Let's go to the shop
You’ll need
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- A4 paper
- Coloured pens or pencils
- Old magazines or leaflets
Before you begin
- Let parents and carers know that this activity will involve visiting a shop, to explore where food comes from. Ask them to bring £2 in for their child to spend on something healthy. Everyone will need to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the walk to the shop.
- Decide on a local shop to go to, and a safe route to get there. Somewhere within a 10- to 15-minute walk is probably best. Talk to the shop first to let them know you would like to come. This will help them be prepared for your visit and may allow them to help you more.
- Make sure you’ve risk assessed your visit to the shop and the route to get there, and that you’ve got enough adults to supervise the group. You may need extra adult help for this activity.
- If it suits your group better, you could set up your own pretend shop, with play money and a range of food products with price tags.
- Source the magazines and leaflets – try large supermarkets to find copies of free food magazines. If you haven’t got any old magazines or leaflets, try printing off pictures, or asking everyone to draw what they want to Remember to recycle any paper after the activity.
Story time
- Everyone should sit in a circle.
- Someone should read Pasta Panic by Abiee Harris.
- After reading the story, everyone should take some time to reflect on it as a group. We’ve included some questions to help you reflect in the pink box below.
The plan for tea was a yummy pasta. It was M’s favourite. When the spaghetti was slippery and slurpy – that was when M thought it was the best.
“Oh no!” Jo said from the kitchen. M knew it couldn’t be good.
“We’ve got no spaghetti left,” said Jo. “We’ll have to have fusilli.”
“But it’s not the same.” M was feeling very disappointed.
Jo suggested that instead of going to the park that afternoon, they went to the shops instead. M didn’t use usually go to the shops. It was something the grown-ups did while M was at school.
M was so relieved that there was a plan to get some spaghetti! But before they went anywhere, Jo said they needed to make a list.
“It’s no good going to the shops without a list – we won’t know what we need,” Jo said. “What needs to be first on the list?”
“Spaghetti!” M shouted.
Jo added a few more things and before long the list was filling up a whole piece of paper. M was looking forward to the trip to the shop.
When they got to the shop, M saw some little trollies. They were great fun! While Jo was reading out the shopping list, M could help by picking things up to buy too. It was even more of an adventure.
After choosing some vegetables, they turned into the aisle with all the dry food. There was so much pasta, in all different shapes and sizes!
“Here’s the spaghetti!” M said, taking a packet off the shelf. Together they crossed it off the shopping list. It was first thing on the list, and the most important.
By Abiee Harris
What do you want to buy?
- The person leading the activity should explain that everyone will be going on a trip to a local shop, and that everyone will have a small amount of money to spend on something healthy.
- Everyone should look through the magazines or leaflets and choose some tasty healthy food that they want to buy with their money.
- Everyone should make their own shopping list by cutting out and sticking the image on a piece of paper. Or they could draw or write down the name of the item.
We’re off to the shops!
- The person leading the activity should make sure everyone is ready for their walk to the shops and understands how to stay safe, especially when near or crossing roads.
- Everyone should set off to the shop, making sure to stay together and stay safe.
- At the shop, everyone can be given their £2, and adults can support the group to find what’s on their shopping list and check the cost.
Where does our food come from?
- For each food item purchased, everyone should think about where it came from before it got to the shop.
- Adults should support everyone to pay for their item(s) themselves, and explore any coins they get as change. Can they identify the coins? Can they count or add up the coins?
Time to go
- When everyone has found and paid for some healthy food, the group should head back to the meeting place together. Remember to focus on road safety as everyone will be excited about what they’ve just done.
- Everyone can share what they bought with the rest of the group, and where the food comes from.
Reflection
This activity was about learning to live healthily by exploring where food comes from, and being responsible. By giving everyone opportunities to become more independent, make decisions and build practical skills. Everyone will have developed some money skills during this activity – learning about the values of different items and exploring some different coins.
Pasta Panic
- What type of pasta did Jo run out of?
- How can you help someone with their shopping when you next go with them?
What do you want to buy?
- Why is it good to make a shopping list?
- Why is it good to eat healthy foods?
We’re off to the shops!
- Did you find what was on your shopping list? Was it easy or difficult to find?
- What was it like to go shopping yourself?
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
- Scissors
Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
- Outdoor activities
You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast, and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.
- Road safety
Manage groups carefully when near or on roads. Consider adult supervision and additional equipment (such as lights and high visibility clothing) in your risk assessment.
- Visits away from your meeting place
Complete a thorough risk assessment and include hazards, such as roads, woodland, plants, animals, and bodies of water (for example, rivers, ponds, lakes, and seas). You’ll probably need more adult helpers than usual. Your risk assessment should include how many adults you need. The young people to adult ratios are a minimum requirement. When you do your risk assessment, you might decide that you need more adults than the ratio specifies. Think about extra equipment that you may need to take with you, such as high visibility clothing, a first aid kit, water, and waterproofs. Throughout the activity, watch out for changes in the weather and do regular headcounts.
- Food
Remember to check for allergies, eating problems, fasting or dietary requirements and adjust the recipe as needed. Make sure you’ve suitable areas for storing and preparing food and avoid cross contamination of different foods. Take a look at our guidance on food safety and hygiene.
Everyone can explore what country their item might have come from. Do they think it’s from this country or another country? Adults can help them find out.
Make sure the route and the shop you choose is accessible for everyone.
Remember that everyone’s situations will be different, and some households may not have £2 to spare. Instead of everyone bringing money, the group could work together to create a shopping list of healthy snacks for future meetings or create a pretend shop in your meeting place.
Whenever you’re talking about food, remember that everyone’s situations will be different. Some households may be able to easily afford to buy any food they like, whereas others may rely on help from food banks or have fewer choices at the supermarket.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Take your shopping list and item home with you, to share with family and friends. Next time you have a snack or meal at home, can you find out where the food comes from?
Everyone should have the opportunity to choose what healthy item to buy, and get fully involved in the shopping experience.