"What You See Isn't Always What You
Get!"
Author: Kirby Giles
School or Affiliation: Fillmore Middle School, Fillmore, UT
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have
attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher
from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural,
western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC
uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the
participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met
at the Workshops.
Date: May 1994
Grade Level/Subject: (Appropriate for grades 5-8) Reading
comprehension activity
Overview:
When it comes to buying something (particularly something to eat) students seldom
wonder about things like "What's it made of?' or "Where did these ingredients
come from?" They are far more interested in how it tastes than in whether or not it's
good for them. This activity was designed to make them read carefully for
information about products, then make judgements on whether or not it's right for
them.
Objective(s):
Students will be able to:
- Locate and read the ingredient lists and nutrient charts on any cereal box.
- Explain how reading carefully helps to know what to buy (or not to buy).
- Explain in what order the ingredients are listed.
- Identify the UPC (bar code) symbol and explain its use.
- Discuss the cereal package itself and determine how it helps to sell this product to a
particular age group.
Acitivities and Procedures:
- Prepare a question sheet (about 10 questions) using the ingredient and nutritional
information from a snack food such as potato chips. Intentionally leave off product names
(and other obvious things) so students will have to find other clues in order to identify
the product.
- Using the cereal box they have brought to class, have each student chart the information
asked for.
- When finished, trade worksheets with a partner and check each other's work. Ask them to
compare the information on their own box with their partner's. Which product contains less
sugar? less sodium? more calories per serving? more cholesterol?
"What You See Isn't Always What You Get!"
Use your cereal box to answer the following questions:
1. Name of cereal _________________________________
2. Name of company ________________________________
3. Address of company_____________________________
4. Name the grains it is made of__________________.
5. (a) What is the main ingredient? _______________
(b) How do you know? ___________________________
6. Serving size ________________
7. Servings per package _________
8. Calories per serving:
without milk_____ with milk____
9. Carbohydrates:
without milk_____ with milk____
10. Cholesterol:
without milk_____ with milk____
11. Sodium:
without milk_____ with milk____
12. Does this cereal contain sugar?_____
How much?______
13. What does U.S. RDA mean?
___________________________________________________
14. What % of U.S. RDA of:
(a) Vitamin A: without milk____ with milk____
(b) Vitamin C without milk____ with milk____
(c) Calcium: without milk____ with
milk____
(d) Vitamin D without milk____ with milk____
15. Is this cereal package designed to appeal to a
certain age group?_____
If so, circle which one:
5-10
11-15
general
16. If you know what a cereal contains, what can you
better decide?_________________________________
| 
