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Teacher Directions
Here’s a fun way to “show” not “tell” students how much sugar is in their favorite
drinks!
Main Activity
Objective: Students will learn how to use math skills (division) to calculate the
number of teaspoons of sugar in various sizes of popular beverages.
Directions:
Health
Math
1. Have the class collect cans and bottles of popular drinks (list provided on student
activity sheet). Bring in a two pound bag of sugar (or sugar cubes), a teaspoon, and clear
plastic cups or ziploc bags.
2. Show children the Nutrition Facts Label for each of the beverages and where the “grams of
sugar” per serving are listed. Explain the following division formula for converting grams of
sugar to teaspoons: There are 4 grams of sugar in one teaspoon, so divide the number of
grams by four to get the number of teaspoons of sugar per serving.
3. Have students complete their activity sheets by finding out how many teaspoons of sugar are
in each serving of the beverages listed.
4. Then have students show how much sugar is in their favorite beverages by measuring out the
number of teaspoons of sugar and putting it into a clear plastic cup or ziploc bag. If using
sugar cubes, 1 cube = 1/2 teaspoon.

Additional Activity:
The Scoop on Sugar Display
The average 12 oz. can of soda contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar. A 44 oz.
movie-size cola has about 36 teaspoons! The sugar content of soda makes for
a very visual and powerful class display. Have students make signs with the
names of popular beverages and the amount of sugar in each. Put the cups or
plastic bags of measured sugar (or sugar cubes) next to an actual can or bottle
of the beverage, and display alongside the signs.
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—Adapted from “FOODPLAY School Resource Kit˝ ©2009 FoodPlay Productions, LLC
Zero Sugary Drinks
THE SCOOP ON SUGAR
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Name:___________________________________________
How many teaspoons of sugar are hiding out in these popular drinks? Do the math!
CLUE: 1 teaspoon = 4 grams of sugar
______ grams of sugar in can or bottle
4 (grams per teaspoon)
= # of teaspoons of sugar in can or bottle
(Cans and bottles usually contain more than one serving)
Beverage
Number of Ounces
Grams of Sugar
Coca-Cola
(1 can)
12 oz.
40 g
Coca-Cola
(Movie-size Medium)
36 oz.
117 g
Mountain Dew
(1 can)
12 oz.
46 g
Dr. Pepper
(1 can)
12 oz.
40 g
Pepsi
(1 can)
12 oz.
41 g
Orange Gatorade
(1 bottle)
20 oz.
30 g
Sunny D Baja Orange Drink
(1 bottle)
12 oz.
43 g
6.75 oz.
25 g
Nestea Iced Tea
(1 can)
12 oz.
34 g
Vitamin Water Multi V
(1 bottle)
20 oz.
32 g
Water
(1 bottle)
12 oz.
0g
Capri Sun Red Berry Drink
(1 pouch)
Drinks don’t have to be sugary to be delicious!
158
— ©2009 FoodPlay Productions, LLC
Teaspoons of Sugar
Zero Sugary Drinks
THE SCOOP ON SUGAR