Field Trip # 38: Compare Contrast Chinese Shopping

The point of this trip is to compare two big Chinese supermarkets that are right next to each other in Rockville. These supermarkets are huge in comparison to the smaller corner stores that you would find in DC which means that there are more products and also more room to fit a group of students. So why would you bring your students to a supermarket for a field trip?

Remember when you were in second grade and going to the post office or a local bakery was considered an acceptable field trip? Well think of this in the same manner but just as you were young and naive in second grade now you are a novice in another culture. So pack up your class and head to Maxim and Kam Sam markets which are basically across the street from each other.

You can structure this in so many different ways but I really think that you should try to use both of them in one day. First take it all in and check out the products that you may have never seen before.
These pictures give you a sense of the market and also Durian fruit and Shark Fin Soup which can be found in Kam Sam.

It is fun to check things out but lets start thinking about how this can be used academically. One idea is that you can compare prices at each market. The idea behind this is students could go to one market first to find and become familiar with items and then see how much better they can find items in the second store. They then can tabulate prices and make a decision of which market would make more sense. This would incoporate math skills and also get students familiar with new products that you can connect to a study of Chinese foodways.

A second idea could ease the numbers of your class and you could have a scavenger hunt in each market but split the numbers of students up so that you do not overwhelm one store. As always you will want to prep students so that they know how to act in an active supermarket so that they do not disturb other shoppers or offend shoppers through their behavior. You may want to come to each store and give them a heads up that you are coming but if your numbers are pretty low then you could just show up. Definitely go beforehand to get a sense of what things you would want your students to find.

Contact Info:
Kam Sam
300 North Washington St.
Rockville, MD 20850
301-315-9558

Maxim Supermarket

460 Hungerford Dr
Rockville, MD 20850

(301) 279-0110