Label Detective Lesson PlanLabel Detective Lesson Plan • Grade 6 Health 50 Minutes Objective Students will be able to identify key components of a food label (serving size, calories, nutrients, ingredients) and explain their importance for making healthy food choices. Why This Matters Empowering students to understand food labels helps them make informed decisions about what they eat, promoting lifelong healthy habits and preventing diet-related health issues. Teacher Prep • Review all generated materials: Presentation, Scavenger Hunt, Daily Value Worksheet, and Exit Ticket. • Gather an assortment of packaged snack foods with clear nutrition labels (at least one per small group). • Make copies of the Scavenger Hunt and Daily Value worksheet (one per student or group). • Prepare copies of the Exit Ticket (one per student). • Set up projector/screen for the presentation. Materials Needed Label Fundamentals Presentation Snack Label Scavenger Hunt Decoding the Daily Value Worksheet Exit Ticket Real Snack Food Packages Pens/Pencils Facilitation Guide 05 Introduction: What's Hiding? Begin by asking students to think about their favorite snacks. "Do you know what's actually inside that bag?" Hook: Today we aren't just eaters; we are detectives investigating the secrets of our snacks. 15 Label Fundamentals Presentation Deliver the Food Label Fundamentals Presentation. Focus on the "Big Four": Serving Size, Calories, Nutrients, and Ingredients. Use the 5/20 Rule for %Daily Value. Interactive: Ask students to predict which ingredients come first in common snacks. 15 Snack Label Scavenger Hunt Divide students into small groups (3-4 students). Provide real snack packages and the Scavenger Hunt sheet. Students work together to hunt for specific data on the labels. Teacher circulates to help students calculate total calories (calories × servings). 10 Decoding the Daily Value Bring the class back together. Distribute the Decoding the Daily Value worksheet. Students apply the 5/20 Rule to scenarios. Briefly discuss answers to ensure everyone understands "high" vs "low". 05 Wrap-up and Exit Ticket Conclude by reiterating the importance of reading food labels for making healthy choices. Distribute the My Healthiest Choice Exit Ticket to each student.
Food Label Fundamentals PresentationWelcome, Label Detectives! Today, we become food label experts! Mission: Healthy Choices Why Read Food Labels? Understand what you're eating. Make healthy choices. Identify allergens. Compare different foods. CASE FILE: #99-SNACK The Big Four of Food Labels 01 Serving Size 02 Calories 03 Nutrients 04 Ingredients 1 Serving Size: How Much? Serving Size: The amount of food usually eaten at one time. Servings Per Container: How many servings are in the whole package. Watch out! If you eat more than one serving, you're eating more calories and nutrients than the label says for one serving! 2 Calories: Your Fuel Gauge Calories: How much energy is in one serving of food. Your body needs energy to play, learn, and grow! Think of it like gas in a car. You need enough to go, but if you overfill the tank... it gets stored! 3 Nutrients: The Good Guys! Look for nutrients that keep your body strong: Vitamins & Minerals Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium keep you healthy. Fiber Helps your digestive system stay on track. Protein Builds muscles and keeps you feeling full longer. 3 Nutrients: The Watch Outs! Try to limit these "snooping" nutrients: Saturated Fat Can be unhealthy for your heart if you eat too much. Sodium (Salt) Too much is bad for your blood pressure. Added Sugars Provide quick energy but no long-term nutrients. Beware of the crash! The Daily Value (%DV) Tells you how much of a nutrient is in one serving, based on a 2,000 calorie diet. 5% or Less LOW Good for "watch outs" (sugar, salt) 20% or More HIGH Good for "good guys" (fiber, vitamins) 4 Ingredients List: The Real Secret A Order matters! Ingredients are listed from LARGEST amount to SMALLEST.
Snack Label Scavenger Hunt WorksheetSnack Label Evidence Log CASE FILE: SNACK-HUNT-2026 Detective Name: Date: Mission Objective Practice identifying and analyzing key information on real food labels to determine their nutritional value. Instructions: Examine your snack package. Answer the questions below using the data found on the Nutrition Facts label. If you have multiple snacks, complete Snack 1 first, then Snack 2. Evidence Sample 01 Snack Name/Brand: 1. Serving Size: 2. Servings Per Container: 3. Calories in ONE serving: 4. Math Challenge: If you ate the ENTIRE package, how many calories is that? (Show your calculation: Calories × Servings) 5. "Good Guy" Nutrient & %DV (e.g. Fiber, Vitamin D, Calcium) 6. "Watch Out" Nutrient & %DV (e.g. Sat Fat, Sodium, Added Sugars) 7. What is the FIRST ingredient listed? 8. Based on the ingredients list, what is this snack MOSTLY made of? 9. Verdict: Is this a healthy choice? Why or why not? Evidence Sample 02 Snack Name/Brand: 1. Serving Size: 2. Servings Per Container: 3. Calories in ONE serving: 4. Math Challenge: If you ate the ENTIRE package, how many calories is that? (Show your calculation: Calories × Servings) 5. "Good Guy" Nutrient & %DV (e.g. Fiber, Vitamin D, Calcium) 6. "Watch Out" Nutrient & %DV (e.g. Sat Fat, Sodium, Added Sugars) 7. What is the FIRST ingredient listed? 8. Based on the ingredients list, what is this snack MOSTLY made of? 9. Verdict: Is this a healthy choice? Why or why not?
Decoding the Daily Value WorksheetDecoding the Daily Value Nutritional Analysis Task ANALYSIS Agent: Date: The 5/20 Detective Rule 5% DV or Less Result: LOW Ideal for: Added Sugars, Sodium, Saturated Fat 20% DV or More Result: HIGH Ideal for: Fiber, Vitamins, Minerals, Protein 01 Scenario 1: Comparing Cereal Boxes Cereal A Total Fat: 15% DV Sodium: 2% DV Added Sugars: 25% DV Fiber: 20% DV Cereal B Total Fat: 5% DV Sodium: 10% DV Added Sugars: 10% DV Fiber: 5% DV 1. Which cereal has a HIGH amount of fiber? How do you know? 2. Which cereal has a LOW amount of added sugars? How do you know? 3. Which cereal would you consider a healthier choice? Explain your reasoning. 02 Scenario 2: Your Favorite Snack Imagine your favorite snack has the following %Daily Values per serving: Saturated Fat: 25% DV Potassium: 10% DV Sodium: 18% DV Added Sugars: 30% DV Vitamin D: 0% DV 1. Does this snack have a HIGH or LOW amount of saturated fat? Is this good or bad for your health? 2. Does this snack have a HIGH or LOW amount of added sugars? What does this mean for your energy levels? 3. What is one "good guy" nutrient that this snack is LOW in (5% DV or less)?
My Healthiest Choice Exit TicketMission Debrief EXIT TICKET: #DET-EXIT-01 Detective Name: Date: 1 What is one new thing you learned about reading food labels today? 2 You are at the store choosing between two similar snacks: Snack A 25% DV Added Sugars Snack B 8% DV Added Sugars Which snack would you choose and why? 3 How will you use what you learned today to make healthier choices in the future? Mission Accomplished
