Materials
cardboard
markers
scissors
construction paper in blue and black
white glue
silver or gold paper
6" paper plate
20-mm wiggle eyes
1" x 6" craft stick
Instructions
1. Assemble and display a variety of play food and pictures on a table in the
housekeeping area.
2. Lead the children in this informal activity of organizing the foods into similar
categories.
3. Ask a child to place one of the pictures of food, such as a hamburger, on a
shelf in the toy refrigerator.
4. Encourage the other children to choose foods that would fit into the chosen
category (meats) from the plastic foods.
5. When all items are chosen for that category, briefly discuss how the items are
similar. Brainstorm other items that might fit on the shelf as well.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 using other categories of food. Continue until all
the items are inside the refrigerator.
7. An alternative to this activity is to categorize food based on color, size, and so
on.
