About
Are you looking for a way to reinforce fraction concepts in an engaging way that helps your students make connections? “Run a Coffee Shop” is a real-life math project where students will complete sixteen different fraction tasks involving equivalent fractions, decomposing, mixed fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, and more.
Ideas for Use
Math projects are an ideal way to consolidate learning. I recommend using them as an engaging activity AFTER skills have been learned rather than during learning. You will likely find that engagement is very high and that your students ask to do more of these!
There are many ways to use math projects in your classroom. Some of the most popular are:
•a small-group or pairs activity
•a guided math activity to allow you to see where your students are struggling
•a fun, rewarding way to engage your early finishers
•a low-prep, easy-to-implement activity for a substitute teacher
You might choose to print specific tasks to use during Math centers, or you might make a booklet out of all of the tasks and let your students choose which one to do when. The choice is yours.
This resource is included in PDF format for printing and in Google Slides™️ format for digital learning. This makes it useable with Google Classroom™️.
What's Included?
Take a look at what you’ll find inside this math project:
TASK #1: THE PLAN
You’ve always wanted to help run a little coffee shop and here’s your chance! Let’s think of a name for the coffee shop and design a poster to advertise.
TASK#2: THE MENU
Let’s figure out the menu for your coffee shop! We’ll use the clues to complete the missing item prices.
Skills: fractions using money
TASK#3: THE BEST COFFEE IN TOWN
You hear from your customers all the time that your coffee is the best! Let’s take a look at what you’ve sold this morning.
Skills: fractions in number form and word form, visual models, equivalent fractions
TASK #4: BAKERY TRAYS
Your fresh baked goods are popular – so popular that some people buy them in large trays. Let’s take a look at three of the orders.
Skills: twelfths, adding fractions, equivalent fractions, number form and word form, visual models
TASK #5: COFFEE BREAK
Afternoon coffee break is always the busiest time of the day. Let’s take a look at what’s selling this afternoon.
Skills: representing fractions with visual models, comparing halves to quarters, equivalent fractions
TASK#6: CUPCAKE DECORATING
It’s time to decorate some cupcakes! Use your knowledge of equivalent fractions.
Skills: equivalent fractions, visual models, representing fractions
TASK#7: MAKING THE FUDGE BROWNIES
The fudge brownies are delicious! They’ve been a popular item lately, so let’s make a few more batches.
Skills: multiplying fractions, adding fractions
TASK #8: SCHEDULING THE STAFF
Each employee knows how to do all of the jobs at the coffee shop – cook, serve, and work the cash register. Let’s take a look at two of the schedules.
Skills: representing time as a fraction, visual models, comparing fractions
TASK #9: AN EXTRA LARGE ORDER
You just received an order for 100 dessert items! The customer will be here to pick them up in one hour, so let’s get them packed up!
Skills: hundredths as fractions and decimals, representing fractions, dividing fractions using a visual model
TASK#10: RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS
In any business, there are problems that will need to be solved. But with a bit of work you know that you can solve any problem.
Skills: problem-solving with fractions, composing/decomposing fractions, comparing fractions, multiplying fractions
TASK#11: CROISSANT CONSTRUCTION
The ham and cheese croissants are a popular lunch item. Let’s make sure we have enough ingredients to last for the day!
Skills: multiplying or adding fractions
TASK #12: TODAY’S SPECIAL
Let’s find out what today’s special is by solving the fraction for each letter.
Skills: adding and subtracting fractions
TASK #13: WHAT’S LEFT?
After a busy day, it’s time to take inventory of what is left over from the day.
Skills: mixed and improper fractions, comparing fractions
TASK#14: OFFICE COFFEE PACKAGES
You’re trying something new this month – office coffee packages! You’ll surprise one office around town each week with a tray of 12 cups of coffee for their staff!
Skills: decomposing fractions, adding fractions, ordering fractions
TASK#15: PROVE IT!
Complete each statement and prove it with a picture or a number line.
Skills: comparing fractions with a number line or visual model
TASK #16: REVENUE BREAKDOWN
Today the coffee shop made $1000.00. Let’s take a look at a breakdown of where that money was made.
Skills: representing fractions as numbers, words, and on a visual model, common denominators, equivalent fractions, subtracting fractions
What Teachers Are Saying
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Wow. I love all of your escape rooms and real life math! My students loved getting to think through the coffee shop scenarios, and we even had a former Starbucks worker come and talk about what it was like working in an actual coffee shop and how all the math they were doing was real-life stuff. That took it next-level! :)" MaryEllen L.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This was great to use with my advanced academic students who needed an extension in their learning. They loved the challenge and engagement it provided." Beth F.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I used this resource for students who are early finishers, as an extension of their learning. These students really enjoyed this, especially because their teacher (me) loves coffee! They really connected with this project and it helped them to stay focused while learning!" Lauren S.
