Differentiated Instruction-Menu Boards

My school is working through a three year plan to fully implement differentiated instruction into our classrooms. One of the things that happens in a good DI classroom is giving students personal choice in their projects and assessments. Tests and quizzes are necessary at times, but when it is appropriate I like to try to give my students those choices.

In my work to differentiate more in my classroom I decided to create a menu board to assess my students on the southern region of the USA. I went through Blooms Taxonomy and thought of different tasks that my students could work through to show me what they had learned about the south. The students needed to earn 16 points to receive full credit. When I created the menu, I made it so that the students had to do at least one of the higher level thinking tasks to earn the 16 points.Some of their choices were writing a poem, Comparing and contrasting using a Venn diagram or t-chart, creating a PowerPoint or poster- just to name a few.

My students absolutely loved it! I gave them three days in class to work on the tasks. They were engaged the entire time. After the first day, when everyone was on task for the entire 45 min. I asked them what they liked about it. They shared that they enjoyed the choices, and the freedom I gave them. They keep asking me when we are going to do another. Students never ask that about a test!
If you are interested in trying it out in your classroom you can find it here at my TPT store, or try to create your own! It's worth the effort!
Happy Saturday!