Grocery Store and More!

Grocery stores provide multiple opportunities for learning; counting, comparing attributes, describing objects, events, and relations, and using vocabulary related to a particular situation, just to name a few.

In Magic Kingdom this week we spent time exploring grocery stores; making purchases, waiting in line, talking about items which can be found in a grocery store, and solving problems related to materials.

We set up a pretend grocery store in our classroom composed of items donated by our families. The children were given fifteen counting bears as their currency, each representing one dollar. The children gathered items off the shelves and placed them into their mesh shopping bags. They then waited in line to pay for their treasures. In order to aid the children in grasping the concept that each item costs money they were required to pull one item out of their bag at a time and pay for it individually. Many of the children noticed that with each purchase they made the less currency they had in their possession. After they completed checking-out they returned their purchases to the shelf for another friend to take a turn.

As an extension to the grocery store exploration the children were provided with a tremendous opportunity to make and eat a food often consumed in Japan, another culture represented in our classroom. We received a visit from two of our mom's who helped us make Japanese Rice Balls. The children were encouraged to stir the rice and seasoning mix, mold the rice into balls, and eat their creation. A surprising number, 14 out of 19, children enjoyed their rice balls; some asked for seconds (and thirds)!

Next time you are in the grocery store take time to have a purposeful conversation with the child about the process you are taking to choose items; those that cost less money, are you using a list, searching for a favorite brand, buying multiple items because it is something consumed often by your family. Allow your child to pay the cashier for an item to help them experience that actual give and take of money.

The children of Magic Kingdom thoroughly enjoyed their grocery store exploration. Who knew that we could learn so much from going grocery shopping?