Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) works with schools across the country to raise money through fundraising events such as the Great Lemonade War, Change Childhood Cancer and, of course, lemonade stands! The support that schools give to ALSF each year is invaluable. 

To support schools as they support childhood cancer research, ALSF updated its school resources. These new lesson plans enrich the experience of learning about ALSF, while also adhering to the demands of the school day.

Here are three ways to incorporate ALSF into your classroom this year:

1.  Use the Common Core-Aligned Lesson Plans

ALSF has developed Math and English Language Arts (ELA) plans that align with the Common Core State Standards. There are ELA lessons to accompany the ALSF picture book, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand; writing lessons that involve research skills, persuasive writing and storytelling; and math lessons that cover skills from basic computation to creating arrays. Each lesson plan includes accommodations and modifications to account for students’ varying needs and can easily be adapted based on the dynamic of the class.  

2.  Promote Positive Mindsets and Classroom Culture

In addition to the core subject lessons, there are now Character Development plans and activities. Many of these plans are adaptable for students of all ages. Multiple learning styles are represented through singing songs, building bridges, acting out skits and mixing ingredients according to a given recipe. The main goal of these lessons is to encourage both a positive self-image and a sense of teamwork among your students that they can use in the classroom and beyond.

3.  Apply Lessons at Fundraising Events

Fundraising is a fun, rewarding activity to incorporate into your classroom or school community. Our new resources include elementary and secondary school fundraising ideas that vary in event length, amount of necessary time and resources and time of day for the event to be held. Educators can prepare for their fundraiser by building students’ knowledge of Alex and ALSF. They can also use math lessons to set their students up for success when handling donations and debrief on the experience with them. 

Carissa Latona, a data entry coordinator at ALSF, is also a former teacher, curriculum writer and a reading intervention specialist. She created the new school resources for ALSF.