Lesson Plan
Shopping List Strategy Plan
Students will strengthen auditory working memory and organizational skills by listening to a shopping-list story, recalling items, and structuring their own lists using strategies like chunking and categorization.
Targeting executive function, this lesson builds working memory capacity and organizational habits essential for academic tasks and everyday planning.
Audience
5th Grade Individual
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Listen to a story, recall items, organize list, and self-assess.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
5 minutes
- Review the story sequence and example on List Listening Slides
- Print enough copies of the Mystery Shopping List Worksheet for the session
- Print or display the List Accuracy Rubric
- Familiarize yourself with chunking and categorization strategies to model effectively
Step 1
Warm-Up & Strategy Introduction
3 minutes
- Explain the lesson goal: improving memory recall and list organization
- Introduce chunking: grouping similar items into categories
- Model organizing two example items using chunking
Step 2
Listening Activity
7 minutes
- Advance through the List Listening Slides, reading the shopping-list story aloud
- Show one slide at a time, each naming new items in context
- Instruct the student to listen carefully without taking notes
Step 3
Recall & Writing
10 minutes
- Distribute the Mystery Shopping List Worksheet
- Ask the student to write down all remembered items, applying their chosen organization strategy
- Allow up to 10 minutes for completion without hints
Step 4
Self-Check & Scoring
3 minutes
- Provide the List Accuracy Rubric
- Student compares their list against the correct items and scores accuracy and organization
- Discuss any missed or misplaced items and identify areas for strategy improvement
Step 5
Reflection & Strategy Reinforcement
2 minutes
- Ask the student which memory strategy (e.g., chunking, visualization) was most helpful
- Encourage applying this approach to homework and daily tasks
- Set a brief goal for using the strategy in the next activity
Slide Deck
A Special Party
Grandma is planning a special birthday party for you! She has a long shopping list of items she needs. Listen carefully as each group of items is named. Try to remember and organize them in your mind before you write them down.
Introduce the story and set expectations. Read slowly and clearly. Remind the student to listen without writing anything down yet.
Baking Ingredients
• Eggs
• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Unsalted butter
Read the baking items at a steady pace. Pause briefly after reading the list.
Fresh Fruit
• Apples
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Grapes
Emphasize “fresh fruit” as a category. Keep the same tone and pace.
Vegetables & Salad
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Lettuce
Group vegetables together to reinforce categorization. Pause after reading.
Dairy & Snacks
• Cheddar cheese
• Cream cheese
• Saltine crackers
• Olives
Read dairy and snacks items. Remind student of chunking similar items.
Drinks & Extras
• Orange juice
• Sparkling water
• Vanilla ice cream
• Party candles
Finish with drinks and a few extras. Read clearly and slowly.
Time to Write Your List
Now that you’ve heard all the items, it’s time to write down everything you remember. Use categories or chunking to organize your list on the worksheet.
Prompt the student to begin writing on their worksheet and organizing items by category.
Worksheet
Mystery Shopping List Worksheet
Instructions
- Listen carefully to the shopping-list story on the List Listening Slides.
- Without looking at any notes, write down everything you remember in Section 1 below.
- Organize your items into categories using chunking in Section 2.
- Reflect on your memory strategy in Section 3.
- After you finish, use the List Accuracy Rubric to check your work and then complete Section 4.
Section 1: Memory Recall
Write down every item you remember from the story. Don’t worry about order—just get as many as you can!
Section 2: Organize by Category
Create at least four categories (e.g., Baking Ingredients, Fresh Fruit). For each category, write its name and list the items under it.
Category 1 Name: __________________________
Items:
Category 2 Name: __________________________
Items:
Category 3 Name: __________________________
Items:
Category 4 Name: __________________________
Items:
(Add more categories below if you remember more!)
Section 3: Strategy Reflection
- Which memory strategy helped you most (e.g., chunking, visualization)?
- How did you decide on your categories?
Section 4: Self-Check & Improvement
Use the List Accuracy Rubric to score your recall and organization.
- Which items did you miss or place in the wrong category?
- What will you try differently next time to improve your memory or organization?
Rubric
List Accuracy Rubric
Use this rubric to score Section 4 of your Mystery Shopping List Worksheet. For each criterion, circle the level that best matches your work. Add up your points for a total out of 12.
| Criterion | 4 – Advanced | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning | Points Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recall Accuracy | Recalled 14–16 items correctly with no errors | Recalled 10–13 items correctly; 1–2 minor errors | Recalled 7–9 items correctly; several errors | Recalled 6 or fewer items; many omissions or errors | |
| Organization (Chunk & Category) | All items neatly grouped into ≥4 clear, logical categories with accurate labels | Most items grouped correctly into 4 categories; 1–2 misplacements | Attempted grouping; 2–3 misplacements or unclear labels | Little or no grouping; categories missing or confusing | |
| Strategy Reflection | Clearly identifies the most helpful strategy and explains why and how it helped | Identifies a strategy and gives a basic example of use | Mentions a strategy but explanation is vague or incomplete | Strategy not identified or reflection missing | |
| Total | / 12 |
Scoring Guide:
• 10–12 points = Strong performance; you recall most items accurately and organize them effectively.
• 6–9 points = Satisfactory; you recalled many items but could improve grouping or reflection.
• 3–5 points = Needs practice; focus on memory strategies and clearer organization.
• 1–2 points = Beginning level; review chunking and categorization methods and try again.
After scoring, discuss any missed or misplaced items and set one specific goal for improving your recall or organization next time.