AVID Middle Schoolers Create Grocery Store Experience for 2nd Graders

A group of innovative middle school students recently brought learning to life by building a fully functional grocery store for second graders to explore. The project began with a simple idea: create a realistic shopping experience using empty food containers, custom barcodes, and a spreadsheet-based checkout system. With support from teachers, students collected materials, categorized items, and designed store departments like “Snacks.” They also took on roles such as manager, cashier, and stocker, complete with name tags and an employee wall. After several practice runs to fine-tune the process, the store was ready for its young shoppers.

Before their visit, the second graders watched a commercial and reviewed a flyer to get familiar with the store layout and prices. On the big day, they arrived with shopping lists for a pretend sleepover and were greeted by middle schoolers who gave them a tour and handed out play money. The younger students eagerly navigated the aisles, adjusted their lists when items were out of stock, and practiced budgeting at the register. The event was a joyful blend of creativity, collaboration, and real-world learning. Looking ahead, the team hopes to enhance the experience with student-led research, more strategic pricing, and possibly a field trip to a real grocery store.