Grocery Store Week I

Grocery Store Week I was marked by abundant learning opportunities as the children engaged in a myriad of subject integrated activities.

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and learning through Play

This week I would like to guide you through a closer look at how "well stocked" our Grocery Store is with rich learning opportunities!

Our Grocery Store theme is the first of several units of study that is rooted in Dramatic Play and has all subject areas integrated within its content.    At its most basic level, our classroom Grocery Store promotes social interaction among the students and is a catalyst for moving the children from parallel to interactive play as they engage one another within the roles of shopper and cashier.  Social skills are reinforced as the children take turns and share equipment within these roles.  Language skills are also utilized and expanded upon as they play and interact. 

Emergent reading and writing skills are incorporated and practiced as the children identify and read labels such as "Cheerios", and write shopping lists.  We even expand on our Spanish vocabulary as we learn new words such as; ensalada (salad), leche (milk), queso (cheese), juego (juice), papa (potato) and pollo (chicken). 

Math concepts are incorporated as the children play with, sort and manipulate real and play money within free play, during table-top time and within story and class discussion time.  The children practice identifying pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, as well as $1, $5, $10, $20 and $100.  We introduce the concept of "quantity" as we discus which "money" is bigger or more.  The children are fascinated with this exploration, and many of them demonstrate understanding of the  concepts introduced.

The children's body of information is expanded upon at Story Time as we read both fiction and non-fiction books about the grocery store, and learn related songs and finger plays.  Our Story Time class discussions are rooted in Social Studies and Health Science. Social Studies discussions include talking about the various departments within the Grocery Store in preparation for our field trip to Price Chopper.  Most of the children can name the items that are found within the Produce, Dairy, Bakery, Deli, Meat and Fish departments.  Additionally, they are acquiring a basic understanding of the farm to store  journey of  fruits, vegetables and milk.  Health Science discussions center around identifying and being sure to eat "healthy" foods before eating smaller quantities of snack and dessert foods.  Here again, the children demonstrate immense interest in and enthusiasm for these discussions.  All of the children possess some experience with regard to Grocery Stores.  They are subsequently eager and proud to share their knowledge and feel empowered by the process of doing so! 

As always our theme is reflected at the Art Table.  Cognitive and fine motor skills are practiced and reinforced as the children paint signs and glue money, coupon and food collages!  

The timing of our Grocery Store is very strategic as we spend more time in the classroom and less time outdoors during the winter months.  More importantly, by January the children are socially, emotionally and cognitively ready to grow by leaps and bounds within an age-appropriate experiential classroom!  We need only to carefully set up the environment and allow the children time to explore and engage freely.  In a word, let them "play"!  As an Early Childhood Educator, I believe that "Play" is one of the highest levels of intellectual engagement, for play involves exploring the world of possibilities without being bound to or limited by perceived certainty!  It is a joy to watch your children play and grow daily! 

Have a fun and restful weekend!