Lesson Plan
Nutrition Label Lab Plan
Students will learn to read and interpret key nutrition label components and apply this knowledge to select healthier snack options in a guided small-group setting.
This lesson builds label literacy and critical decision-making skills, empowering students to make informed, healthier snack choices now and in the future.
Audience
6th Grade Intervention Group
Time
35 minutes
Approach
Interactive slides, group detective activity, and snack-swap worksheet.
Materials
Read That Label Slides, Label Detective Challenge, Snack Swap Worksheet, and Printed sample nutrition labels
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Read That Label Slides to familiarize yourself with key talking points.
- Print enough copies of sample nutrition labels for each small group.
- Print the Label Detective Challenge and Snack Swap Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare differentiation supports (word banks, sentence starters, graphic organizers) for students needing extra scaffolding.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Ask: “What are your favorite snacks and why do you think labels matter?”
- Note students’ ideas on chart paper to activate prior knowledge.
- Explain that today they’ll become label detectives to choose healthier options.
Step 2
Mini Lesson: Nutrition Label Review
10 minutes
- Project the Read That Label Slides.
- Walk through serving size, calories, fats, sugars, and ingredient list.
- Use call-and-response: e.g., “What does % Daily Value tell us?”
- Check for understanding with quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down.
Step 3
Label Detective Challenge
10 minutes
- Divide students into groups of 3–4.
- Distribute sample nutrition labels and the Label Detective Challenge.
- Instruct groups to locate serving size, compare sugar content, and identify one surprising ingredient.
- Circulate, prompt deeper thinking, and note observations for assessment.
Step 4
Snack Swap Worksheet
7 minutes
- Hand out the Snack Swap Worksheet.
- Students pick a common unhealthy snack and research a healthier alternative using label data.
- Complete the worksheet: list nutrients to reduce/increase and justify swap.
- Offer sentence frames (e.g., “I chose ___ because it has ___ less sugar”).
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Assessment
3 minutes
- Invite 2–3 students to share their snack swap and rationale.
- Formatively assess via group observation, worksheet accuracy, and student explanations.
- Clarify any misconceptions and reinforce key label features.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Read That Label: Unlocking Nutrition Facts
• Welcome to our Nutrition Label deep dive!
• Learn the parts of a label
• Discover how numbers guide healthy choices
• Get ready to be a Label Detective!
Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to become expert label readers. Introduce the purpose: to learn how to decode nutrition labels so we can make smarter snack choices. Emphasize that these skills help us now and in the future.
Nutrition Label Elements
• Serving Size & Servings per Container
• Calories
• Nutrients to Limit (total fat, sodium, added sugars)
• Nutrients to Get Enough Of (fiber, protein, vitamins)
• % Daily Value (% DV)
• Ingredient List
Point out the major sections of a nutrition label. Explain that every packaged food has the same basic format so we can compare items. Invite students to share what they notice.
Serving Size & Servings per Container
• Serving Size: amount for one serving
• Servings per Container: total portions in package
• Always compare what you eat vs. the label serving
Ask: Why do you think serving size matters? Show a real label example and highlight serving size and servings per container. Have students thumbs-up if they eat more than one serving at a time.
Calories, Fat & Sugars
• Calories: energy per serving
• Total Fat: focus on saturated & trans fats
• Added Sugars: limit to stay healthy
• Compare two snacks for lower sugars
Explain calories as energy and why we limit fats and sugars. Use call-and-response: “Energy gives us _______,” students reply “fuel!” Show a snack’s label to locate calories and total fat.
% Daily Value (% DV)
• Shows how much a nutrient in one serving contributes to daily diet
• 5% DV or less = low; 20% DV or more = high
• Use % DV to compare foods quickly
Define % Daily Value and stress that 5% DV or less is low, 20% or more is high. Ask students to look at a label and identify one nutrient high in % DV.
Ingredient List & Hidden Ingredients
• Listed by quantity (most to least)
• Look for whole ingredients (e.g., whole wheat)
• Spot hidden sugars: corn syrup, dextrose, maltose
Explain that ingredients are listed by weight. Ask: Why might sugar appear under different names? Provide examples (corn syrup, dextrose).
Think Like a Label Detective
In the label shown:
- Identify Serving Size
- Find Total Sugars (g)
- Note % DV for Total Fat
- Name one surprise ingredient
Display a real snack label. Ask students to work with a partner: What is the serving size? How many grams of sugar? What’s the % DV for fat? Call on volunteers to share.
Ready for the Label Detective Challenge?
• Grab your sample labels
• Work in teams of 3–4
• Locate key info: serving size, sugars, surprising ingredient
• Record answers on the detective sheet
Explain that next up is our Label Detective Challenge. Students will form small groups, examine labels, and record findings. Encourage curiosity and note-taking.
Activity
Label Detective Challenge
Group Member Names: ____________________________
Work with your group to examine two printed nutrition labels. Complete each section below.
Part 1: Investigating Label A
-
Serving Size and Servings per Container
• Serving Size: ________________
• Servings per Container: ________________ -
Nutrition Facts
a. Total Sugars (g): ________________
b. Protein (g): ________________
c. % Daily Value for Total Fat: ________________ -
Ingredient List Surprise
Name one ingredient you didn’t expect and why it surprised you:
______________________________________________________________________
Part 2: Comparing Label A and Label B
-
Which snack has more sugar? How much more?
______________________________________________________________________ -
Which snack provides more fiber?
______________________________________________________________________ -
Based on sugar and fiber, which snack would you choose? Explain your reasoning:
______________________________________________________________________
Part 3: Critical Questions
-
Identify a hidden sugar (look for corn syrup, dextrose, etc.) and the ingredient name you found:
______________________________________________________________________ -
If you were buying a snack for your family, which of these would you pick? Why?
______________________________________________________________________
Remind your group to discuss each question and write clear, complete answers.
Worksheet
Snack Swap Worksheet
In this activity, you will choose a common snack, find a healthier alternative by comparing nutrition labels, and explain why the swap is a better choice.
Part 1: Identify Your Unhealthy Snack
-
Name of Unhealthy Snack:
_______________________________________________________ -
Nutrition Facts for Unhealthy Snack (from the label):
- Serving Size: ____________________
- Calories: ____________________
- Total Sugars (g): ____________________
- Fiber (g): ____________________
- Protein (g): ____________________
Part 2: Research a Healthier Alternative
-
Name of Healthier Snack:
_______________________________________________________ -
Nutrition Facts for Healthier Snack (from the label):
- Serving Size: ____________________
- Calories: ____________________
- Total Sugars (g): ____________________
- Fiber (g): ____________________
- Protein (g): ____________________
-
Compare Nutrients:
- List two nutrients that are lower in the healthier snack compared to the unhealthy one:
- ____________________
- ____________________
- ____________________
- List two nutrients that are higher in the healthier snack:
- ____________________
- ____________________
- ____________________
- List two nutrients that are lower in the healthier snack compared to the unhealthy one:
Part 3: Justify Your Snack Swap
Use the sentence frame below to explain your choice.
“I chose _____________ because it has ___________ less sugar and ___________ more fiber than _____________.”
Part 4: Reflection
-
How does reading a nutrition label help you make healthier snack choices?
_________________________________________________________________ -
One way I can share label-reading tips with my family or friends is by:
_________________________________________________________________
Be ready to share your snack swap and explain how label literacy guides better food decisions!