Let's go out… to a supermarket
Let's go on a sensory journey to a supermarket. What sensory stories are you going to enjoy?
There are many delicious things to buy at a supermarket. What would you buy?
Make your journey more sensory. Try using any of these items while watching. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything or there are things you don’t want to include. Make your sensory journey one you will enjoy.
- Say hello: Look at yourself in a mirror
- Touch: A variety of containers and food stuffs to expand your shopping experience.
- Smell: A scented candle, flowers or toast some bread for the smell of the bakery.
- Taste: Have some nice treats to eat that you have bought from the supermarket.
- See: Bright coloured packaging
- Sound: A beeping sound for the till
Get your trolley for your shopping trip
Image source, BBCTrolleys rattle and clang with a metallic bang and people will talk and shout. It might get a little loud sometimes but we can help push our shopping about.
Let's get active
- Fill a bag with metallic object to create a rattling noise.
- Supermarket sounds (beeping, talking, shouting laughing).
- Make your own supermarket with empty bottles and boxes.
- Trolley.
The hum of the fridge
Image source, BBCFridges keep our food cold and fresh while they hum and light up the food. You’ll find yogurts, milk, cheeses and ham in there, hmmmm I bet they taste good.
Let's get active
- Mini fridge but if one is not available, place cooled items on a small shelf for pupils to select and place in the trolley.
- Humming sound.
- Fan to make the room a little cooler but also for the noise it generates.
There are treats to be found in the bakery
Image source, BBCThe bakery smells of bread that has just been cooking. Croissants, rolls and doughnuts, it’s hard to tells what’s the best looking.
Let's get active
- Bakery food items to show the different styles and options.
- Paper bags to let them put items in and enjoy the rustling sound.
- Create a bread smell by toasting some bread.
There are many colours in the fruit and vegetable aisle
Image source, BBCThe fruit and vegetables aisle has strange smells in the air as there’s lots of tasty food in there. From pineapples to peppers, blueberries to beets there’s always something good to eat.
Let's get active
- Selection of plastic fruits and vegetables. You can also provide small tasters of the food for additional sensory exploration.
- Paper bags to let them put items in and enjoy the rustling sound.
- Mixed berry smells/fruit smells/car air fresheners.
There are many smells in the health and beauty aisle
Image source, BBCThe supermarket has lots of smells in the air, from washing powder to perfume to shampoo for your hair. You might like one smell better than the rest so use your nose to see which one you like best.
Let's get active.
- Have some empty washing powder boxes but ensure there are no remaining grains in the box.
- Have a selection of soaps with different scents, allow pupils to explore smells.
You might feel cold when you reach the freezer aisle
Image source, BBCThe frozen section is where all the chilly food is kept, like pizzas and ice cubes and even better yet; there’s treat and lollies of every flavour you can dream and best of all there’s tasty ice cream.
Let's get active
- Frozen goods containers.
- Ice cubes/crushed ice for items to rest in.
- Small frozen treat like an ice lolly.
A list will help you when you go shopping
Image source, BBCThere’s so much to see in supermarket like this, I’ll check my list again, what did I miss?
Let's get active
- A variety of containers/food stuffs not found in other sections to expand their shopping experience.
- Ensure there is a variety of smells, textures, sizes, weights, consistencies for the children to explore independently.
- Try some matching games like object to picture or smell to item.
- Fill a bag with metallic objects to make a rattling noise.
- Supermarket sounds (beeping, talking, shouting laughing).
- Make your own supermarket with empty bottles and boxes.
- Trolley.
Head to the checkout to pay for your shopping
Image source, BBCThe checkout is the last stop of our trip as the machines scans all our food with a ‘blip’, we fill our bags right up to the top and when we’ve paid our money our shop has come to a stop.
Let's get active
- Make a small Checkout area where students 'scan' items and ensure there is a beeping sound, encourage pupils to participate.
- Plastic bags for packing
- Coins
Pupils may be encouraged to try a selection of food items (savoury) from the shopping trip.
These sensory stories were all created with advice from the National Autistic Society and Autism NI.
Where next?
Discover more from around Bitesize.
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Lets go on a sensory journey to a supermarket
The Parents' Toolkit. collection
Activities, advice and personal stories about parenting and special educational needs and disabilities to help you support your family.
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