Squeeze the Most Out of Summer!

August is coming to a close, so here are some lemon-themed FUNctional activities to help your family squeeze the most out of summer!

Let’s Make Lemonade!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

• ¼ cup hot water

• 3 tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice (about 1 ½ small lemons)

• ¾ cup cold water

• Ice

• Lemon slices (optional)

Supplies

Cutting board, knife, 8 oz mixing container, spoon, ¼ cup measuring cup, small dish/bowl

Steps

1. Measure ¼ cup of water into a glass, and heat until it is hot (microwave ~2 min).

2. Measure 2 tablespoons of sugar, and stir into the hot water long enough to completely dissolve.

3. Carefully, and with supervision, cut the lemons in half, and then into wedges (cutting lengthwise or crosswise depending on which method of squeezing you will use next)

4. In a separate small dish, squeeze the lemons using a pincer grasp, tripod pinch grasp, palmar grasp...or try all three!

5. Add the lemon juice into the hot water and stir

6. Add ¾ cup cold water, stir

7. Add ice if desired

8. Practice pouring into small cups

9. Offer to friends and enjoy!

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Lemon Squeeze

Sometimes children need guidance on how to handle and manage their big feelings. The following progressive muscle relaxation technique can be used to help children become more grounded and centered, especially before or after a display of strong emotions.

1. Imagine a tall lemon tree full of bright, yellow lemons. Reach up, picking a lemon from the tree in each hand. With both hands, squeeze all of the juice out of the lemons by closing your fists as tightly as possible. Hold for 5 seconds, and then release.

2. Repeat 3-5 times, or as needed.

   1. Focus on how your hands feel as they contract and relax

   2. Focus on your breathing, taking big, deep breaths in and out as you squeeze the lemons

3. Try to remember the relaxed feeling and use this technique the next time you need to feel calm.

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Lemon Volcano

Supplies

• Lemons

• Knife

• Dish soap

• Food coloring

• Baking soda

• Vinegar

• Measuring spoons (1 tsp, 1 tbsp)

• Pipette dropper

• Squeeze bottle or small cup

Steps

1. Carefully cut the ends off of the lemon, then cut the lemon in half

2. Squeeze the lemon enough to release some juice

3. Add a squirt of dish soap to each half (approximately 1 tsp)

4. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to each lemon half

5. Squeeze the lemon half to distribute soap and color (may stain hands)

6. Measure and add 1 tbsp baking soda to each lemon half

7. Use a pipette dropper to add vinegar slowly

8. Use squeeze bottle or small cup to add vinegar quickly

9. Discuss:

   1. What is happening when the vinegar is added quickly -vs- slowly?

   2. Our feelings (anger, sadness, excitement, worry can sometimes erupt quickly, and then fizzle out, just like this lemon volcano.

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Lemon Slime

Ingredients

• ½ cup Elmer’s Clear glue

• ½ cup water

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 3-4 tbsp contact solution (must contain boric acid)

• 1 squirt yellow food coloring

• 1 tbsp lemon jello

• Lemon essential oil (optional)

Steps

1. Pour ½ cup glue into a mixing bowl.

2. Add ½ cup water and the Jell-O to the bowl and mix until completely dissolved.

3. Add 1 tsp baking soda to the bowl and mix until dissolved.

4. Add the yellow food coloring and mix until fully incorporated.

5. Add 3 tablespoons of contact solution to the mixture and mix. Once the slime starts sticking to the fork, use your hands to mix, pull, and knead the slime. This will reduce the stickiness.

6. If after a few minutes the slime is still too sticky, add another tablespoon of contact solution and mix well.