A Trip to the Grocery Store – Part 2
by Connie Trautman

Today, we are going to visit an American grocery store. Bring this lesson with you because we will be looking for items in the store. Your leader will help you find your way around. You will be able to ask your leader all the questions you have about shopping in America.

The supermarket or grocery store is broken down into departments.The departments are called Produce, Meat, Dairy, Deli, Bakery or Baked Goods and Frozen. There is also shelf space reserved for canned and packaged goods. You will also find shelf space for nonfood items such as household cleaners, paper products, medicine, clothing and pet supplies.

  1. Where would you find the following items?

IWC Lessons
A Trip to the Grocery Store – Part 2
 International Students, Inc. 2011

Broccoli

Apple Juice

Bean sprouts

Shrimp

Sugar

Soup

Angel food cake

Eggs

Butter

Ginger

Pasta

Aspirin

IWC Lessons
A Trip to the Grocery Store – Part 2
 International Students, Inc. 2011

PRODUCE Department

  1. Find five fruits or vegetables that you eat once a week.
  1. Find three deep-yellow or orange fruits or vegetables.
  1. Find three types of berries.
  1. What new vegetables or fruits would you like to try?
  1. Name one interesting fact you learned about the produce section.

MEAT Department

  1. What is on sale this week?
  2. How much is a pound of hamburger (ground beef)?
  3. There are many kinds of ground beef. What is the difference?
  4. What if you cannot find the cut of meat you want? Can you ask for different cuts of meat?

DAIRY Department

  1. What kind of milk do you purchase?
  1. 1%, 2%, low fat, no fat, whipping cream, half and half – What does all this mean?

DELI Department

  1. What items are available in the DELI department?
  2. How much do I have to order? Can I just purchase 2 slices of ham?

Miscellaneous Helps

  1. What are the displays at the end of the aisles called?
  2. Why do you think stores have end caps?Display items on sale, or items that have a shelf life, or items that are popular during holiday seasons.
  3. What types of items are located at the checkout counters?
  4. Why do you think these impulse items are located at the checkout counters? What is impulse buying?(People don’t plan to buy these things but are tempted to purchase them when they are waiting in line. The store is able to sell more items this way.)
  1. What do you notice about the way products are placed on the shelves? (Did you notice that many items are placed at children’s eye level? The more expensive items are placed at the adult eye level. Be sure to look on the top shelves.)

IWC Lessons
A Trip to the Grocery Store – Part 2
 International Students, Inc. 2011