Donut Shop Math

This Paper Donut Shop Math Activity is calorie free, and provides lots of learning opportunities! Students can build lots of paper donuts, add up the cost, count out money, and even calculate change. The shop is easy and very inexpensive to set up using common school supplies you probably already have on-hand in your home or classroom! This Math activity could easily be adapted for younger students who are starting to learn to count, or older students who are learning to count money and calculate change.

Donut Shop Math

To set up a Donut Shop Math Activity of your own, you will need:

• a long sheet of butcher’s paper or freezer paper
• markers
• construction paper
• scissors
• paper plates
• play money (this is a fun set from Melissa and Doug)
• paper pad and pencil

Set Up Shop:

Use a marker to draw boxed areas for donuts, icing, and sprinkles. Add a space for students to build the donuts, and a space for a small pad and pencil for adding up the cost.

Cut out several donuts, icing, and sprinkles from construction paper. Laminate the donuts and icing, if desired.

Donut Shop Math:

• Younger Students — Place your orders, then have students practice counting the number of donuts for each order.
• Other Ideas — Invite students to complete orders and add up the totals. Older students can practice counting money and calculating change.

Recommended Reading:

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony is a great book to go along with this donut shop activity.

Mr. Panda is giving away donuts and takes turns asking many of his animal friends if they would like one. This book is a great reminder to say “please” and “thank you”!

Have fun with donut math, then hop over and check out more invitations for exploring early math concepts or grab over 40 amazing ideas for ABC’s and 123’s! 

More Math Fun

Looking for even more hands on, playful math activities? Here are some of our favorites!

Fill the Piggy Bank Math Activity

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Valerie

Valerie Deneen is the author of Inner Child Fun, where she inspires parents to spend more quality time with their kids, and less money doing it. Inner Child Fun celebrates simple pleasures for all ages—with more than 1,000 frugal and creative projects sure to bring out the “kid” in you too! Follow Valerie on Twitter or say “Hi” on Facebook.

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