Fun Learning Activities: 25+ Things Kids Can Learn from the Grocery Store

Fun Grocery Store Learning Activities: 25+ Things Kids Can Learn from the Grocery Store was written by contributing writer Becky from This Reading Mama.

When I had children, I began viewing my trips to the grocery store in a whole new light. I realized that the grocery store could actually be educational – a built in weekly field trips of sorts full of grocery store learning activities!

I have been absolutely amazed at the things my kids have learned while shopping with me at the grocery store. I thought it would be fun to share a few of these learning experiences.

Before I share some ideas, I want to give this disclaimer: pick the prime time to go to the store to make the most of your trip. Being a homeschooling mom, I have the privilege of going during the “off” times, when there aren’t many shoppers in the store. I’ve found weekdays are the best days. You also want to choose the best time of day to go.

For my crew, that’s right after breakfast with bellies full and everyone well rested. Crowded stores, hungry bellies, and whiny children don’t lend themselves to a great learning environment.

With that being said, let’s get to the fun stuff.

Fun Grocery Store Learning Activities: 25+ Things Kids Can Learn from the Grocery Store

Math

• Price comparison: “I could buy this bacon at 2 for $3 or this one at $3.27. Which one is the better deal?”
• Comparing price by ounce, mixing in some measurement.
• Using coupons throws a whole other math skill into the mix. “If I get this one at half off, but have a coupon that doubles, what would the price be?” Honestly, I gave up coupons at baby #4, but some people can do it and not pull their hair out. My hat’s off to you!
• Grocery Store Math for Kids Ages 2-6 {tons of math ideas!}

 Literacy

• Write a shopping list together {even young children can do this}
• Make a checklist master grocery shopping list and have older children help to find what items you need and mark them on the master list
• Create a shopping list or BINGO game with the names of the items the child is looking for

• Environmental print – one of the first things kids “read.” Cut apart boxed items after they’ve been used at home, hole punch them, and put them together on a ring {I used pipe cleaners}. These can be changed out and kids can use them to find specific things in the store. You can also make books from environmental print.
• Find items that start with specific letters of the alphabet
• Teaching vocabulary words such as ripen, harvest, selection, poultry, or perishable 

Geography/Social Studies

• Where does the food come from? Find or jot down different names of countries and locate them on the map when you return home.
• Left and right: from which side of the aisle you should walk on to which way to turn. I think this is honestly where my kids learned their left from right.
• Wants vs. needs – especially while in line with all that candy in your kids’ faces

Science

• Healthy foods vs. unhealthy foods
• Balanced meals
• Parts of plants {onion=root, lettuce=leaf, etc.}
• Needs of plants

Integrate Many Content Areas in Your Grocery Store Learning Activities

• My favorite activities are those that cover more than one content area at a time. I love Amy’s candy aisle learning.
• From reading to colors to making tally marks, here are 10+ ways to teach at the grocery store.
• More learning at the grocery store ideas
• Here is another set of learning activities at the grocery store with different levels of each activity based on age
• Grocery shopping worksheets and activities

Extend the Play at Home

• Once the food has been eaten, use the boxes or cans for pretend play. Rotate them out.
• Place a price on those items or use fake money and practice math skills.

Melissa and Doug Metal Shopping Cart for Kids

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Fun Grocery Store Learning Activities: 25+ Things Kids Can Learn from the Grocery Store was originally published on June 5, 2013. It was most recently updated in February 2018.