Kitchen Sorting Mats REFRIGERATOR
Keep cold & fresh • 35°F to 40°F
COLD STORAGE
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Top Shelf Dairy & Fresh Drinks
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Middle Shelf Proteins & Eggs
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Crisper Drawer Fresh Produce
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Sort food cards here that require cold refrigeration to stay fresh and safe from spoiling. Do not put items that need to be frozen or can be kept in dry cabinets.
FREEZER MAT
Keep rock solid • 0°F or below
FROZEN STORAGE
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Top Freezer Rack Frozen Sides & Veggies
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Middle Freezer Rack Frozen Meals & Pizzas
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Bottom Deep Drawer Ice Creams & Sweets
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Sort food cards here that need to be kept frozen solid so they do not melt or ruin. Typical items include ice creams, frozen dinners, and ice.
PANTRY MAT
Keep dry & room temp • 50°F to 70°F
DRY STORAGE
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Top Cabinet Shelf Spices & Sweet jars
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Middle Cabinet Shelf Dry Grains & Cereals
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Bottom Storage Box Cans & Boxed Snacks
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Sort food cards here that can be safely kept at normal room temperature in a cabinet, cupboard, or box. These do not need cooling.
Kitchen Sorting Cards KITCHEN SORTING CARDS
Page 1 of 4 • Cut along the dotted lines
32 CARDS TOTAL
Food Item
WHOLE MILK
MILK
Fresh dairy milk carton. Delicious poured over breakfast cereal or in cookies.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
EGGS
EGGS
Fresh farm eggs carton. Great for baking cakes or scrambling for breakfast.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
CHEESE
Cheddar Swiss cheese wedge. Perfect for slicing onto sandwich bread or crackers.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
NATURAL BUTTER
BUTTER
Creamy stick butter block. Spread on warm bread rolls or hot toast.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
FRESH
LETTUCE
Crispy green lettuce head. Wash and chop into healthy fresh salad bowls.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
BERRY YOGURT
YOGURT
Creamy berry yogurt cup. Healthy spoonable dairy snack for lunch boxes.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍎
APPLES
Sweet red apples. Crisp, sweet fruit that is healthy to slice or eat whole.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍊
ORANGE JUICE
Sweet squeezed orange juice. A delicious sweet citrus drink with breakfast.
Kitchen Card Food Item
KITCHEN SORTING LIFE SKILLS • NO DESTINATION LABELS ENCOURAGES GENUINE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING
KITCHEN SORTING CARDS
Page 2 of 4 • Cut along the dotted lines
32 CARDS TOTAL
Food Item
🥕
CARROTS
Sweet orange carrots. A healthy crunchy snack that is delicious with dip.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
REAL MAYO
MAYONNAISE
Jar of mayonnaise. Spread cream dressing onto sandwich turkey slices.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
ICE CREAM
ICE CREAM
Sweet ice cream carton tub. Scoop into bowls with chocolate syrup.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🧊
ICE CUBES
Frozen water cubes. Drop into beverage glasses to make drinks cold.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍕
FROZEN PIZZA
Pepperoni pizza box. Bake in the hot kitchen oven until crust is gold.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
FREEZER
SWEET PEAS
FROZEN PEAS
Sweet green peas. Pour a bowl and cook in a pot for a healthy dinner.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
COLD
GOLDEN FRIES
FRENCH FRIES
Salty potato fries bag. Bake in the hot oven until golden-brown and crispy.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🧇
WAFFLES
Toaster frozen waffles box. Push down in toaster and top with warm maple syrup.
Kitchen Card Food Item
KITCHEN SORTING LIFE SKILLS • NO DESTINATION LABELS ENCOURAGES GENUINE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING
KITCHEN SORTING CARDS
Page 3 of 4 • Cut along the dotted lines
32 CARDS TOTAL
Food Item
FREEZER
ICE POPS
POPSICLES
Sweet twin lemon and cherry ice pops box. Refreshing cold summer treat.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍤
SHRIMP
Raw seafood shrimp bag. Saute in a hot skillet pan with garlic butter.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🥦
BROCCOLI
Green vegetable broccoli bag. Steam hot on the kitchen stove for dinner.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍓
BERRIES
Strawberry & blueberry smoothie mix bag. Blend with milk for breakfast.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
BREAD
Sliced white bread loaf. Grab two soft slices to make a tasty sandwich.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
HEALTHY CEREAL
🥣
CEREAL
Breakfast crunchy cornflakes box. Pour into a deep bowl with cold milk.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍚
DRY RICE
Uncooked long grain rice bag. Boil in hot water until soft and fluffy.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
CRUNCHY
CHIPS
POTATO
POTATO CHIPS
Salty crispy potato chips. Perfect salty snack for picnics and school lunches.
Kitchen Card Food Item
KITCHEN SORTING LIFE SKILLS • NO DESTINATION LABELS ENCOURAGES GENUINE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING
KITCHEN SORTING CARDS
Page 4 of 4 • Cut along the dotted lines
32 CARDS TOTAL
Food Item
PEANUT BUTTER
PEANUT BUTTER
Creamy peanut butter jar. Spread with grape jelly onto soft sandwich bread.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🥫
CANNED SOUP
Canned chicken noodle soup. Easy ready-to-warm liquid meal for winter days.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI
DRY PASTA
Spaghetti long noodle box. Boil in water and top with thick tomato sauce.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍌
BANANA
Sweet yellow banana bunch. Peel and eat or slice into cereal bowls.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🍯
HONEY
Sweet liquid clover honey jar. Drizzle onto warm hot tea or oatmeal cups.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
CRACKERS
Crisp salted soda crackers. Eat with cheese slices or crumble into hot soup.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
🧄
GARLIC
Whole white garlic bulb. Peel skin and chop up to add tasty flavor to cooking.
Kitchen Card Food Item
Food Item
TOMATO KETCHUP
KETCHUP
Red tomato ketchup bottle. Squeeze onto hot french fries or chicken tenders.
Kitchen Card Food Item
KITCHEN SORTING LIFE SKILLS • NO DESTINATION LABELS ENCOURAGES GENUINE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING
Grocery Department Mats PRODUCE MAT
Fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm!
FRUITS & VEGGIES
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Crate Shelf 1 • Fruits
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Crate Shelf 2 • Vegetables
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Sort items here that are sold in the **Produce section** of the grocery store, such as fresh lettuce, bananas, carrots, apples, and potatoes.
BAKERY MAT
Fresh baked breads, rolls, cakes, and sweet treats!
BAKED GOODS
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Bakery Rack 1 • Bread & Buns
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Bakery Rack 2 • Cakes & Pastries
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Sort items here that are fresh-baked daily in the **Bakery department**, like loaves of sliced bread, hamburger buns, donuts, muffins, and cakes.
DAIRY MAT
Cold dairy cases for fresh milk, cheese, butter, and creams!
DAIRY COOLERS
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Cooler Shelf 1 • Milk & Creams
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Cooler Shelf 2 • Cheese & Butter
Place Card
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Sort items here that belong in the cold **Dairy Cases**, like cow's milk, cheese blocks, butter containers, heavy creams, and yogurts.
MEAT & DELI MAT
Butcher counter and deli for fresh meats and sandwich slicing!
BUTCHER & DELI
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Butcher Case • Fresh Proteins
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Deli Counter • Cold Cuts & Salads
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Sort items here that belong in the **Meat & Deli counters**, such as fresh chicken breasts, steak patties, turkey cold cuts, sliced ham, or potato salad.
FROZEN MAT
Standing glass freezers for meals, ice creams, and veggies!
FROZEN AISLE
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
Freezer Rack 1 • Frozen Meals & Sides
Place Card
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Grocery Department Cards GROCERY DEPT. CARDS
Page 1 of 6 • Cut along the dotted lines
48 CARDS TOTAL
Store Item
🍎
APPLES
Fresh red sweet apples. Delicious, crunchy, and packed with healthy vitamins.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🍌
BANANAS
Sweet yellow banana bunches. Peel and eat or blend into breakfast smoothies.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
LETTUCE
Crispy green head of lettuce. Wash and chop into healthy fresh salad bowls.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🥕
CARROTS
Orange carrot root bunches. Crunchy vegetable that is healthy to snack on.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🥔
POTATOES
Brown Russet potatoes. Bake, mash, or cut into crispy golden french fries.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🥦
BROCCOLI
Fresh green broccoli florets. Steam or roast as a healthy green dinner side.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🍊
ORANGES
Juicy sweet citrus oranges. Healthy fruit that is loaded with vitamin C.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🧄
GARLIC
Whole white garlic bulbs. Peel skin and mince to add savory flavor to meals.
Grocery Card Store Item
GROCERY STORE LIFE SKILLS • NO DESTINATION LABELS ENCOURAGES GENUINE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING
GROCERY DEPT. CARDS
Page 2 of 6 • Cut along the dotted lines
48 CARDS TOTAL
Store Item
SLICED BREAD
Soft sliced bread. Great for making sandwich lunches with ham or turkey.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🍪
COOKIES
Fresh chocolate chip cookies. Sweet bakery baked treats in a box.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🍩
DONUT BOX
DONUTS
Sweet glazed chocolate donuts. Delicious fresh breakfast treats sold in boxes.
Grocery Card Store Item
Store Item
🍞
HAMBURGER BUNS
Soft sandwich rolls. Split open and use for grilling beef patties or chicken.
Grocery Bagging Rules Chart HOW TO BAG GROCERIES
The 4 Golden Rules of Safe and Professional Bagging!
ANCHOR CHART
Classroom Reference Poster Unit: Vocational Life Skills
1
Heavy on Bottom, Light on Top
🥫
BOTTOM (HEAVY ITEMS) Canned soup, peanut butter jar, potatoes.
🍞
TOP (FRAGILE ITEMS) Sliced bread, eggs carton, potato chips.
Never let heavy cans or glass jars squish soft bread or break fresh eggs!
2
Chemicals Bagged Alone
CLEAN
🍎
NEVER MIX FOOD & SOAP Soaps, cleaner sprays, and detergent go in their own separate bag.
Laundry soaps and counter sprays can leak and ruin fresh food!
3
Bag Raw Meat Alone
BEEF
🥬
STOP DRIPS & GERMS Put raw beef and chicken in a small plastic produce bag, then bag them alone!
Raw meat juices can drip onto ready-to-eat salad lettuce or fruits!
4
Keep Cold & Frozen Together
MILK
PEAS
HELP EACH OTHER STAY CHILLED Grouping cold and frozen foods together slows down melting and spoiling.
Don't put ice cream next to hot rotisserie chicken or warm breads!
**Professional Bagging Checklist:** 1. Double bag heavy loads • 2. Distribute weight evenly across paper bags • 3. Ensure bottles stand upright so they do not leak • 4. Stop when the bag is full.
Grocery Bagging Mats COLD & FROZEN BAG
Keep cold and frozen items together
COLD BAGGING
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
CHILLED FOOD
Place cold / frozen items here:
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**Instructions:** Sort food cards here that are sold cold or frozen, like whole milk, dairy butter, berry yogurt cups, frozen peas, ice cream tubs, or french fries.
HEAVY & DRY BAG
Heavy cans and boxes at the bottom
HEAVY BAGGING
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
HEAVY & DRY
Place heavy dry cans / boxes here:
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**Instructions:** Sort food cards here that are heavy and boxed/canned, such as canned noodle soup, dry rice bags, jars of peanut butter, spaghetti pasta boxes, or potato bags.
SOFT & FRAGILE BAG
Light and delicate items go on top
FRAGILE BAGGING
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
SOFT & LIGHT
Place fragile / light items here:
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**Instructions:** Sort food cards here that can easily break, bruise, or get squished, such as cardboard egg cartons, loaves of sliced bread, fresh banana bunches, potato chips, or bakery cookies.
CLEANING & HOUSEHOLD
Chemicals & soaps packed separately
CHEMICAL BAGGING
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
CHEMICAL & SOAP
Place soaps / cleaners here:
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**Instructions:** Sort cleaning items here that are non-food products, such as laundry detergent jugs, trigger spray cleaners, dish soaps, and shampoo bottles.
Grocery Bagging Scenarios BAGGING DECISION MAT
Can We Bag These Two Items Together? You Decide!
SORTING MAT
Name: ___________________________ Date: _________
YES • SAFE BAG
Safe Weight • Same Temperature • Clean & Non-Toxic
Place Card
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NO • DO NOT MIX
Squish Risk • Raw Meat Juices • Toxic Soaps
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**Goal:** Take a Scenario card from pages 2-3. Read the card or look at the two items. Decide if it is **safe** to place them together in the same grocery bag. Sort onto Yes or No!
BAGGING SCENARIO CARDS
Page 2 of 3 • Cut along the dotted lines
16 SCENARIOS TOTAL
SCENARIO 1 Weight Check
🥫Canned Soup
🍞Sliced Bread
Can we drop a **heavy can of soup** directly on top of a soft **sliced bread loaf** in the same paper bag?
SCENARIO 2 Chemical Check
🍎Fresh Apples
Can we pack fresh edible **apples** in the same bag as a chemical bottle of **trigger-spray cleaner**?
SCENARIO 3 Temp Check
MILK
ICE CREAM
Can we bag fresh cold **whole milk** together with a sweet frozen container of **ice cream**?
SCENARIO 4 Safety Check
BEEF
🥬Fresh Lettuce
Can we pack a tray of **raw hamburger beef** in the same bag as ready-to-eat **fresh salad lettuce**?
SCENARIO 5 Chemical Check
CLEAN
SLICED HAM
Can we pack toxic **laundry detergent soap** in the same bag as pre-sliced **turkey deli ham** slices?
SCENARIO 6 Dry Staples
CEREAL
🥣
PASTA
Can we bag a cardboard box of **cornflakes cereal** and a box of dry **spaghetti pasta** together?
SCENARIO 7 Fragile Check
🍞Sliced Bread
Can we bag a fragile carton of **fresh eggs** together with a soft loaf of **sliced bread** at the top of the bag?
SCENARIO 8 Safety Check
POULTRY
🎂Frosted Cake
Can we bag a tray of uncooked **raw chicken breasts** together in a bag with a baked **frosted birthday cake**?
GROCERY STORE LIFE SKILLS • PRINT, LAMINATE, AND CUT FOR DURABLE CLASSROOM TASK BOXES
BAGGING SCENARIO CARDS
Page 3 of 3 • Cut along the dotted lines
16 SCENARIOS TOTAL
