It can be challenging to keep students focused and engaged when all anyone can think about is the warm weather peeking through the classroom window or summer break lingering near. Fun activities that celebrate the season can help turn things around. And simple, hands-on lemon-themed summer activities are a great option. 

Whether you’re a teacher looking to wrap up the year or a parent wanting to make learning fun at home, you will find these ideas are easy to set up and full of meaningful learning. Combining science, writing, and observation with everyday materials you likely already have in your kitchen, try these creative ways to explore and learn with lemons.

Kid-Made Lemonade in a Bag

This is a student favorite. Not only do kids get to make their own lemonade, but they also practice sequencing and writing with a follow-up activity.

What You’ll Need (per student):

• 1 sealable plastic baggie
• ¼ of a lemon (seeds removed)
• 1 teaspoon of sugar or 1–2 packets of Sweet-N-Low
• ½ cup of water
• 1 straw
• Optional: ice cubes

Directions:

1. Cut lemons into fourths and remove seeds.
2. Place one lemon wedge into a baggie.
3. Add ½ cup of water.
4. Add sugar or Sweet-N-Low.
5. Seal the bag and gently squeeze and shake to mix.
6. Open a corner of the bag, insert a straw, and taste.

Extension Idea: How-To Booklet

After making their lemonade, students can write a short “How to Make Lemonade in a Bag” booklet. This is a simple way to reinforce procedural writing and step-by-step thinking.

Sink or Float? A Simple Lemon Science Experiment

This quick science experiment helps kids explore concepts like density and buoyancy in a way that feels like play.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 whole lemons
• 2 clear glasses or cups of water
• A knife (for adult use)

Directions:

1. Peel one of the lemons. Leave the other whole.
2. Have students predict whether each lemon will sink or float.
3. Place the whole lemon in one glass of water—it floats.
4. Place the peeled lemon in the second glass—it sinks.

Why It Works: The peel has tiny air pockets that help the lemon float. Without the peel, the lemon is heavier and sinks. This activity opens up great conversations around making predictions and observing outcomes.

Extension Idea: Observation Printable

Use a simple “sink or float” printable to help students document what they see. They can draw their predictions, write about what happened, and explain why.

Lemon Literacy: Pair It with When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree

Consider the picture book When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L. B. Deenihan for a thoughtful reading tie-in.. It’s a sweet story about patience and making the best of unexpected situations—one that pairs nicely with the hands-on activities above.

To extend the learning, we created a nonfiction companion reader titled Lemon Tree to Lemonade. This student-friendly text walks children through:

• The life cycle of a lemon
• How lemon trees are planted and cared for
• The process of harvesting lemons and turning them into lemonade

You can use this reader to build background knowledge, support reading comprehension, and connect science with literacy. Students might even compare the fiction and nonfiction texts, or write about what they learned.

Grab the nonfiction reader plus a week of reading comprehension lesson plans and companion activities for When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree below!

With just a few materials, including the star of the show—lemons, these activities offer a simple, engaging way to wrap up the school year or bring learning to life at home. Make summer learning hands-on, fresh, and relevant.

For more end-of-year fun or summer STEM, check out these 10 Countdown to Summer Activities!

Save these lemon-themed summer activities for a day of hands-on learning!