The purpose of this project is to teach students the life skills they need when dining in public. The project begins with a discussion of eating out and the students are polled as to how often, if ever, they eat in a restaurant with their family. Students next brainstorm the reasons why people eat out, and the types of restaurants that are available. The vocabulary associated with menus is introduced and students examine actual menus from different restaurants. Novels or picture books that relate to dining out are utilized. A mock restaurant is one activity that the students most enjoy. Cooperative groups are formed and each group makes a "reservation" for the next class period. When students arrive to the class the following day, they wait until their table is called and are then seated. Each group is given menus from the same restaurant and they proceed to complete an order form, with each student ordering an appetizer, entree, dessert and beverage. The group works together to total their bill and compute their tax and gratuity.