CEREAL BOX BOOK REPORT and COMMERCIAL (speech)
Over the next several weeks, students will read a self-selected, teacher-approved book, create a cereal box book report and prepare a commercial for it. Students will need to decorate a real (empty) cereal box with illustrations and information related to the book they read using the directions below. We will do a little bit of the work here at school to get started, but the bulk of this project will need to be completed at home. Any work on this project will count towards their 30 minutes of reading homework each night.
Student________________________ Book____________________________________________
FRONT OF BOX: Use a piece of white or light colored construction paper or cardstock to cover the front of your cereal box. (You will probably want to create the cover before gluing it on your box.) Include the name of the cereal and a picture of the cereal. Invent a name for the cereal that is related to the title of the book and sounds like a cereal. Do not use the exact title of the book. Choose a shape for the cereal as well as colors and ingredients that all relate to the book. For example, for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, you might invent a cereal called Wizard Wands, a toasted oat cereal in the shape of miniature lightning bolts. Also include a picture of the main character(s) on the cover of your box. You may want to look at the attached page of real cereal boxes to get some ideas.
RIGHT SIDE: Make a list of ingredients that includes the story elements of characters and setting. Under the heading “Ingredients,” list the main characters and write a sentence about each one. Then describe the setting. You can use the template on the attached sheet or cover the side with white or light colored paper and do it in your own way. Just make sure you include the main characters and the setting.
LEFT SIDE: Write a summary that describes the main problem and the solution of the book. Try to use words that will “grab” readers’ attention and make them want to buy your cereal. You can use the attached template or do this is your own way.
BACK OF BOX: Design a game that is based on the story. It can be a puzzle, a word search, a word scramble, a maze, a crossword puzzle, a hidden pictures illustration, or any other fun activity that might be found on the back of a cereal box. Make sure it includes information from the book.
TOP OF BOX: Include the title, author, number of pages, and number of stars you would give this book if you were a book critic. The maximum number of stars is 5. You can use the template or create the top of the box yourself as long as you include all of the things listed above.
PRIZE: Cereal boxes often include a prize. Your prize must be something the main character could have used in the book or something that reminds you of the main character. Include a picture of the prize on the front of your box to let the reader know what is inside the box.
****YOUR CEREAL BOX BOOK REPORT IS DUE AT SCHOOL ON THURSDAY, MARCH 11TH****
**All templates for this cereal box book report are available on this website : http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/cereal_box_book_report.htm
I have also put this link on our class blog (www.mrsmurdock.wordpress.com) under the OTHER tab. This will be helpful for students to be able to write rough drafts for the sides of their box before doing the final copies. Also, if students mess up or want to redo any section of the box, they can just print new copies from the website. If students need any glue, scissors, markers, or paper from school, they are more than welcome to borrow those materials upon request.
Cereal Box Commercial
Students will share their project by doing a 1-2 minute commercial for their cereal. These oral presentations will be made on March 12th, 15th & 16th. Students should practice their commercials at home to make sure of the timing. The goal is to make other students really want to buy the cereal (read the book). Use the following guidelines for writing the commercial:
*Share exciting elements from the book – the problem, important scenes, interesting characters, etc.
*Be energetic! Try to convince the audience to buy the cereal whether you liked the book or not.
*Cereal has nutritional value and is “good for the body.” Tell your classmates why this book would be good for them!
*(Optional) Be a character from the book to help you “sell” your product.
Plan out what you will say, what you will do, and any props you will use (you will need to at least include the cereal box you made) for your commercial. You may do this on notebook paper, type it on the computer, or write it on index cards. You will need to turn in a draft of your commercial plan in one of these forms. Your grade on this part of the project will be based on the content of your commercial and how well you present your commercial to the class. This part of the project (the commercial) will be the speech grade for this trimester.
