Minds On
Food on the Move
It’s time to play a game. You will now access Food on the Move. Follow the instructions in the game to select the grocery items that you need to make your meal. Next, select three food items and make your meal add up to the target combo total.
Did you know that some items do not have sales tax added to them? These essential items can be found at the grocery store. Examples include fruits and vegetables, most milk products, meat, poultry and fish, eggs and coffee.
Press the ‘TVO mPower’ button to access Food on the Move.

Press the TVO mPower button to access Food on the Move. You will need an mPower login to access the game.
TVO mPower (Opens in a new tab)Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
With a partner, if possible, discuss the following questions about the game:
1. What mental math strategies did you use to ensure that your meal met the target combo total?
2. What other factors do we need to consider in our food bill?
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Action
Sales tax
In this learning activity, we are going to learn a new term. It is called sales tax.
What is sales tax? In Ontario, sales tax is referred to as HST, which stands for harmonized sales tax.
It is composed of 8% provincial sales tax and 5% federal sales tax for a combined total of 13% sales tax.
As a consumer, we need to consider that sales tax is added to certain goods and services that we purchase, which will change the total amount of the purchase.
Examine the video below to learn more about sales tax.
How can I calculate sales tax?
Let’s pretend that you went to the store and bought some books for you and your sibling. We know that HST is 13%, which means that 13% will be added to the total cost of the books you purchased.
How can you calculate that?
First, a percentage of a number is always out of 100 so that means that 13% = 13 parts of 100. In decimal form, it looks like this: 0.13 (thirteen hundredths).
Now, you need to multiply the total cost of your books (Let’s pretend it is $28.00) and the 0.13 together.
28 x 0.13 = 3.64
This means that you will have to add $3.64 to the $28.00 the cost of your books.
$28.00 + $3.64 = $31.64
Therefore, in total, your books will cost $31.64.
Math congress
Let’s explore some addition strategies to find the sum of food items to solve the following math problem:
A grade 5 student was very hungry. They chose the following items in their lunch combo: sushi ($10.96), salad ($9.06), and milk ($2.28)
1. How much money did the student spend on their food combo before sales tax?
2. How much money is the food combo after sales tax (reference the instructions above)?
Complete the RICE Strategy Organizer in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable organizer.
What strategy did you use to solve this math problem? If possible, share your strategy with a partner. Did you use the same strategy? Were they similar?
Consolidation
Menu activity
Below is an image of a menu for a Restaurant. Listed on the menu are the following foods and prices:
- Spring Roll $3.00
- Salad Roll $3.00
- Wonton $5.00
- Chicken or Pork Chow Mein $8.00
- Chicken or Beef with Broccoli $8.00
- Szechuan Chicken or Beef $9.00
- Shrimp and Chicken $10.00
- Steamed Rice $3.00
- Soft Drinks $1.50
- Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate $1.50
You are excited to try the new restaurant in your hometown that just opened. Your boss has given you and your three other employees a $100.00 gift card to the restaurant as a congratulations for the work you have done. You and your co-workers decide to have dinner at the restaurant. Calculate the cost of your meal, including sales tax. Don’t forget to tip! Tips are important to restaurant workers and are usually around 15%
You can use an oral description of the group meal, a strategy of your choice, or the Rice Strategy Organizer in your notebook or using the following fillable organizer to help you find the total cost of the meal including sales tax.
Reflection
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.
Discover MoreCalculate the sales tax
Now you try! Find five items and calculate the sales tax by any method you have learned so far.
Consider using one of the resources to help out:
- grocery app on a device
- grocery flyers that may come to your home
- advertised pricing you may see on a tv commercial or hear on the radio
- a price tag or price label that you may see when you are shopping