From Cane to Candy: Teaching about the (Un)Sweet Truths of Sugar in the Montessori Way
Today, children are bombarded by marketing campaigns promoting sugary packaged foods. With their natural curiosity, they become easy targets for flashy ads and tempting treats. The struggle to steer them away from yet another candy bar or 'fruit' juice is all too real.
In this blog, we explore how we used Montessori principles to teach children about sugar and its impact. Keep reading for some helpful tips!
Understanding the history of sugar –from cane to candy
At ILM, we took a deeper look at the story of sugar, helping students trace its journey from sugar cane fields to the store shelves. Along the way, they learned about sugar’s impact on their bodies and explored the importance of reading labels and making mindful food choices.
Uncovering Sugar’s Secrets in a Hands-on Way:
Children were curious to learn about this single ingredient that delights everyone! Following the Montessori emphasis on experiential learning, we started with a story of how sugar is made: from harvesting cane in fields to refining it into the sugar we recognize. We added real ingredients to help students grasp the process and history behind sugar.
With this background, students were invited to examine different snacks and beverages. Together, we looked at the ingredient lists to find where sugar hides in plain sight. We learned that sugar has many names on labels—fructose, high fructose corn syrup, glucose, maltodextrin, and more.
Montessori Tip: Create a safe space where children can explore on their own without fear of judgment. Offer explanations and small nudges to direct them. This helps children feel more empowered and independent in their learning.
Visually learning about the processing of sugar
Surprising Discoveries: The Sugar Chart
We created a chart where students placed their favorite drinks or snacks on one side and attached small and large sugar sachets on the other to represent how much sugar each contained.
Children were surprised by the amount of sugar their favorite treats contained.
Montessori Tip: In Montessori education, we often use concrete representations to help abstract concepts “stick.” Here, by pairing familiar snacks with real sugar sachets, children could grasp the magnitude of sugar in each item. This visualization helps them relate their learning to the real world, making the information meaningful. Use similar materials and ingredients to help children grasp abstract concept.
Turning abstract into concrete with The Sugar Chart
Encouraging Mindful and Empowered Choices
This activity wasn’t just about learning facts; it was about empowering children to understand what they’re consuming and why it matters. Knowledge is a powerful tool in a world where choices are often influenced by marketing and algorithms. One of our goals with this lesson was to introduce the concepts of mindfulness and independent critical thinking in everyday choices—especially when it comes to health and nutrition.
Reading the nutrition labels
As educators and parents, we can guide children to question what they see, read, and consume, encouraging a curious and thoughtful approach to life. With each lesson, we aim to build a foundation that will serve them not just now, but well into the future.