Let's Make Lemonade
What is philanthropy? How does an individual use personal interests and strengths to impact the common good?
Photo Credit: Lemonade Stand by Bre LaRow is licensed under CC by 2.0
Students gain understanding of philanthropy through literature, media and personal experiences. The students create and run a lemonade stand to raise funds for a local non-profit organization.
This lesson introduces young people to the concept of philanthropy as giving time, talent, or treasure for the common good. They learn that even young people can be philanthropists. The following lessons lead young people to plan a fundraiser.
We define the vocabulary in the definition of philanthropy through an original song with a familiar tune.
The group discusses and agrees on a need to address through donating money. They watch a film about a boy who sets up a lemonade stand and read a book about a national Lemonade Stand effort. Then they identify a need, learn more, and communicate the need to others.
Now that the need they want to address is identified, the children meet people in the community who address the need and others who may want to help them with their fundraiser.
As a group, the young people and their families make all the preparations for the lemonade sale, including making posters and advertising in creative ways. The posters communicate about the purpose for the sale and the impact they hope to make. The children prepare the lemonade for the sale and review coin recognition and counting skills before the sale.