Wednesday, April 28, 2021

The Roming Giant - Play in our classroom

 The Roming Giant Restaurant

Play in Room19 - The organic growth of our classroom restaurant (8.30-9.00 am, in Term 1 2021)


Lines at the cash flow machine, and one customer having a sandwich.

Breakfast Platter

Rules were created for the restaurant, dog area, and cash flow machine - I wonder if this came from the Tree Hut treaty lessons where they were asked to create a tree hut treaty.


  • Began on a table when some of the students found a box of plastic plates, cups, and food (Mackenzie, Zoe, Malia)

  • I suggested that they use a corner of the classroom to set it up.

  • Students created a restaurant including a sign, mascot (Ted), Menus (for kids and adults).

  • I suggested that they include all students in the class. They created rules, started making money (AJ), positions (manager, chefs, mascots, dishwashers, clients, etc). Other students joined in - Ted, Isaiah, Beau, Elijah, AJ, Hannah, Anwar.

  • Students created alternative ingredients with paper (special spices, coffee etc).

  • The restaurant became very popular, serving parents, students from other classes and there was always a long line.

  • I printed some bilingual menus with prices. They liked them but thought the prices were far to low so crossed them out and charged more.

  • Some students really like dogs and became Dog Chefs.

  • Another teacher wrote a letter of complaint from the council about the  ‘Dog Chefs’

  • The students then created a dog corner away from the restaurant.

  • I asked them what would happen if Covid hit?

  • Students made phones so they could ring through the orders and deliveries.

  • The restaurant was getting too small I suggested they do some renovations. They pushed the cupboard out and created an oven. 

  • Word got around and someone in the other class opened up a Countdown. This countdown closed so a new one opened up in Room19.

  • Jacinda Ardern (Malia) came to visit the restaurant (one of the students who had dressed up as Jacinda for her role model). A new breakfast platter was created especially for her.

  • I now get a breakfast platter in the mornings.

  • They won't open till the manager (Zoe) arrives with the key.

  • The staff got sick of customers not having the right cash so they created an ATM and all now have ATM cards.

  • I talked to them about paywave and pin numbers and showed them my card with the logos on it.

  • They decided to keep the pin numbers - because it was much more fun.

  • I talked to the Roaming Giant Manager about our Restaurant and he said to send through some pics and he would try to arrange something (maybe pizzas).



WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS