At a Grocery Store

Lesson Plan

 Unless you eat out in restaurants every day of the week, you will find yourself at a grocery store at some time to load up on goodies. As most people know, large supermarkets sell more than just food. They can sell everything from aspirin to zippers. There are several vocabulary terms that are commonly used with food and food containers. Look at these examples.
    Items
    cans- of tuna, peaches                      packages- of sausage, gravy mix
     bottles- of milk, soda                        box- of cereal, cake mix
     jars- of jelly, olives                             cartons- of milk, eggs
     bags- of chips, cookies                     tubes- of toothpaste   
     tubs- of butter
    Amounts
    pound- of hamburger, potatoes               bunch- of grapes, bananas
    head- of lettuce, cabbage                        gallon- (quart/pint/liter) of milk       
    loaf of- bread        
    Sections in a grocery store  

    check out line                                    

     produce- vegetables, fruit

     bakery- bread, pastry, rolls,

     canned goods- beans, tomato sauce, tuna fish

     dairy- milk, cheese, yogurt

     meat/fish/poultry- steaks, salmon, chicken           

     frozen foods-  ice cream, pizza, TV dinners

     health and beauty aides- shampoo, toothpaste, lip stick

     dry goods- toilet paper, paper napkins, laundry soap       

English Dialogue

Students should work together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used as a model to have similar conversations.

Husband: Do you have the shopping list?
Wife: Me? I thought you brought it?
Husband: No. I thought you did. Oh, well, we’ll have to rely on our memories.
Wife: We need some refried beans for tostados. I think it’s on aisle 3.
Husband: Here it is. Oh look, do you want to get some jalapeño’s?
Wife: Are you nuts? Those things will set my mouth on fire. Let’s go to the produce
   section, we need fruit for the kids’ lunches.
Husband: How about these apples?
Wife: I don’t think they want apples. Last time we bought them they were mealy, and
   they refused to eat them. These grapes look good. How many should I get?
Husband: Get two bunches, no three. I’ll eat some for a snack.
Wife: OK, on to the meat section. You wanted some hamburger, right?
Husband: Yes, get about three pounds. Be sure it’s lean. Do we still have plenty of
   bacon and sausage for breakfast.
Wife: Yes, but that reminds me, we have no eggs. We should get 2 cartons.
Husband: What size carton- a dozen, a dozen and a half, or two dozen?
Wife: The two dozen carton. We need milk, right?
Husband: Yes, on to the dairy section. Here’s the milk. What kind should we get-
   whole,  2%, or skim? And how much?
Wife: Get 2%, the kids won’t drink skim milk. Get a gallon jug.
Husband: Do we need any cheese?
Wife: Yes, we’ll need some for the pizza on Tuesday. Get two large packages. Do we
   have everything?
Husband: We had better get Kool-Aid; if we don’t the kids will have a fit.
Wife: You’re right. I think Kool-Aid is on aisle 7. What flavor- cherry, orange, or grape?
Husband: Get all three. I need some shaving cream and razor blades. Which way to
   the health and beauty section?
Wife: It’s to the right, three aisles down. We also need deodorant.
Husband: Right, spray or roll on?
Wife: Roll on.
Husband: I just thought of something else. We need some bread and pastry.
Wife: The bakery is that way. How many loaves should we get?
Husband: One loaf of whole wheat and one loaf of sour dough. And a dozen    croissants.
Wife: That’s everything. Let’s go to the checkout.
Husband: Oops. I only have five dollars. Did you bring your checkbook?
Wife: No, but there’s an ATM near the front door. You go get the cash and I’ll get in
   line at the check out counter. 

After reading, close your book and tell your partner a summary of the dialogue. Then switch and have your partner tell his or her summary. Start like this: This dialogue is about a husband and wife at a grocery store. They bought …This may seem silly, since you both already know what the dialogue is about, but the purpose is to practice using your English, not to give information or test your reading skills.

Conversation Activities

1. Pair work- discussion
     Do you go to the grocery store often? Tell your partner about it using some of the ideas
      for discussion below. Your partner should ask questions to get more information.

 when do you go
where do you go- a supermarket or local mom and pop store
what kind of food do you usually buy
how often do you go 

  2. Pair work- role play
       Working with a partner, role play the situation, using the information below
             The situation: At a grocery store
            The roles: A husband and wife or two roommates

laundry soap                   corn chips                 eggs

can of tomatoes              salt                            pepper

oranges                           face soap                  bacon

onion                               garlic                         bell pepper

cereal                              rice                            chicken

12 pack of beer               milk                            salsap; salsa

bread                               tissue                        cooking oil

flour                                 brown sugar               honey

grape jelly                        toilet paper                Q-tips

basil leaves                      water melon               can of pork and beans

blue berry yogurt             kitchen cleanser         canned apricots

from http://www.hotel-tefl.com/yadayadaenglish/grocery/