The ability to follow directions is an important kindergarten skill, but it can be a difficult skill for kids to master and often requires practice. That's why I created a lemonade stand in my classroom! It's fun way for kids to practice following directions.
As a kindergarten teacher, I always try to create a learning environment that is engaging, interactive and inspiring for my kindergarten students. With all the new mandates and standards it's difficult to find time to allow my students to learn through play. However, I always try to design my lessons with one thing in mind: What we learn becomes a part of who we are. That's why this Following Directions Lemonade Stand Activity is such a great activity to start the school year! 
The ability to follow directions is an important kindergarten skill. It can also be a difficult skill for kids to master and often requires a lot of practice. I always start the year off with explaining the importance of following directions, and this activity is a great way to reinforce that lesson! I used the lemonade cardboard stand-up to bring the outside in, and to create this fun setup.
Setting Up Your Lemonade Stand
My students were excited and ready to wear their DIY child's aprons and make some fresh-squeezed lemonade! To decorate the lemonade stand, I used some lemonade party cutouts and layered garland to add more color. No lemonade stand is complete without a lemonade party cupcake stand and sweet treat stress toys. Have fun transforming your classroom and decorating your lemonade stand. This is an activity that my students will never forget.
Teaching the Importance of Following Directions
Start off your activity by having students make sure they have all the necessary supplies to make their lemonade. Be sure to download the Free How to Make Lemonade Printable here! This booklet is a great reference for your students while they're making lemonade. (Note: This printable is actually 2 booklets! Just cut the pages in half after you print them.) 
Have your students work in groups to follow the step-by-step directions. I decorated a table in the back of the room with a lemonade tablecloth and placed all the necessary ingredients on it. 
This activity would also be a great way to show students what happens if they miss a direction. You can demonstrate this by removing one of the pages in the "How to Make Lemonade" booklet. For example, remove the page in the booklet that says to add sugar. This will leave the group with some very bitter and/or sour lemonade. 
After making the lemonade, my students added some freshly sliced lemons to their homemade lemonade. Their favorite part of the activity was drinking their delicious creation! This activity is a great way to focus on sequencing while explaining the importance of following directions and working together. 
Cheers to some delicious lemonade! Following directions can be difficult and overwhelming if your students are not focused on the task at hand. This activity is a fun, easy and engaging way to show them the importance of following directions and what might happen if directions are not followed carefully or a step is missed. 
Another fun activity to incorporate into this activity is having students play "lemonade stand" in the dramatic play area. This is a great way for students to focus on coin identification or counting money, too!
