Label Layout Slides Label Layout Investigation
Nutrition Detective Agency: Case File #1
Mystery Box Challenge
What's inside?
I have a food item in this box. I'm going to read some numbers...
• Serving Size: 1 bar
• Calories: 150
• Total Sugars: 12g
• Protein: 2g
Can you guess what it is?
Anatomy of a Label
Nutrition Facts
8 servings per container
Serving size
2/3 cup (55g)
Amount per serving
Calories
230
Total Fat 8g
Sodium 160mg
Total Carbohydrate 37g
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 3g
1
Serving Information
Shows how many servings and how big one serving is.
2
Calories
The amount of energy you get from one serving.
3
Nutrients to Monitor
Things we might want to get less of, like sugar and salt.
Detective Mission
Your mission is to map out the labels on your desk. Use your highlighter to find the "Big 3":
Serving
Find the total number of servings.
Calories
Find the energy count per serving.
Sugars
Find the grams of sugar at the bottom.
Label Mapping Worksheet Nutrition Detective Agency
Case File #1: Label Mapping
Agent Name:
Date:
Mission: A good detective knows their way around a crime scene. A nutrition detective knows their way around a label! Identify the key parts of the Nutrition Facts panel below.
Nutrition Facts
1
12 servings per container
Serving size 1 cup (30g)
2
Amount per serving
Calories 110
3
Total Fat 1g
Sodium 150mg
4
Total Carbohydrate 25g
Total Sugars 9g
5
Protein 2g
Evidence Locker (Word Bank)
Calories Protein Serving Size Nutrients (Fats/Salt) Total Sugars
1
2
3
4
5
Field Notes: Why do you think Calories are printed in BIG, BOLD text? Label Investigation Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 1: Label Layout Investigation
The Hook: Mystery Box Challenge
Goal: Engage students in using data to identify objects.
"Class, I have a secret snack in this box. I cannot show it to you, but I can read the data from its label. A nutrition label tells the story of what is inside. Listen to these clues and raise your hand when you think you know what the snack is."
Clue 1: The serving size is "1 bar". (Students might guess granola bar, candy bar).Clue 2: It has 150 calories. (Moderate energy).Clue 3: It has 12 grams of sugar. (Quite sweet!).Clue 4: It has 2 grams of protein. (Not very filling).
Answer: A Nature Valley Granola Bar (or similar).
Direct Instruction: The Big 3
While labels have many numbers, 3rd graders should focus on these three landmarks:
1. Serving Info
"Always check this first. Is the box for one person or a whole family?"
2. Calories
"Energy for your body. Big numbers = lots of fuel."
3. Sugars
"A number we want to keep small for better health."
Guided Practice: Detective Work
Setup: Provide 3-4 actual food boxes per table group (empty and clean).
Have students find the "Nutrition Facts" panel on each box.
Ask: "Where is the serving size? Put your finger on it." (Walk around to verify).
Ask: "Which product has the MOST sugar? Hold up that box."
Distribute the Label Mapping Worksheet for individual assessment.
Differentiation Tip: For students struggling with reading, highlight the "Big 3" sections on their sample boxes beforehand with translucent highlighter tape.
Portion Puzzle Slides The Portion Puzzle
How much is a "serving" anyway?
One Bowl or Five?
Look at this bowl of cereal.
Is this 1 serving?
The Surprise:
Most people eat 3 to 4 times the serving size without even knowing it!
A Serving Size is a measured amount.Portion is how much you choose to eat.
Serving vs. Container
Label Facts
Servings Per Container 4
Calories per serving 100
Sugar per serving 10g
If you eat the WHOLE bag...
100 calories × 4 servings =
400 CALORIES!
10g sugar × 4 servings =
40g SUGAR!
Measuring Mission
1. Identify
Find the serving size on your box.
2. Measure
Measure exactly one serving into a bowl.
3. Compare
Does it look like more or less than you usually eat?
Portion Math Worksheet Nutrition Detective Agency
Case File #2: The Portion Math
Agent Name:
1
The Cracker Crisis
Evidence Label:
• Serving Size: 10 crackers
• Calories: 70 kcal
If Detective Dan eats 20 crackers for his snack, how many calories did he consume?
Show Your Math:
Final Answer:
Don't forget the units (calories)!
2
The Juice Jump
Evidence Label:
• Servings Per Bottle: 3
• Sugar Per Serving: 15g
Agent Ava drinks the WHOLE BOTTLE of juice. How many grams of sugar did she drink?
Show Your Math:
Final Answer:
Write "grams of sugar".
Field Observation
Look at the cereal serving you measured in class. Compare it to your normal bowl at home.
Is the serving size:
Bigger
Smaller
Same
Will you eat more or less now?
Portion Puzzle Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 2: The Portion Puzzle
The Concept: Serving vs. Portion
Serving Size: A standardized amount used for nutritional information. Defined by the FDA.Portion: The amount of food you choose to eat for a meal or snack.
The Simulation: Cereal Surprise
This visual demonstration is essential for 3rd graders to grasp the concept.
Setup:
Large cereal box, large cereal bowl, 1-cup measuring tool, and dry cereal.
Execution:
Ask a student volunteer to pour "the amount of cereal they would eat for breakfast" into the large bowl.
Once poured, show the class the box. Find the serving size (usually 3/4 or 1 cup).
Use the measuring cup to measure the cereal back out of the bowl and into the box.
Count aloud with the class: "One serving... two servings... three servings!"
The Reveal: Compare how many "servings" were actually in that one bowl.
The Math Connection
Students often assume the numbers on the label apply to the whole bag. Use a whiteboard to show this calculation visually:
[Calories Per Serving] x [# of Servings Eaten] = TOTAL CALORIES
Note: This is a great opportunity to practice "repeated addition" for students not yet fluent in multiplication (e.g., 100 + 100 + 100 + 100).
Guiding Questions
"If you eat the whole bag of chips, are you eating 1 serving or 5?"
"Why do you think companies make the serving size so small sometimes?"
"How can measuring our food help our bodies stay healthy?"
Ingredient List Mystery Slides The Ingredient List Mystery
Cracking the code of what's inside.
The Order Matters!
Ingredients are listed in order of WEIGHT.
The ingredient at the TOP of the list is what there is MOST of in the food.
Snack Ingredients:
1. Sugar
2. Flour
3. Salt
This snack is MOSTLY sugar!
Master of Disguise!
Sugar has over 50 different names. Can you spot them?
The "Ose" Family
• Sucrose
• Fructose
• Dextrose
The "Syrup" Squad
• Corn Syrup
• Rice Syrup
• Maple Syrup
The "Naturals"
• Honey
• Molasses
• Agave
Visualizing Sugar
4 grams
on the label
1 Sugar Cube
If a soda has 40g of sugar, how many cubes is that?
Sugar Hunt Worksheet Nutrition Detective Agency
Case File #3: The Sugar Hunt
Agent Name:
1
The "Heavy Hitters"
Read the ingredient list for your snack. Write the first three ingredients in the spots below.
#1 (The Most)
#2
#3
2
Sugar Undercover
Circle any Sugar Aliases you find in this list:
Whole Wheat, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Yeast, Salt, Molasses, Soybean Oil, Dextrose, Vitamins.
Detective Tip: Look for words ending in "-ose" or that say "syrup"!
Evidence Count:
How many different types of sugar did you find in the list above?
Types of Sugar
The Detective's Secret Rule
If a food has more than 3 different types of sugar, or if sugar is the first ingredient, it is probably a dessert, not a snack!
Check your snack! Is it a "Real Snack" or a "Secret Dessert"?
Real Snack
Secret Dessert
Sugar Hunt Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 3: The Ingredient List Mystery
The Concept: Weight Ranking
Explain that companies can't just list ingredients in any order. By law, they must list what there is the most of first.
"Imagine if you made a bowl of cereal that was 90% marshmallows and 10% grain. On the label, 'Marshmallows' would have to be the first word. If the first word is 'Sugar' or 'Corn Syrup,' you are basically eating a spoonful of sugar with some extra stuff mixed in!"
Demonstration: Sugar Cube Visualizer
Goal: Translate abstract "grams" into a physical volume students understand.
The Ratio:
4 grams = 1 cube
The Activity:
Show a 20oz bottle of soda (usually ~65g sugar).
Ask a student to come up and count out sugar cubes into a pile.
65 divided by 4 is roughly 16 cubes.
Display the pile of 16 cubes next to the bottle.
The Sugar "Disguise" List
Write these common aliases on the board for the Sugar Hunt Worksheet activity:
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Cane Juice / Crystals
Dextrose / Fructose / Sucrose
Molasses / Honey / Syrup
Discussion Prompts
"Why would a company use 4 different types of sugar instead of just one?" (Answer: So sugar isn't the #1 ingredient, but the total amount is still high).
"If you see 'Whole Wheat' as the first ingredient, is that a good sign or a bad sign?"
Fact vs Fiction Slides Fact vs Fiction
Don't be fooled by the flashy box!
The Front of the Box
The front of the box is ADVERTISING.
Companies use bright colors, cartoons, and "Health Claims" to make you want to buy it.
"Made with Real Fruit!"
"Grown on a Farm!"
"All Natural!"
Super Fruity Loops!
Colorful Cereal Art
100% REAL FRUIT!*
*Contains 0.01% fruit juice
The Back of the Box
Nutrition Facts
Calories 250
Total Sugars 35g
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Flour, Modified Starch, Red Dye #40...
THE TRUTH:
Claims on the front are opinions .
The label on the back is FACT .
A Detective ALWAYS flips the box.
Detective Practice
"Fruit Snacks" often say "Made with Real Fruit Juice" on the front.
What does the label say?
Sugar is the #1 Ingredient
Is the claim on the front helpful or confusing?
Claim Verifier Worksheet Nutrition Detective Agency
Case File #4: Claim Verifier
Agent Name:
Product A: "Fruit Blast"
Front of Package Claims:
"Excellent source of Vitamin C!"
"Real Fruit Ingredients!"
The Secret Label Data:
• Sugar: 24g per serving
• Ingredient #1: Corn Syrup
• Ingredient #2: Sugar
• Ingredient #3: Pear Juice Concentrate
Product B: "Simply Apple"
Front of Package Claims:
"100% Sliced Apples"
(No characters or bright colors)
The Secret Label Data:
• Sugar: 11g per serving
• Ingredient #1: Apples
• Ingredient #2: Citric Acid
• (Only 2 ingredients!)
1. The Truth Check:
Is Product A's claim ("Real Fruit Ingredients") technically true? Use evidence from the ingredient list to explain why or why not.
2. The "Flashy" Factor:
Why do you think the company for Product A used bright colors and fruit names if the product is mostly sugar?
3. Final Verdict:
If you were buying a snack for a track meet, which product would you choose? Why?
Product A
Product B
Evidence from the label:
Fact vs Fiction Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 4: Fact vs Fiction Case Files
Media Literacy: The "Health Halo"
The goal of this lesson is to teach students that just because a box looks healthy doesn't mean it is. The "Health Halo" is when a company uses one good fact to hide many bad ones.
Example Scenario:
"Imagine a cookie box that says 'LOW FAT!' on the front in big letters. You think, 'Great, I'll eat the whole box!' But when you flip it over, you see it has 40 grams of sugar. They used the 'Low Fat' claim to distract you from the 'High Sugar' truth."
The Hook: The Plain vs. Flashy Vote
Show two boxes (use the ones from the Claim Verifier Worksheet or real examples).
Box 1: Very flashy, cartoons, "Made with Whole Grains!", "Strong Bones!". (Actually high sugar).Box 2: Plain white box, simple font, no claims. (Actually healthy oatmeal).VOTE: Ask students to vote on which one they would pick based only on the front.THE REVEAL: Show the back of both boxes. Discuss how they felt about being "tricked."
Key Vocabulary for 3rd Grade
Claim: Something someone says is true (but might not be the whole story).Marketing: Using pictures and words to make people want to buy things.
Exit Ticket Idea
"Before you leave, tell me one 'Health Claim' you've seen on a cereal box and one thing you would check on the back to see if it's true."
Grocery Showdown Slides The Grocery Store Showdown
Final Mission: Master Detective
The Comparison Checklist
When picking between two similar foods (like two different cereals), look at these Evidence Points in order:
1
Sugar & Fiber
Lower Sugar + Higher Fiber = Healthier Choice!
2
Ingredients
Which list has more whole foods? Which has more sugar names?
Showdown Rules
You have 2 MINUTES to investigate the two products at your station.
Record your EVIDENCE on your Showdown Chart.
Present your VERDICT. Why is one better than the other?
Certified Detective!
You have the power to choose what's best for your body.
Showdown Comparison Chart Nutrition Detective Agency
The Grocery Store Showdown
Agent Name:
Place Product A Box Here
Place Product B Box Here
The Evidence Table
Category Product A Product B Sugar (grams) Fiber (grams) Protein (grams) #1 Ingredient
The Final Verdict
As a Certified Nutrition Detective, I choose:
Product A
Product B
Justify your choice with two pieces of evidence:
Evidence #1:
Evidence #2:
Grocery Showdown Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 5: The Grocery Store Showdown
The Final Performance Task
This lesson is the cumulative assessment for the unit. Students must demonstrate they can find, read, and compare label data to make an informed choice.
The Setup:
Create "Showdown Stations" around the room. Each station needs two similar food items (Empty boxes are best). Pairings could include:
Cereal A (High Sugar) vs. Cereal B (Whole Grain)
Crackers A (Refined) vs. Crackers B (Seed/Nut based)
Juice Drink (10% juice) vs. 100% Juice
Granola Bar A (Candy-like) vs. Granola Bar B (Protein/Nut based)
The Procedure (Grocery Run)
Assign student pairs to a station.
Set a timer for 5-8 minutes (depending on student speed).
Students must complete the Showdown Comparison Chart by hunting for the numbers on both boxes.
The Decision: Once the table is full, students must "vote" for the healthiest choice.The Presentation: Each pair stands up and says:
Mastery Rubric
Level 1
Can locate Nutrition Facts but cannot accurately copy numbers.
Level 2
Copies numbers accurately but struggles to justify choice with evidence.
Level 3 (Mastery)
Accurately compares data and uses specific numbers to justify the healthier pick.
Wrap-Up
Hand out "Certified Nutrition Detective" stickers or badges (can be simple circles drawn on paper) to celebrate their new life skill.
