Standards-Aligned Financial Literacy Lesson Plans:
Lemonade Stand
Core Concept Across All Grades:
Money is earned by creating value through effort, teamwork, and follow-through.
K–2 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: K–2 (Ages 5–7)
Theme: Work & Teamwork
Big Idea
People earn money by working and helping others.
Learning Objective (Student-Friendly)
“I can earn money by doing work and helping people.”
Standards Alignment
CEE – Decision Making: Simple cause and effect
CEE – Earning Income: Money is earned through work
Jump$tart – Earning Income: Work leads to income
CASEL: Cooperation, responsibility, confidence
Materials
Song and lyrics: Lemonade Stand
Picture or drawing of a lemonade stand
Play coins or tokens
Lesson Flow (15–20 minutes)
1. Warm-Up Conversation (3 minutes)
Ask:
“What is a job?”
“How do people earn money?”
Teacher prompt:
“People earn money by doing work and helping others.”
2. Listen & Imagine (5 minutes)
Play Lemonade Stand.
Ask students to:
Imagine running a stand together
Clap when they hear words about working or helping
3. Guided Discussion (5 minutes)
Ask:
“What were the kids in the song doing?”
“Did they earn the money or get it for free?”
Key takeaway:
“When you work and help others, you can earn money.”
4. Practice Activity (5 minutes)
Pretend play:
Students “help” at a pretend stand (smiling, serving, cleaning)
Give each student a token for their “work”
Reinforce:
“You earned this because you helped.”
Assessment (Informal)
Students can:
Say that money is earned by working
Describe one way people help to earn money
Take-Home Connection
“Look for a small way you can help at home and feel proud of your effort.”
Grades 3–5 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: 3–5 (Ages 8–10)
Theme: Entrepreneurship & Effort
Big Idea
Creating value and working together can earn money.
Learning Objective
Students will explain how effort, teamwork, and follow-through help people earn income.
Standards Alignment
CEE – Decision Making: Choices and outcomes
CEE – Earning Income: Goods and services
Jump$tart – Earning Income: Skills and effort
NFEC: Responsibility and work ethic
CASEL: Collaboration and persistence
Materials
Song and lyrics: Lemonade Stand
Chart paper or board
Scenario cards (planning, working, quitting early)
Lesson Flow (20–25 minutes)
1. Warm-Up Question (5 minutes)
Ask:
“Why would someone stop at a lemonade stand?”
“What makes people want to buy something?”
Introduce:
“That’s called creating value.”
2. Song Analysis (5 minutes)
Play the song.
Ask:
“What work had to be done?”
“Why was teamwork important?”
Write on board:
Plan → Work → Serve → Earn
3. Activity: Build the Stand (10 minutes)
In small groups, students list:
What they would need to do before opening
What jobs people would have
Why follow-through matters
Discuss:
“What happens if someone doesn’t do their part?”
4. Reflection (5 minutes)
Students complete:
“Earning money means…”
“One way teamwork helps is…”
Assessment
Students can:
Explain earning income through work
Identify effort and teamwork as key factors
Take-Home Extension
“Notice how people earn money by solving problems or helping others.”
Grades 6–8 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: 6–8 (Ages 11–13)
Theme: Earning, Saving & Future Goals
Big Idea
Earning money through effort and teamwork can support future goals.
Learning Objective
Students will analyze how earning income connects to responsibility, saving, and long-term goals.
Standards Alignment
CEE – Decision Making: Costs, benefits, and follow-through
CEE – Earning Income: Entrepreneurship and work
Jump$tart – Earning Income: Career and income awareness
NFEC: Ownership and planning
CASEL: Responsible decision-making, collaboration
Materials
Song and lyrics: Lemonade Stand
Scenario comparison sheets
Optional goal-setting worksheet
Lesson Flow (30 minutes)
1. Opening Question (5 minutes)
Ask:
“Why do some group projects succeed while others fail?”
Connect:
“Earning money works the same way.”
2. Song as a Case Study (5 minutes)
Play the song.
Ask:
“What decisions did the group make?”
“What would happen if they quit halfway?”
Introduce:
“Follow-through builds trust and results.”
3. Scenario Comparison (10 minutes)
Compare:
Group A plans, works, and follows through
Group B starts strong but gives up
Ask:
“Who earns income?”
“Who builds better habits for the future?”
4. Personal Connection (10 minutes)
Students write:
One way they could earn money now or later
One habit that would help them succeed
One goal earning money could support
Assessment
Students can:
Connect earning income to responsibility
Explain how work supports future goals
Real-World Extension
Tie to:
Part-time jobs
School projects
Career exploration
Saving earned income
Teacher Notes (All Grades)
Emphasize earning before spending
Celebrate effort, not perfection
Reinforce teamwork and responsibility
Connect earning to saving in follow-up lessons
Bottom Line
Lemonade Stand helps children understand that:
Money is earned by creating value, working together, and following through—skills that support success in school, work, and life.
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