Economics and entrepreneurship aren't the only things you can learn with lemonade. In Barbara deRubertis' early reader, LULU'S LEMONADE (Math Matters)
As Mattie and Martin toss around ideas in an effort to cure their boredom, they decide to enter a cooking contest. But who wants to cook on such a hot day? The solution is to make lemonade. What a perfect way to spend a hot summer day. And no stove is needed!
Well, most parents would not want their children using sharp knives to cut lemons on their own, but using real lemons is the healthiest and tastiest option. Unfortunately, it's not the choice that's made. They use enough lemonade mix to make half a gallon of lemonade, and then they play around with the rest of the ingredients to fill the entire gallon. It may not be the healthiest, but it was tasty enough to win a cooking contest.
After reading this book together, your child might take on the challenge of creating a healthier version of homemade lemonade, or even a fruit salad, or some other type of recipe. Or, he might just want to play around with water and compare how much fits into different containers. Since the concept of fractions is hinted at in the book, he might also want to play around with measuring different fractions of ingredients. You could end up with measuring cups and spoons all over the place. Creative projects, cooking, and even math should be messy sometimes, though, shouldn't they?
As fall approaches, it's a great time to do more cooking as a family activity. My daughter loves to cook; and while my son rarely does so, he likes to help make homemade pretzels. All ages of children can have fun with this one! They can create all different shapes and symbols with the dough.
So, the next time your child asks to play video games or something else that involves screen time, why not let him figure out what to do that doesn't require the use of a plug? There are so many possibilities - art, music, dance, drama, writing in a journal, reading, playing a board game, and of course, cooking! Just imagining any and all possibilities is an exercise in creativity.
Have a great rest of the week!
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