Pre-mix three small pitchers of lemonade: plain, strawberry-flavored, and mint-flavored; chill if possible.
Pour each flavor into labeled disposable cups and set them on a table in three separate stations.
Print enough copies of the observation sheet for each student and clip them to clipboards with pencils.
Set up a chart paper area with crayons or markers for the graphing activity.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
Gather students on the carpet and discuss how we use our senses to explore foods and drinks.
Show each lemonade flavor and ask: “What do you think this will taste like?”
Pass out one observation sheet per student and demonstrate how to color or circle smiley faces and draw a tally mark for each taste.
Step 2
Taste Test
15 minutes
Divide students into three small groups; rotate groups through each lemonade station.
At each station, students take a small sip of the assigned flavor.
After tasting, students record their reaction on their observation sheet (circle smiley, straight, or frowny face).
Teacher and aides assist students who need help writing or choosing icons.
Step 3
Graphing
7 minutes
Bring students back together by the chart paper.
Label three columns on the chart paper: Plain, Strawberry, Mint.
Invite each student to share their favorite flavor (circle with a happy face) and place a tally or draw a small dot in the column.
Use crayons or markers to color each tally, creating a simple picture graph.
Step 4
Wrap-Up
3 minutes
Review which flavor received the most tallies and ask students why they liked it.
Highlight how we used observation and counting to learn.
Collect the observation sheets on clipboards for review.
Slide Deck
Lemonade Lab
Today we will taste three lemonade flavors and learn to compare our favorites!
Welcome everyone to our Lemonade Lab! Tell students: "Today we're going to be scientists and taste three different lemonades. We'll record what we think and then make a graph to compare!"
Using Our Senses
We use our senses to explore what we eat and drink.
• Look at it
• Smell it
• Taste it
Introduce the idea of using our senses. Ask: “How do we learn about foods and drinks? Which senses can we use?” Show examples like smelling or looking at the cups.
Lemonade Flavors
Plain Lemonade
Strawberry Lemonade
Mint Lemonade
Show the three lemonade stations or images. Ask: “What do you think each one will taste like?” Encourage predictions.
Recording Your Taste
Circle on your sheet:
😊 if you like it
😐 if it’s just okay
☹️ if you don’t like it
Pass out the observation sheets. Demonstrate how to circle a happy, straight, or sad face after each sip. Point to the faces on the sheet.
Time to Taste!
Move in your group to each station
Take one small sip
Record your face on your sheet
Explain group rotations: “You will move in your small group from plain to strawberry to mint stations. At each, take one small sip, then record your face.” Model taking one sip.
Graphing Our Favorites
Let’s count how many students chose each flavor!
Draw one tally or dot for your happy face in the right column.
Gather students at the chart paper. Draw three columns labeled Plain, Strawberry, Mint. Invite each child to place a tally or dot in the column of their favorite (happy face).
Great Job, Scientists!
Our favorite lemonade got the most tallies.
Thank you for exploring and graphing with me!
Look at the completed graph. Ask: “Which flavor has the most tallies? Why do you think that is?” Reinforce that we used observations and counting to learn.
Instructions: Today we will taste three different lemonades. After you taste each one, circle the face that shows how you feel. Then, draw a picture of your reaction!
1. Plain Lemonade
Circle how you feel: 😊 😐 ☹️
Draw a picture of how it tastes:
2. Strawberry Lemonade
Circle how you feel: 😊 😐 ☹️
Draw a picture of how it tastes:
3. Mint Lemonade
Circle how you feel: 😊 😐 ☹️
Draw a picture of how it tastes:
My Favorite Flavor
Which lemonade did you like best? Write or draw your answer below:
