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Madison Elementary fourth- graders not only got a life experience recently, they also received rewards for their efforts.
According to fourth-grade English teacher Tracy Martin, all 55 of Madison's fourth-graders taste-tested Kellogg's three new Disney cereals earlier this year.
In class, the students, after eating the cereal - Buzz Blasts, Mickey's Magix and Honey B's - brainstormed on how the cereals tasted, smelled, felt, appeared and even what the cereal sounded like. Not missing a thing, the boxes the cereal came in also were discussed.
Next, the students edited, rewrote and finally typed the business letters to be sent to Kellogg about what they thought of the cereals.
"Overall, they were very good comments," said Martin of what the students thought of the cereal.
Helping Martin help the students were fellow fourth-grade teachers Terry Sims and Max Ketrow. "They worked with me on this. I introduced the project," Martin said. Having each student type their own final letters in the computer took a lot of time. Warsaw Community High School Cadet Student Teacher Erica Hudson assisted with the project.
In the cover letter from the teachers was an explanation about the project to Kellogg Co. Vice President and CFO John Bryant, Battle Creek, Mich. The letter also asked the company to respond to the letters so they knew what the company thought of them.
The letters were sent out late February/early March. Monday, Madison received a response.
Bryant responded by thanking the students for "sending along your many compliments on our new cereal brands" and said he was "pleased that these cereals 'passed the test' after your very thorough and critical reviews!"
He said the students' remarks will be shared with all of the folks at Kellogg Co. and that the students should be "commended on the fine effort you put into completing your class project. I am sure that your teachers are very proud of the work that you did."
Along with the letter, Kellogg sent seven coupons for $6 each, which Martin used to purchase Rice Krispies Treats¨ for the students.
"I thought that was all we were getting," said Martin.
But it wasn't.
Each of the 55 students received 16 Disney Beanie Babies¨ and a banner. They arrived in four huge boxes.
Of course, the students didn't write the letters expecting such a return. "The reason we do the business letter," said Martin, "is I try to show them a real life experience." It's a great opportunity, she said, to show the students how the real world can work. "We didn't expect this back."
This is the fifth year the Madison fourth-graders wrote business letters, but only the second year they received gifts back. Last year's fourth-graders wrote to Pepsi about Sierra Mist and received baseball caps.
Martin said, "I try to pick a new company each year and a product."
