Project: Plan a Family Picnic on a Budget
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What you will learn
- 1Plan a picnic menu that fits everyone, including allergies
- 2Make a budget and a shopping list and check the receipt
- 3Help prepare the food while the adult runs the stove, oven and knives
- 4Pack cold food safely and plan the trash and cleanup
- 5Make a schedule for the picnic day
Mini Lesson
This is your Grade 5 Life Skills project. You will plan a whole family picnic, from the menu to the cleanup, on a set budget. You will use skills from this year: planning meals, budgeting, unit prices, receipts, cooking and schedules. Your grown-up helps you and is in charge of the stove, the oven and the knives. You are the picnic planner.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- MENU: plan the food and drinks, the way you did in "Plan a Week of Meals." Ask everyone about allergies first.
- BUDGET: agree on a total with your grown-up, like $40, and plan what each part costs, as in "Budget a Family Outing."
- SHOPPING LIST: list every item and its price. Compare unit prices to find the better deal, as in "Unit Prices: Find the Better Deal."
- RECEIPT CHECK: at the store, check the receipt and your change, as in "Read a Receipt and Check Your Change."
- PREP WITH THE ADULT: help cook, chop and bake, using your Grade 5 cooking lessons. The adult runs the stove and oven and handles the sharp knives.
- SCHEDULE: write a plan for the day with times, as in "Plan a Trip with a Schedule."
On picnic day
- KEEP IT COLD: pack cold foods in a cooler with ice packs, and keep the cooler in the shade.
- BACK IN THE COOLER: put cold food back in the cooler soon after serving. Do not leave it out in the sun.
- TRASH PLAN: bring trash bags, sort recycling, and leave the spot cleaner than you found it.
- CLEAN HANDS: bring wipes or water and soap to clean hands before eating.
The adult is in charge of the stove, the oven and the sharp knives during prep. Check every food for allergies with your grown-up before you shop. Keep cold food in the cooler, and if anyone gets hurt or feels unwell, tell the adult right away.
Words to know
budget
A plan for how much money you will spend.
e.g. Our picnic budget was $40.
menu
The list of foods and drinks for a meal.
e.g. I wrote the picnic menu with my grown-up.
unit price
The cost of one item or one unit, used to compare deals.
e.g. The unit price showed the big pack was the better deal.
receipt
The paper from the store that lists what you bought and what you paid.
e.g. I checked the receipt and our change.
cooler
A box that keeps food cold, often with ice packs inside.
e.g. We kept the cheese in the cooler.
schedule
A plan that shows what happens and when.
e.g. Our schedule said we would eat at 12:00.
💡 Handy Tip: keep a little money in the budget as "spare" - about $5. Then a forgotten item, like ice or napkins, does not push you over budget.
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