Whole foods workers share samples with students.
Kindergarten students took learning beyond the classroom walls this week with an exciting and educational field trip to Whole Foods Market, bringing their CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) unit on farms to life in a meaningful, hands-on way.
As part of their CKLA learning, students have been exploring where food comes from, how farms operate, and the journey food takes before it arrives on our plates. The visit to Whole Foods provided a real-world connection to these lessons, helping students understand the important link between farms, farmers, and the food we eat every day.
From the moment they arrived, students were eager and curious. Many excitedly pointed out familiar foods they had learned about during the unit, including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, grains, and meats. Teachers guided students through the store, encouraging them to think about where each item originated and how it might have come from a farm.
One of the highlights of the trip was exploring the produce section. Students observed colorful displays of apples, carrots, lettuce, and berries while discussing which foods grow on plants, which grow underground, and which come from trees. These conversations reinforced CKLA vocabulary and concepts such as crops, harvest, and plant parts.
The class also learned about animal products, connecting back to lessons about farm animals. Students discussed how milk comes from cows, eggs come from chickens, and how farmers care for animals to provide food for families.
Whole Foods team members played an important role in the experience by welcoming the students and explaining how the store works. Students learned how food is delivered, how it is kept fresh, and why cleanliness and safety are so important when handling food. These conversations helped students understand that many people are involved in getting food from farms to grocery stores and eventually to homes.
Another exciting moment came when students explored the bakery area. The class discussed how ingredients like flour and eggs come from farms and are turned into breads and baked goods. This connection helped students see how raw farm products can be transformed into foods they enjoy eating.
Throughout the trip, students practiced important life skills such as listening, asking questions, staying with their group, and showing respect in a public space. Teachers noted how proudly students represented their school by following expectations and engaging thoughtfully with their surroundings.
“This field trip was a perfect extension of our CKLA farms unit,” Mrs. Gomez shared. “The students were able to see, touch, and talk about the foods they’ve been learning about, which really deepened their understanding.”
By the end of the visit, students returned to school buzzing with excitement and new knowledge. Back in the classroom, they reflected on the experience through drawing, writing, and discussion, reinforcing what they learned and making connections to their CKLA stories and lessons.
The Whole Foods field trip was more than just a fun outing—it was an authentic learning experience that helped students understand the farm-to-table journey in a concrete and memorable way. Experiences like these show the power of hands-on learning and how community resources can support classroom instruction.
As kindergarten wraps up the CKLA unit on farms, this field trip will serve as a lasting reference point, helping students better understand where food comes from and appreciate the many people who work together to feed our communities.