When you are there
Play rainbow search (ages 2 to 5)
Children can find items on vendors' tables or carts that match the colors in the Rainbow Search Grid in their Day-Trip Diaries. Once a matching item is spotted, children can draw a picture of the food or craft in the square next to the color. If children are uncertain of item's identity, they can ask the vendor.
aMake purchases (ages 2 to 6)
Children can begin learning more about weights, measures, counting and finances if they are allotted small sums of money to make purchases. Purchases may be carried home in their market bags or eaten at the market if a facility exists to wash the food.
Do the shopping (ages 6 to 10)
Children can scout the market for the best prices of items on their shopping lists and then make purchases. Prices paid for each item can be recorded on the shopping list next to the item. The cost of their meal may tallied once all the purchases are made. Produce should be carefully stored in market bags. This exercise builds confidence and independence, and offers a basic lesson in comparative shopping.
Play alphabet search (ages 6 to 10)
Children can search for items that represent the letters of alphabet. Results re recorded in their day trip diaries. Children may compare their results after he outing. This is a good diversion if shopping is complete and adults are still browsing.
Caution: Ensure children do not wander through the market unattended.
Follow up activities
Make placemats with fruit and vegetable stamps (ages 2 to 5)
AND
Make a squash tea light centerpiece (ages 6 to 10)
Excerpted from Let's Get Going by Candace Weisner. Copyright 2004 by Candace Weisner. Excerpted, with permission by Red Deer Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
