool part of Basic Menu Math Software, which tells the teacher how many times the student had to click before selecting the correct icons in each category (menu, item, price, and answer). The date and time that the math problems were completed appears after each worksheet assignment, and assessments for each student user can be printed out.
System Requirements
Windows 95/98/2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7
Mac OS 9.2/OS X (PowerPC)
Touch Screen Software
Product Review
3 Stars (out of 5)
"...designed to help kids figure out the cost of meals when dining out."
--Children's Software & New Media Revue, March/April 2002