1. Strategies for Differentiating the Curriculum
Extension Menus
Strategies
for
Differentiating the Curriculum
Credits/Resources:
Laurie E. Wesphaul:
Differentiating Instruction with Menus
Susan Weinbrenner:
Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom

2. Why Choice? Choice is the one option that meets all students’ needs.
Greater sense of independence
Strengthened student focus on the content
Provides students with a desire to learn
Credits/Resources:
Laurie E. Wesphaul:
Differentiating Instruction with Menus
Susan Weinbrenner:
Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom

3. What is an Extension Menu?
An extension menu is an array of independent learning activities based on the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (Revised) presented in a ‘choice’ or ‘menu’ format to provide students with options for extending or enriching the essential curriculum.
Tic-Tac-Toe
List Menu
2-5-8 Menu

4. Sample Tic-Tac-Toe Menu
WEATHER EXTENSIONS MENU
Explore the effects of
violent weather on people and their surroundings. Include statistics about the short- and long-term costs of such violent episodes.
Investigate the Farmer’s Almanac and other sources for yearly weather predictions over a decade. Draw conclusions about the accuracy of the sources.
Investigate and report on any aspect of weather that interests you. Present your information in a way that other students will learn from.
Research the job of meteorologist and compare it to the same job during the 1970s. Include the percentage of accurate predictions, as well as the changes in data-collection devices.
Student
Choice
Use resources from a
Web site to create models
of instruments used to
predict and read weather signs.
Trace the improvements
in devices used to predict catastrophic weather situations from the 1950s to
the present.
Investigate the statistics about fatalities from several weather-related types of tragedies. Draw conclusions about the relative danger of each type.
Predict how scientists will control weather 25 years from now.
Description:
8 pre-determined choices, 1 free
All items same weight
Same expectations for completion and effort
Benefits:
Flexibility: can cover 1 obj or up to 3 obj
1 Obj: students complete a column or row, or any three
3 Obj: students need to complete column or row
Friendly design
Weighting: equal
Limitations:
Few topics
Student compromise
Time:
Short Time: 1-3 weeks

5. Sample List Menu Description:
10 pre-determined choices with assigned point values 1 free
Choices have different weights
Point criterion = 100%
Benefits:
Responsibility: student control: guarantee grade if finish required work
Allows for in-depth study of material; lower pts. reinforce basics for those needing reteaching
Limitations:
Few topics
Preparation
Time:
2 Weeks

6. Sample 2-5-8 Menu Description: 8 pre-determined choices
Points are in relation to Bloom’s levels
Students are expected to earn 10 points for 100%
Benefits:
Responsibility: Students control over grades
Guaranteed High level: Must complete 1 high level activity to reach point goal
Limitations:
One topic
No Free Choice
Higher Level Thinking
Time:
Completion in one week

7. Advantages of Extension Menus
Strategy spans all curricular areas
Can target specific learning activities for an individual student or small group
Allows student choice as well as challenge
Students’ choices reveal their interests, abilities and learning styles
Promotes higher level thinking skills
Encourages the development of independent thinking

8. How to Use Menus in the Classroom
Use them as enrichment/supplementary activities
Teacher introduces menu/activities at the beginning of unit;
Teacher proceeds using other materials, as content is being taught, students have choices with menus to supplement deeper understanding
Builds an immediate use for the content
Gifted students investigate concepts mentioned in the unit before the teacher teaches them
Use menus to drive center or station activities
Centers could be set up with materials needed to complete various projects
Use as mini-lessons
Students MUST demonstrate prior knowledge; menus used as reinforcement

9. Products
Product list: based on learning style and resource availability in the teacher’s classroom
Explanation of products should be discussed with students
Student contract for $1 budget for project
Credits/Resources:
Laurie E. Wesphaul:
Differentiating Instruction with Menus
Susan Weinbrenner:
Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom

10. Assessment
All Purpose Rubric: copied on the back of menu; explain in detail
Self: VERY important: explain the student’s evaluation is also necessary
Student Taught Lesson Rubric
Oral Presentation Rubric
Credits/Resources:
Laurie E. Wesphaul:
Differentiating Instruction with Menus
Susan Weinbrenner:
Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom

11. Why use Extension Menus?
Enrich or extend the essential curriculum
Challenge the abilities of highly able students
Provide alternative activities that address the differing abilities, interests, or learning styles of students
Allow choice

12. TASK: Using “Quarter at a Glance”:
As a content team (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies), create a menu for use across the grade level for diverse learners
Each team will present their menu including form of assessment
As an individual, choose a menu type (different from team) and create a menu for use during this 9 weeks for publication in the Brill Staff folder

13. 3-2-1 Write: 3: Key Ideas 2: Things I enjoyed or benefited from
1: Question, Request, or Implementation Idea