HEART OF STEELE

For folks of my generation, it’s difficult to think of summer school as “fun.”

There’s very little worse for a kid than sitting at a desk, taking tests, and reading textbooks, while your friends are out playing, riding bikes, and having fun in the sun. Fortunately, that was not the summer school experience this year for a group of Owatonna Public Schools third graders.

Washington Elementary fourth grade teacher Tiffany Walerius said she searched online to find a project that would engage students.

“Summer school can be hard sometimes,” Walerius told me last Wednesday. “I was looking for something that would involve reading and math… and be fun.”

Her search ended when she came upon the idea for a lemonade stand. Walerius and fellow fourth grade teacher Lauren Isaacson worked with 24 students in the Minds at Work program to put it together near VIBES on South Oak.

“We could have the kids plan (the stand) just for fun, or we could dream big,” Walerius said.

If you happened to drive by last Tuesday or Wednesday, you know they chose the latter–and boy, did they have fun.

Kids got hands-on experience with more than just the basics. Yes, they had to read to research products and do some math to figure out a budget, but they also worked with Mohs Contracting employees to build a wooden stand. They drew those signs and learned how to let people know about their business venture.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, a small “street team” of students drew the interest of passing drivers by calling out and waving colorful, handmade signs in front of their large white canopy.

Every time a customer walked up, students practiced those all-important “soft skills” needed to provide the best possible service: listening closely, kindness, a smile.

And to top it all off, students learned more about local charities. The dollars they raised will go directly to feeding their neighbors–and maybe even some classmates–in need.

Of course, the best part of the project from the kids’ perspective–the part that really touched my heart–was how much they clearly loved being outside on a gorgeous, sunny day.

“They are having a blast,” Walerius said, with a wide grin.