Labor Day Lunchbox Social

HOW TO DO IT

• Print out one invitation for each invited family  
• Have your children color each invitation

The Party

WHAT YOU NEED

• 1-2 bags of WONKA® MIX UPS® (each 18.7oz bag can serve 3-4 kids)  
• 1 sheet of poster board  
• Colored markers  
• 1 table (to display the lunches)  
• 1 table and gavel (for the auctioneer)  
• Red, white and blue bunting (optional)  
• 1 NESQUIK® lid auction paddle for each child  
• Easy buffet lunch for the adults

HOW TO PLAN IT

• Invite families to come over for an old-fashioned lunchbox social.  
• Have each family make one box lunch for each of their children attending.  
• Let the children decorate the outside of their boxes.  
• Display the decorated box lunches on a table for everyone to see.  
• Distribute the contents of the WONKA® MIX UPS® bag evenly, giving each child exactly the same amount of WONKA® LAFFY TAFFY®, WONKA® NERDS® and WONKA® SWEETARTS®.  
• Tell the children that they will be able to bid on the box lunch they desire, using their candy as "money."  
• Display a poster that tells how much each item is worth.
  For example:
  
  • WONKA® NERDS® = 1¢ 
  • WONKA® SWEETARTS® = 5¢ 
  • WONKA® LAFFY TAFFY® = 10¢
   
• Give each child a NESQUIK® lid auction paddle.  
• Explain how an auction is conducted. Tell them that they hold up their paddle when they want to bid on a box lunch.  
• They will need to pay for the lunch they have bought with their WONKA® money.  
• The "auctioneer" describes each box in elaborate detail, starting the bidding low.  
• After all of the box lunches are "purchased," invite the children to gather together on a picnic blanket or table to enjoy their box lunches together!  
• Provide a buffet-style luncheon for the adults to enjoy while the children are socializing. 
• After lunch, the auctioneer can distribute the leftover candy to the entire group based on how much each child “spent” to win their lunchbox. For example, the afternoon's highest bidder would be the first to pick his or her favorite candy. Next, the runner-up would choose, and so on.

TIPS

• Decorate the lunchbox table and the auctioneer's table with red, white and blue bunting.  
• Have a camera ready to take a picture of each child when they "purchase" their lunch.  
• While the boxes are on display, vote on the winning lunchbox decoration.

Reader Comments (1)

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Posted on: 8/4/2009 11:07 AM

Posted by: Theresa A

City: Los Alamos, NM

I'm confused - the auctioneer gives back the money (candy) that the kids already "paid"? What's the point in the exercise then?