The Cereal Box Assignment

The Cereal Box Assignment

Students will be constructing a project on an American hero using an oldcereal box. Students are to select a figure from our classroom discussionsthus far (between 1870 and the end of WWI roughly) whom they believe to bean American hero. (Remember that heroes have flaws, too. That's what makesthem human, and what makes you and I possible of aspiring to their heights.)Be sure to consider figures from all walks of life that we've covered – andsome that we maybe haven't. This includes men, women and children, black,white, Hispanic, hyphenated-American or not. It is up to you to determinewho has the qualities and has made the appropriate contribution to our pastto be considered an "American hero."

After researching this figure (using classroom notes, the internet, andprint resources), students will then redesign the cereal box in honor oftheir hero. The cereal box should be covered in paper (or the reverse sideof gift wrapping works, too) and then redecorated in honor of this Americanhero.

Requirements

1. Each side of the cereal box must be redesigned with the exception of thesmall bottom panel of the box. (one top, two sides, one front, one back forfive total parts to be redesigned)

2. The box top should include a brief reference to the most significantcontribution that your figure to American history. Don't go into detailhere, but use a "grabber" to get your consumer interested in the eventenough to read the back of your cereal box.

3. The bottom of the box should include your name.

4. One side panel of your box should include interesting quotes stated byyour figure, and a brief description of the context in which they were said.

5. The other side panel of your box should include other interesting factsrelated to your figure's life. This could be any "trivial" information -important relatives, funny facts, strange occurrences, something odd abouthow the person died, a funny campaign anecdote, etc.

6. The front of the box should include should include the name of yourcereal box (something creative that relates to your historical figure) aswell as a nice-sized picture of your historical figure and the cereal thatis in the box. You can also attach other little slogans that have somethingto do with your figure (For example, with FDR one might say "now availablein two new flavors - First and Second New Deal" or for Woodrow Wilson"includes 14 essential vitamins and minerals - including those found inAlsace Lorraine" or other corny historical references like that). The frontshouldn't be overly cluttered with information, but should be appealing tolook at - enough so that one would want to take a look at what's on the backof the box.

7. The back of the box should include the most detailed information aboutyour figure. Here you would include a biographical essay of your figure.You also need to include the historical events that contributed to yourdecision to select this figure as an American hero. It should also includea brief disclaimer about any obvious faults that your hero had, but becertain to celebrate the things that made your person an American hero. Theback of the box may also include small pictures of your figure (or picturesrelated to your figure's background/event).

8. This information should be done neatly - with correct spelling, grammar,etc. It should be typed in a 12 point font. (Except for some of the largerheadings or slogans..those can be proportionately bigger) The typedinformation can then be taped or glued to the covered cereal box (but itshould be done neatly). The finished product should look as appealing as aprofessionally-constructed cereal box (within reason, of course).

9. On the day that you turn the cereal boxes in, you will also beresponsible for giving a 2 minute explanation of the project and the figurethat you selected.

10. Be sure that all work is done in your own words. The only quotationsallowed are those on the side panel of the box. All of the biographical andhistorical information must utilize your own thoughts, words, and ideas.