How Restaurant Trips Can Be Full of Learning
Taking your SPED class to a restaurant is more than just a fun outing—it’s an opportunity to learn a lot of life skills!
In my school, we aimed to take a quarterly restaurant trip with the class, and they were always a hit with the students. Along the way, I saw just how much restaurant trips can be full of learning for them, from managing money to interacting with others.
Here’s how you can make your next restaurant outing a meaningful learning opportunity, with practical tips and ready-to-use resources to help your students!
Why Going Out to Eat with Your Class is Impactful
Restaurants are real-world environments where your students can practice skills that go beyond the classroom. It’s especially beneficial for transition and high school special education students who need to build confidence and independence.
These trips teach:
- Functional Reading and Money Math Skills: Budgeting, reading menus, and calculating tips
- Social Skills: Greeting servers, placing orders, and using appropriate behavior
- Problem-solving Skills: Handling unexpected challenges, like changes in plans or menu substitutions
Every part of the outing, from planning to paying, is a chance to prepare your students for adult life, because community outings like this can be incorporated into academics.
So, how can you teach these skills effectively through restaurant trips?
Prep Before You Go
Preparation is key to making your restaurant trip smooth and meaningful. Before the trip, dedicate some classroom time to teach your students what to expect and how to navigate common restaurant scenarios.
Introducing Restaurant Skills Through Lessons
Set the stage by teaching important restaurant-related skills, such as different ways to order, paying the bill, and tipping etiquette.
To make these lessons engaging and accessible for all learners, use differentiation or a variety of teaching tools:
- Show a restaurant-related animated video that depicts what happens during a typical restaurant visit.
- Use simple, step-by-step presentations that outline key restaurant skills, such as reading the menu, ordering, and paying. Include visuals and scenarios to make the lessons relatable.
- Set up a mock restaurant in the classroom and have your students role-play different restaurant scenarios like splitting the check.
- Use printable worksheets to reinforce skills like tipping, menu math, and budgeting.
If you’re short on time, this Eating Out at Restaurants Lesson and Video can save you the hassle of creating everything from scratch. It includes an animated video and a structured lesson plan for teaching restaurant skills.
Planning the Trip
Always involve your students when planning for class trips, from decision-making to logistics. This provides opportunities to practice their research, math, and organizational skills—all while building excitement for the outing!
- Choosing the Restaurant
Picking a restaurant teaches your students how to research, compare options, and make choices based on their preferences, budget, and location.
Have your students look up restaurants online. They can browse menus, check prices, and even look at reviews. You can also have them figure out how to get to each restaurant.
- Setting a Budget
Creating a budget plan and sticking to it are critical life skills. Your students can learn how to handle money and make practical decisions.
To teach this, provide your students with a sample menu and a budget. Have them calculate the cost of their meal, including taxes and a tip, and let them check if the total is within their limit.
A structured activity like this Community Trip Spending Plan can guide your students through the process step-by-step!
- Planning Transportation
Whether it’s public transit, walking, or driving, planning transportation develops independence and problem-solving skills.
Teach your students how to use apps or maps to find bus routes, estimate travel times, or plan carpools using this Travel and Transportation bundle!
- Making a Reservation
Reserving a table builds communication skills and introduces students to professional interactions.
You can have your students role-play calling or emailing the restaurant to practice, and then in the end, you can let them make actual reservations for the restaurant you’re visiting!
By involving your students in every aspect of planning, you give them a sense of ownership over the trip and prepare them to do this on their own in the future.
At the Restaurant
Once you’re at the restaurant, it’s time for students to put their preparation into action. Here are some key skills they’ll practice:
Practicing through Role-Play
Students will read the menu and decide what they’d like. Reading a menu develops functional reading and decision-making skills. Students learn how to locate information, understand food categories, and match their choices to their budgets.
Placing Orders
Next, students should order. Ordering food gives them practice in self-advocacy and communication. Depending on the student, this might mean:
- Writing it down to show their server
- Speaking directly to the server
- Pointing to the menu item
- Inputting their order into their AAC device so it speaks for them
These options ensure that every student can participate in a way that works for them!
Practicing Table Etiquette
Dining at the restaurant is also a perfect opportunity to put restaurant etiquette activities into practice. These skills go beyond just eating and table manners—they’re about communication, respect for others, and understanding expected behavior.
Knowing what to do at a table helps your students feel more at ease in formal or public dining situations.
Simple skills like saying “please” and “thank you,” using utensils, and staying seated teach your students how to navigate social settings politely and confidently.
Paying the Bill
Handling money is one of the most practical life skills your students can learn. This includes splitting the check when needed, calculating tips, and checking their change.
If tipping seems complicated, this Tipping in Restaurants Lesson can simplify it with visuals and practice worksheets!
After the Trip
Reflection is an important part of the learning process. Take time to talk about the experience. What did you enjoy? What was challenging? Ask them these questions so they can give their feedback about the restaurant trip.
Afterward, you can review the skills like calculating the total cost again or role-playing how to handle a mistake (like getting the wrong dish).
Then, remember to celebrate their success by recognizing their achievements to help build their self-esteem.
Have a Learning-Filled Restaurant Outing!
Restaurant trips are more than just outings—they’re opportunities to teach skills your students will use for the rest of their lives.
Try these tips to make the most out of your restaurant trip! And remember to start small, be flexible, and use ready-made resources to make things easier.
Ready to start planning?
Check out our Going Out to Eat at Restaurants GROWING BUNDLE for everything you need to teach skills related to restaurant skills!
