MARMORA — Math skills helped Upper Township students get the whole enchilada during a recent taco truck-inspired challenge.
Teacher Amanda Pannone said seventh-graders at Upper Township Middle School have spent the past couple of weeks in math class learning a range of real-world skills from calculating discounts to markups, tax, tips and simple interest.
“After learning these skills, students were challenged to start their own business by participating in the 4th annual Upper Township Middle School Taco Truck Challenge,” Pannone said.
She said the project-based learning activity took students through the process of buying a food truck, calculating the simple interest and monthly payments and simulating the startup of a business.
Students designed menus and then calculated discounts, tax, tip and markups on their products.
“Through every step of the project, our students took the skills they learned and applied them to their taco truck business,” Pannone said.
As a way to celebrate their hard work, students and their families were invited to the 4th annual Taco Truck Celebration on March 22 at Las Olas Taqueria at the ShopRite Plaza in Marmora.
“Every year we choose a local taco business to partner with to host this celebration,” Pannone said. “It brings the project full circle by spotlighting a small business in our community that uses all these math skills in their day-to-day business.”
Pannone said the Upper Township Education Association was able to write a grant that awarded every seventh-grader a coupon to receive a free taco or cheese quesadilla during the event.
“Overall, this is a favorite event for students, families and teachers in the Upper Township community,” Pannone said. “It is wonderful to see our students shine with their creativity in starting a business and using real-world skills they will need in the near future.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff