10 Book-Themed Activities for The Lemonade War
By Lily | Published 5 June 2023 | Goodreads Rating 3.90 | This post may contain affiliate links.
We’ve curated a list of fun reading games & activities inspired by The Lemonade War. Be sure to try some (or all!) of these ideas while creating special memories for your family!
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies is a great book for kids that teaches them about entrepreneurship, math, and sibling relationships. It tells the story of siblings Evan and Jessie Treski who decide to have a lemonade stand competition during summer vacation. As they compete to see who can make the most money, they learn important lessons about entrepreneurship, communication, and sibling rivalry.
Here are ten fun book-themed activities that kids and their families can do together after reading The Lemonade War.
10 Activities to Extend the Reading Fun for The Lemonade War
Activity 1: When life gives you lemons … make lemonade!
There’s nothing quite like a refreshing glass of cold lemonade on a hot summer day to quench the thirst! @SugarSpunRun never fails to deliver on amazing recipes including this one for homemade lemonade!
Activity 2: Set up a lemonade stand!
Have your kids set up a lemonade stand just like Evan and Jessie did in the book. Encourage them to use the tips and strategies learned from the book:
· Choose a high-traffic location: Set up your lemonade stand in a location with a lot of foot or vehicle traffic, such as a busy street corner, park, or community event.
· Make your stand visible: Use bright, eye-catching colors and signage to make your stand visible from a distance. Make sure your stand is easily identifiable and stands out from the surroundings.
· Offer free samples: Offer free samples of your lemonade to passersby to entice them to buy a full cup. This can be a great way to get people to try your product and become repeat customers.
· Set a fair price: Set a fair price for your lemonade that is competitive with other lemonade stands in the area. Consider offering discounts for larger purchases or repeat customers.
· Provide excellent customer service: Treat your customers with kindness and respect, and provide excellent customer service. This can help create a positive experience for your customers and encourage them to return in the future.
· Make it fun: Make your lemonade stand a fun and enjoyable experience for customers. Consider playing music or offering games or activities to entertain customers while they wait.
Activity 3: Make a sign for the lemonade stand!
Create a sign for your lemonade stand. Remember, the key to making a great lemonade stand sign is to be creative, clear, and eye-catching. Here are some tips for making a lemonade stand sign that stands out:
·· Use bright colors: Choose bright, eye-catching colors such as yellow, green, and pink to make your sign stand out. Use contrasting colors for the background and lettering to make the text easier to read.
· Use large, clear lettering: Make sure the text on your sign is large and clear enough to read from a distance. Use a bold font or marker to make the letters stand out.
· Add graphics or illustrations: Use illustrations or graphics such as lemons, lemonade glasses, or smiling faces to make your sign more visually appealing.
· Include pricing information: Make sure to include the price of a cup of lemonade on your sign so that customers know how much to pay.
· Personalize your sign: Add your name or the name of your lemonade stand to the sign to make it more personal and memorable.
· Make it weather-resistant: Use materials that can withstand the weather, such as laminated paper or plastic, to ensure that your sign stays looking nice even if it rains.
Activity 4: Conduct a lemonade taste test.
In the book, Evan and Jessie experiment with different recipes and flavors for their lemonade stand. Have your kids conduct a taste test with different lemonade recipes or lemonade brands, and let them choose their favorite. They can rate the different lemonades based on taste, sweetness, and other factors. This funny video from @HiHo Kids has kids taste-testing unusual juices from around the world! Watch this video together with your child and see who would dare to give these juices a try!
Activity 5: Plan a budget
Use the book’s budgeting theme as a learning opportunity. Help your kids plan a budget for their lemonade stand, including expenses for supplies, advertising, and profit. Even without a lemonade stand, create a math challenge by having your kids count money, calculate profits, and figure out expenses using the book's formulas.
Activity 6: Raise money for charity!
Consider raising money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation who are fighting childhood cancer, one cup at a time.
When Alex, who was diagnosed with childhood cancer just before her first birthday, was 4, she told her parents she wanted to set up a front yard lemonade stand. Her plan: to give the money to doctors to help them find a cure. Her first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand,” held with the help of her older brother Patrick, raised an astonishing $2,000 in one day. While bravely fighting her own cancer, Alex continued to set up lemonade stands every year. As news spread of the remarkable girl so dedicated to helping other sick children, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands — donating the proceeds to her cause.
In 2004 when Alex passed away at the age of 8 — her stand and inspiration had raised more than $1 million towards finding a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) was started by her parents in 2005 to continue the work that Alex began. Since Alex set up her first lemonade stand in 2000 — truly exemplifying the saying “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade” — they have raised more than $250 million.
Activity 7: Make a Lemonade Commercial
Evan and Jessie use a variety of tactics to attract customers to their lemonade stand. This includes creating eye-catching signs, using competitive pricing, creating unique flavors and also good customer service. One thing they did not try was to make a television commercial. In this Youtube video from @Business and Economics for Kid, learn about advertising techniques and see some examples of them in this kid-friendly video.
Activity 8: Bake a lemon-themed treat!
Lemon bars are one of the EASIEST desserts to make but they’re guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Check out this recipe from the Preppy Kitchen. You'll love these bright and zingy lemon bars with a crisp shortbread crust and luscious lemon filling. Beyond easy to make and oh so delicious!
Activity 9: Get FREE learning resources to strengthen reading comprehension!
This free book study for The Lemonade War from Reading Quests is a fun way for your child to slow down and to read for comprehension. Great for struggling readers!
Test how many new words from The Lemonade War your child has learned!. Visit Vocabulary.com for their fun reading resources such as flash cards, a spelling bee and a vocabulary jam where teams compete in real-time to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
Activity 10: Visit library or bookstore for books about entrepreneurship.
REWARD: Celebrate The Lemonade War!
After your child finishes the book and completes one or more of the activities, download this FREE book-themed artwork as a memento to hang or frame in their room.