Before the holiday break, Heather's Grade 3 class went on a grocery store field trip - but this wasn't your typical shopping run. They had a special mission to help their local food bank.
Here's how Heather explained it to families:
“Our goal is to raise money to buy food for the parish's food bank. The kids will start to understand how expensive things are when they take their money to the grocery store to buy food (a dinner plan that they have previously planned out). Combining math skills, community and caring for our greater good, the students will learn the importance of how expensive things are and putting others' needs in front of their own.”
The kids kicked things off by collecting recyclable cans to fund their shopping trip. And wow, did they deliver - raising $300! Each group got $42 to spend.
Meal Planning 🍎
The groups started by planning their meals. Since everyone brought their own ideas and family favorites to the table, no two shopping lists looked the same. This led to some fantastic discussions about different foods and cooking styles!
Before hitting the store, they did their homework - checking grocery flyers and peeking in their pantries at home to get an idea of costs. They even mapped out their walking route to the store, turning their neighborhood into part of the lesson.
Trip to the Grocery Store 🛒
By pure happenstance, their field trip toques were Classmate coloured!
At the store is where the real fun began! Students worked together to compare prices, do some quick math, and make tough choices to stretch their dollars. One clever student even brought their mom's rewards card for extra savings!
Calculators out for quick budget checks!
After the shopping trip, the students used Seesaw to reflect on their experience, sharing something fun they did at the store, something they learned, and something they found challenging. This project was more than just a classroom activity—it was a lesson in empathy, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving.
Who knew grocery shopping could teach us so much? 😊
Meal Planning Lessons 🥗
For more food inspired ideas, check out Vol. 62 where we helped a Grade 7 class develop a cross curricular meal planning lesson.
Jen