• Students will research one sport from the Olympics.

• Students will gather statistical information.

• Students will synthesize their findings and present them creatively.

• Internet research

• Empty cereal box (one for each student)

• Art supplies: paper, markers, colored pencils, glue, scissors

Open the discussion by brainstorming a list of sporting events that are held during the Summer Olympics. (It would be advisable to have a list of all the sports in case the students do not name the less familiar sports.)  Discuss some of the sports. You may start by posing the following questions:

• What sports are more popular than others?

• Why do some receive more media attention that others? 

• Are there any sports we have not heard of?

• Are there any sports that have been designed for a specific purpose? (example: modern pentathlon was originally created as a way to train soldiers in combat.)

Assign students one of the many sports held during the Olympics, or have students select their own sport to research. 

Students will research their sport with the goal of finding the following information: training regime, participants, history of that sport, unusual information, equipment used, countries participating, and other notable areas. (Brainstorming this list with students will also create more categories.)

Once students have a list of things to look for, send them on their way.

When students have finished researching they should begin putting together their cereal boxes. Suggestions for the preparation of the boxes include: 

• Front of box:  Creative title (i.e. Boxeroos,  Triathlon-o-meal),  a picture depicting the sport (including equipment, setting, etc.), a "catchy" selling phrase for the sport such as you would see on a regular cereal box

• Side panel one: Nutritional and training information

• Side panel two: Countries participating, names of participants, medal winners, score statistics

• Back of box:  History and explanation of that sport and any unusual statistics and information if there is little history

The material should be presented in a colorful, creative, neat, and informative way, and link to the idea of cereal.

To display cereal boxes, you could hang them from the ceiling, place them on a shelf, have students present them orally to the class, or discuss them first thing in the morning during a class breakfast.

CNN/Sports Illustrated : This Web site focuses on the Olympics. It includes news and articles from the 1996 Atlanta Games and an Olympic Almanac.

Sports Media (Specific Links) : A list of links organized by different sports.

• Computer(s)
• Internet Connection
• Internet Web Browser

• Students could select one sport and create a poster promoting that sport.
• Students could create an advertisement for one of the sports including as much information about that sport as possible.

Gifted Students:

• Create something to go inside the cereal box that has to do with the sport such as fact cards for the athletes involved, fact cards about the history of that sport, examples of food items used in training, pictures of equipment, pictures of athletes, etc.