Cereal Box Book Report
As we read the last few chapters of Number the Stars, students need to begin to think about their book report. This quarter, students will need to create a cereal box book report at home. Students will decorate a real cereal box with illustrations and information related to Number the Stars using the directions below.
FRONT OF THE BOX: Use a piece of white or light colored paper to cover the front of your cereal box. (You will probably want to create the cover before gluing it on your box. 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. You may want to look at some real cereal boxes to get some ideas. Choose a shape for the cereal as well as colors and ingredients that all relate to the book. For example, for the book Because of Winn-Dixie, you might invent a cereal called Winn-Dixie Crunch, a toasted oat cereal in the shape of miniature dogs.
RIGHT SIDE OF BOX: Make a list of ingredients that includes the story elements 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 character and the setting.
LEFT SIDE OF BOX: Write a summary that describes the main problem and the solution of the book. Try words that will “grab” readers’ attention and make them want to buy your cereal. You can use the attached template or do this 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 picture 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 you would be 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. You can even include a picture of the prize on the front of your box to let the reader know what is inside the box.
ORAL PRESENTATION: This is due on March 15th and you will also be doing oral presentations on this day. Your presentation will be a 30-60 second ‘television commercial’. Practice your commercial to make sure of the wording and the timing. Do not just encourage the audience by using opinion words (exciting, great, interesting, best, good, etc.), but also by featuring elements of the book- scenes, facts, etc. Be dynamic and try to convince the audience (your classmates) to buy the cereal whether you liked the book or not. Optional: Be a character from the book when you present your commercial.
*I’m attaching templates for this cereal box book report. This will be helpful for students who want to write rough drafts for the sides of their box before doing the final copies. You can also find these templates on the class blog. If students need any white paper, colored paper, or construction paper from school, they are more than welcome to ask me for some. (Thank you to Beth Newingham of the Troy School District for sharing this great project!)
