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Popcorn can be a great learning tool in a variety of circumstances. It's affordable, comes in large quantities, and kids love it! We've come up with a number of great ways to use ACT II Microwave Popcorn in educational capacities. Whether you're in the classroom or the kitchen, here are some surefire ways to keep kids interested in learning and having a nutritious snack at the same time!
Native Americans and Popcorn
Ask students to do a research project on the Native American groups that used popcorn. Ask them to report different ways popcorn was used and how many varieties different tribes grew. Have students draft a chronological study on the uses of popcorn from the early days of the Indians to the number of places and ways popcorn is used today.
Popcorn in 20th Century America
You can also ask students to research different kinds of popcorn poppers and to research details such as when they were invented, who used poppers, and how they pop popcorn.
Popcorn in the United States
One exercise is to give students a list of geographic locations that have played a part in popcorn's history, such as Peru, China, Sumatra, Mexico, and the United States. Ask them to locate these locations on a map. As a follow-up, you can ask students to research the major popcorn-producing states. Ask them to report on why popcorn grows so well in these areas and whether it depends on soil, climate, planting methods, harvesting methods, or other factors.
Popcorn Around the World
Another exercise is to divide the class into groups representing countries. Ask groups to compare how popcorn is used, eaten, grown, and sold. Try to locate popcorn products, packaging labels, and advertisements to add to the discussion.
Popcorn's Road to Your Pantry
Ask your students to research what it takes for ACT II Microwave Popcorn to go from the processing company to the stores that sell ACT II. Identify the major processing companies and the largest retailers of both traditional and microwave popcorn.
Selling ACT II
Divide the class into groups and have them do a marketing campaign for a new ACT II Microwave Popcorn product. The campaign should include choosing a flavor and a name and creating a logo and package design. Then help students plan an advertising campaign for the new product. Decide which groups of people are most likely to eat it and develop ideas based on these groups - the "target market." Write down the ideas and decide which media - magazine, newspapers, posters, television, radio or cinema, or a combination - to use.
Have students develop and plan the advertisements. Write the text and design the page for a press advertisement, write the script or words for a jingle or produce a storyboard (small pictures that outline the plan of the film) for television. Consider promotional ideas to help sell the product - t-shirts, hats, buttons, etc. - to tie in with your theme, and think about where these items would be offered. Have students make plans for and designs of their ideas. We'd love to hear your ideas too!
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