Can You Sell Your Cereal?
Cereal Ingredients
• Milled corn, sugar, raisins, toasted almonds,
malt flavor, contains 2% or less of salt. BHT
added to packaging for freshness.
Corn Cereal Flakes
Raisins
Sliced toasted Almonds
Standard
• SSEMI4 The student will explain the
organization and role of business and analyze
the four types of market structures in the U.S.
economy.
Objective
• Students will create and "sell" their own
cereal product after observing cereal
commercials and box covers. They will
become familiar with the type of language
used to sell products, as well as the marketing
techniques used for creating visual images on
cereal boxes and in commercials.
Procedure
• For homework, students will observe cereal
boxes and cereal commercials. Then, in class
in small groups (3-4), they will brainstorm
things that the boxes and commercials have
in common.
• Students should look for things on the box
that would make people want to buy that
cereal. They should also discuss the audience
for which the box is intended. If the selling
feature is that it is healthy like Total, the
audience is for adults concerned with meeting
all of their suggested daily nutrition. Students
may want to come up with several examples.
Project
• Create your own cereal concept, design a
cereal box, and come up with a 1-minute
commercial to sell your product.
• To make the box, simply cover an actual cereal
box with white butcher paper and attach with
tape or glue, or use a plain shirt gift box. You
should include all of the features of a normal
cereal box (see last slide).
• The commercial should be presented to the
class in order to "sell" the product. Video or
live in class both acceptable.
Assessment 1—Writing Assignment
A secret ballot will be taken in class to determine
which product/commercial was best.
After judging, students should write a 3-5
paragraph review of the activity that includes the
following:
1. Which product "sold" best? Discuss why.
2. Write about your product: what features about
it would make it "sell-able" and why?
3. Address the winning product and discuss why
you think it was so successful.
4. Do you understand the concept of
advertising?
5. What are the reasons you gave in your paper
for making your product "sell-able?"
6. Are the cereal boxes convincing? What do you
think you could have done better?
7. Do you like your product?
Sell your Cereal Rubric
1. Were all elements of a real cereal box present
(see last slide). 25 points possible; -5 pts for
each missing element
2. Was the cereal box done professionally? 25
points possible; -5 for each error or mistake
3. Was the commercial professional and
convincing? 25 points; -5 pts for each obvious
error or mistake
4. Writing assessment. 25 points possible. Was
each question answered? -5 pts for each missing
answer.
Grading
• Grades will be given individually based on the
preceding rubric. Note that the first three
elements are group grades, but the writing
assessment will be graded on an individual
basis. Therefore, your grade may not be the
same as others in your group.
Required Cereal Box Components
• Front: name, picture, company logo, net
weight
• Left side: nutritional information and
ingredient list
• Right Side: information about the cereal
and/or company
• Back: Your choice of recipes, games, slogans,
facts, etc. Use at least three different things.