Highsmith, Carol M. Dr Pepper advertising mural, Dublin, Texas. 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2015631058/.
Begin by asking students about their favorite soda and have a class discussion. Dr Pepper will be introduced as a Texas-born soda. Students will begin analyzing a wall mural from Dr Pepper. What does the mural make you think about the time period Dr Pepper was invented? Students will determine how one man’s discovery led to a worldwide phenomenon.
Dr Pepper was created in a Waco pharmacy to re-create the smell of the surrounding soda fountains. Dr Pepper was the first soda.
Source: https://drpeppermuseum.com/history/
Source: : https://drpeppermuseum.com/history/
- Why do you think it reads “10, 2, 4”? What does that refer to?
- What do you notice about the colors of the mural?
- What does the phrase “Drink a Bite to Eat” mean?
- How is this different from current Dr Pepper advertising?
- Why might someone paint an advertisement as a mural on a building?
ELA Standard
7.9C. Author’s purpose and craft. Analyze the author’s use of print and graphic features to achieve specific purposes.
Social Studies Standard
7.20A. Social studies skills. Differentiate between, locate, and use valid primary and secondary sources such as media and news services, biographies, interviews, and artifacts to acquire information about Texas.
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- Engage students first with questions:
- What do you notice on the mural?
- What do you wonder about the mural?
- What other Texas-born brands or cultural items represent Texas or your community today? Why are they important?
- Students will discuss their findings as a class after answering questions.
- Students create an ad for Dr Pepper.
- Compare and contrast old ads to today’s commercials.
- Why was Dr Pepper considered innovative?
- How did Dr Pepper represent Texas in a positive manner?
- Students will create a community mural.
- As a class, students will brainstorm a mural that represents their own school or town.
- Sketch a draft as a group project, tying literacy (slogans/words) with visuals.
- In small groups, students will answer the following questions:
- What appeal techniques are used in the advertisement?
- How does the design of the sign represent the time period when Dr Pepper was created?
- In what ways do brands like Dr Pepper become part of a community’s or nation’s historical and cultural story?
- Other resources include:
- The University of Texas article provides background about the formation of Dr Pepper.
- The Dr Pepper story shows a visual of the original Dr Pepper bottles that depict the times everyone should enjoy the soda. Students will create a brief advertisement for the soda to entice others to make a purchase.
- The Dr Pepper museum offers a look back in history, showing original photographs and historical information.
Highsmith, Carol M. The Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas. 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2015630507/.