Title of Bulletin Board: How Much Added Sugar are You Drinking?

Category: Nutrition

Suggested Grade Level: 3-5

Materials: Bulletin board paper, construction paper, assorted soda cans and beverage containers

Description:

The board was created to educate students on one of the three major macronutrients (carbohydrates) and the hidden sugar that can be found in beverages. The board covers the Virginia SOL’s for grades 1-5, H1.2, 2.2, 3.1d, 4.1 abcde and 5.2c,d, by having students identifying healthy foods and demonstrates how proper nutrition relates to a Healthy Lifestyle.

I printed a copy on line of popular drink choices: milk, chocolate milk, strawberry milk, soda and tea nutrition labels and their sugar content in grams. To keep it simple, I explained natural sugar that occurs in food, and then I talked about refined sugars and the new Nutrition Labels. I asked students to bring in empty bottles for us to review and use to decorate the bulletin board. By showing students the nutritional labels of the drinks they are consuming and highlighting the sugar content they are able to see firsthand how much sugar is being added to some beverages.

During class, I had students look at the nutrition labels from the bottles and containers they brought in. I explained that 1 gram of sugar was equal to ¼ teaspoon, thus 4 grams of sugar equaled 1 teaspoon. I used table sugar and a teaspoon to demonstrate how many actual teaspoons of sugar were in some of the drinks that were brought into class.