6.1 Reading Between the Lines
“Reading between the Lines” is a middle school food and agricultural literacy lesson (MS.IAS.6.1) that teaches students to recognize and interpret agricultural product labeling. Through comparing food labels for beef, milk, tortilla chips, and vegetables, students learn the meaning of special label terms such as All Natural, Organic, Vegan, GMO, and Certified Angus Beef, while also exploring the importance of ethical decision-making and integrity in food production. The lesson includes an interest approach, discussion, role-play review, application activities, and a matching assessment.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- As a result of this unit the student will… Create informed, educational and confident consumers of agricultural products.
- As a result of this lesson the student will… Recognize agricultural product labeling.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
-
- Student journals or notebook paper
- MS.IAS.6.1.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Food product labels containing phrases "all natural," "organic," "vegan" and "GMO"
- Lesson Number
- MS.IAS.6.1
- Precepts
- D. Character — D1. Live with integrity; N. Decision Making — N3. Make ethical decisions
- Key Terms
- All Natural, Organic, Vegan, GMO
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- CS.03.02.03.b.Practice ethical behaviors.
- FPP.03.01.06.a.Explain the importance of food labeling to the consumer.
- NL-ENG.K-12.12Applying Language Skills
- NL-ENG.K-12.4Communication Skills
- NS.5-8.3Life Science
- NS.5-8.6Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
National Standards (AFNR)
- CS.01.04.01.c.Perform tasks with integrity.
Social Science / Economics
- NSS-EC.5-8.7Markets—Price and Quantity Determination – Markets exist when buyers and sellers interact. This interaction determines market prices and thereby allocates scarce goods and services.