Learning menus are a versatile differentiation tool that gives students structured choice while maintaining focus on learning objectives. Like a restaurant menu, students “select” activities from different categories, allowing them to engage with content in ways that match their interests, readiness, and learning profiles.

Why Learning Menus Work

  • Student Choice: Increases motivation and ownership of learning.

  • Differentiation: Tasks can be tiered or leveled for different abilities.

  • Variety: Combines multiple modalities, such as reading, creating, collaborating, or presenting.

  • Skill Development: Encourages decision-making, planning, and self-regulation.

How to Create a Learning Menu

  1. Identify Core Objectives: Determine the essential learning outcomes.

  2. Design Menu Sections: Common sections include Appetizers (quick, foundational tasks), Main Course (challenging, skill-building tasks), and Desserts (enrichment or creative options).

  3. Offer Multiple Pathways: Include tasks that target different learning styles or levels of readiness.

  4. Set Expectations: Provide clear criteria for success for each task.

  5. Reflect and Revise: Allow students to reflect on their choices and outcomes for continuous improvement.

Examples in Practice

  • English Language Arts:

    • Appetizer: Summarize a chapter.

    • Main Course: Write a character analysis essay.

    • Dessert: Create a comic or multimedia story retelling the chapter.

  • Math:

    • Appetizer: Solve basic practice problems.

    • Main Course: Apply concepts to real-world scenarios.

    • Dessert: Design your own problem set or game to teach a concept.

  • Science:

    • Appetizer: Label parts of a diagram.

    • Main Course: Conduct an experiment and record observations.

    • Dessert: Present findings as a video, infographic, or model.

Conclusion / Final Thoughts

Learning menus empower students to take control of their learning while keeping everyone focused on core objectives. By offering structured choices, teachers can differentiate instruction efficiently, increase engagement, and support a diverse range of learners. Menus make classrooms more dynamic, inclusive, and student-centered.