I love using cereal boxes for all kinds of things. They are the perfect thickness of cardboard for many projects. I keep them in a box and use them for templates and projects all the time…but usually I just use the back side of them. For this project, I thought it would be fun to use the front side of them and actually see how kids might incorporate the designs from the box into a project.
“Cereal Box Shoes” was a big hit! 
First, I had to try it myself to see how it was going to work. Of course, I love color so I chose a fun colorful box from my collection of cereal boxes.
You will need:
Cereal boxes (a large variety), pencil, scissors, glue, and masking tape.
1. I had the kids trace around their own shoes to get the size of the shoe large enough to actually work with. The front of the box (the colorful side) is going to be the design on the sole of the shoe so I have kids plan this out so they like what they get. I’m sure you already know this, but kids think it’s kind of funny to take off their shoes at school. Sometimes they REALLY don’t want to do this so I just let them work with someone to get their shoe traced while it’s still on…but I take my own shoes off to be silly with them and they usually play along a bit better. 
2. Then the kids cut out the bottom portion of the box that they just traced for both feet.
3. Those first two steps are pretty fast (once the kid agree to remove their shoes). However, it’s nice to really give the kids some time for this next step. They will use the scraps from their box or share with their friends and design their shoe. Since my example was more of a sandal that is what most kids wanted to make, however encourage them to think of their own ideas and to have some fun designing. 
Allow time for kids to process and think, some kids can jump right in with ideas and other kids take time. Sometimes kids who need time feel worried when they don’t come up with an idea right away and they’ll just copy someone so as not to look silly sitting there. Let kids work through the “design” phase with trial and error–try to be very hands-off here. Let them see what works and what doesn’t. They can use tape and glue to attach parts of the shoe. Sometimes it is helpful to use tape while designing and then go back with glue and put it all together. 
Okay–I have to warn you–the kids WILL want to try these shoes on. This was something I wasn’t expecting (I’m not sure why I wasn’t expecting this…of COURSE they would want to actually wear them!).
This is one of those projects where the “process” of problem solving and designing is more important than the final result. The kids are not making REAL shoes that have to stand up to the tests of actual shoes, they are just designing and therefore can dream up whatever their imagination will allow. It’s important that kids get to create in these ways without fear of being “wrong” and with time to allow problem solving to happen.
Other fun recycling-related projects:
Water Bottle Fish
If you are interested in any of my art integration resources, you can find them for classroom teachers, art teachers and parents HERE.
I hope your kids have fun and, of course, I always love seeing you on social media and reading your comments!
Best,
Jenny K.