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Reading Food Labels

Fifth graders learn to read the Nutrition Facts label on a package, from serving size and calories to nutrients and % Daily Value, so they can compare foods and choose wisely.

Grade 5Reading Food Labels45 minutes1 class periodSHAPEExplicit teaching4 StandardsSHAPE
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Read a Nutrition Facts label.
  • ✓Find the serving size.
  • ✓Compare two foods.
  • ✓Use % Daily Value.
Essential Question

Two snacks can look alike but be very different inside. How does the Nutrition Facts label help you compare foods and choose wisely?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Food Label Check · Interactive

Food Label Check

Project this and answer each question about reading a Nutrition Facts label — read the explanation after each one.

🧾 Check what you know about reading food labelsTry it
Answer each question about reading a Nutrition Facts label.
The Lesson · Health & PE Flow (Warm-Up · Learn · Practice · Apply · Cool-Down)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — What's Really Inside?

5 min

Two snack packages look about the same. How can you tell which one is the healthier choice without just guessing?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show two labels.
  • Ask how to compare.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Food Label Check

12 min

Students answer questions about reading labels.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Food Label Check.
  • Answer each question.
  • Read the why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — Compare Two Labels

13 min

Students compare real labels.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Take two food labels.
  • Compare serving size and nutrients.
  • Say which is the better pick.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Compare.
  • Check.
  • Say.
4

Create — Label Detective

15 min

Students analyze a favorite food.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a food you eat.
  • Read its label.
  • Note one thing that surprised you.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Read.
  • Note.
5

Reflect — Smarter Choices

5 min

Students reflect on food labels.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Why does serving size matter?
  • What does % Daily Value tell you?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the SHAPE America National Standards for Health Education and Physical Education.

SHAPE
HE.3

Access and interpret nutrition information on food labels.

SHAPE
HE.5

Use label information to compare foods and make choices.

SHAPE
HE.1

Explain how nutrients and calories affect health.

SHAPE
HE.7

Practice choosing nutritious foods.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Sample labels with key parts circled.
  • Sentence frame: “One serving has ___ calories.”
  • Answer one question at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with serving size and calories.
  • Read one label together.
  • Review one part of the label at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Compare three similar products.
  • Calculate nutrients for two servings.
  • Investigate added sugars across snacks.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🧾Sample food labels
  • 💻Food Label Check
  • 🥫Empty clean packages
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

Nutrition Facts labelthe panel on a package that lists what is in a foodserving sizethe amount of food the label's numbers are based oncaloriea unit that measures the energy a food givesnutrienta part of food the body needs, like protein or vitamins% Daily Valuehow much of a nutrient a serving gives for one dayadded sugarsugar put into a food, beyond what is naturalingredient listthe parts a food is made from, most firstsodiumsalt in food, which should be eaten in limited amounts
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Why does serving size matter when reading a label?
All the numbers on the label are for one serving, so eating more multiplies them.
QUESTION 2
What does the % Daily Value tell you?
How much of a nutrient one serving provides toward a full day's amount.
QUESTION 3
How do you fairly compare two foods?
Compare the serving size and the nutrients per serving, not just the package or brand.

Create: label detective.

Have students pick a food they eat, read its Nutrition Facts label, and note one thing that surprised them, so label-reading becomes a habit. A printable food-label worksheet is in the PE & Health library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

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Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Reading Food LabelsQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Reading Food LabelsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: % Daily Value, added sugar, calorie, ingredient list, nutrient, Nutrition Facts label, serving size, sodium
  1. a part of food the body needs, like protein or vitamins
  2. how much of a nutrient a serving gives for one day
  3. the parts a food is made from, most first
  4. salt in food, which should be eaten in limited amounts
  5. a unit that measures the energy a food gives
  6. sugar put into a food, beyond what is natural
  7. the panel on a package that lists what is in a food
  8. the amount of food the label's numbers are based on

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Why does serving size matter when reading a label?
  2. What does the % Daily Value tell you?
  3. How do you fairly compare two foods?
Answer key — Part A: 1) nutrient · 2) % Daily Value · 3) ingredient list · 4) sodium · 5) calorie · 6) added sugar · 7) Nutrition Facts label · 8) serving size
Part B: 1) All the numbers on the label are for one serving, so eating more multiplies them. 2) How much of a nutrient one serving provides toward a full day's amount. 3) Compare the serving size and the nutrients per serving, not just the package or brand.