Your local farmer’s market is a great alternative to the grocery store. The variety and selection during peak seasons can’t be beaten. A farmer’s market also provides a venue to meet up with friends and try something from a new cottage business like beef jerky or wildflower jam. Your farmer’s market is a perfect classroom offering lessons in math, comparison shopping, entrepreneur skills, conversation, art and more.
Real-world opportunity is the best way to learn skills first hand. Use different money strategies for your visit, along with seeing and tasting a variety of foods. Take your children on an outdoor lesson and create a new environment for learning.
The farmer’s market can be an opportunity to use a budget to buy fruit and vegetables for a week. I call it the Farmer’s Market Challenge. The power of your plate is totally in your children’s hands. Give them a certain dollar about to be spent for food for your family for one week. If you have more than one child, give one fruit to buy, the other vegetables, and split it up among them. Our challenge is usually $5 each. It may take a few visits, and running out of fruit, for children to understand the quantity needed and quality. This is excellent in critical thinking.
What lessons could be learned at the market?
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Understanding the true cost of food per family.
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Learn about comparison shopping. Which goes farther, a large watermelon or several small fruits?
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Seasonal foods are cheaper and healthier.
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Learning to speak to vendors, ask about their food, will they bargain?
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Cost per item mathematics, is 3 for $1 cheaper than 40 cents each?
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Use the scales to weigh out and calculate the price.
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Interview the sellers, did they grow the food, where did it come from?
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Compare different booths for the price and quality differences.
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Does the cost come down if you buy in bulk or damaged?
- What does it take to set up and sell at a Farmer’s Market?
Use the Farmer’s Market Challenge sheet on your visit to a farmer’s market.
This experiment can also be done in a grocery store if a market is not close by. A flea market can also give you the same experience for different items.
Other Learning Opportunities:
One of our goals with this type of lesson is learning to speak to people. Markets have all personalities in one spot and it gives children the chance to speak up, ask questions and make decisions that will affect the family’s food choices for that week. This will create more confidence and the exposure will carry over into other areas of life.
Reading List:
Ox Cart Man, Donald Hall
Market Math for Beginners: Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, Grade 1-3, Remedia Publications
Market Math: Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide Grades 3-6, Remedia Publications
Grandpa’s Corner Store, DyAnne DiSalvo
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