Who Likes Lemonade?

I have seen it done on television and I have heard plenty of stories, but never in my childhood did I operate a lemonade stand. In Who Likes Lemonade? by Karen Mockler, our protagonist Mike McCarthy creates a lemonade stand business of his own.

The story begins by telling us of Mike’s desire to purchase a Super Spy Kit from his friend Derek for twenty-five dollars. In order to do so, he needs to earn that money. His solution to this, a lemonade stand, comes a year after he failed in the same venture. His mom brings this up to him, and Mike replies,

“’The problem,’ Mike said, ‘was that the lemonade was not high quality. This time I’m gonna make artisanal lemonade, from scratch.”

The book’s bold font of the word “artisanal” indicates that it can be found in the glossary and is introduced as new vocabulary for the reader. In addition to introducing new vocabulary, the book exposes the reader to real world math – in this case, math related to financial decision-making.

“Mike did the math. Fake lemonade might go for fifty cents a cup, but real, organic lemonade could go for twice that. He needed twenty-five dollars to buy Derek’s kit. That meant he needed to sell at least twenty-five cups of lemonade.”

Below this paragraph, the following cut-out is displayed:

Not only is the book introducing the student to real-world math problems, but it is encouraging active math problem-solving skills as the reader analyzes the text.

The text goes on to introduce the reader to other business terms, such as “profit margin” and “discount.” With Mike determining the cost to start his business by determining how much product would cost, the book continues to influence the reader to analyze different math concepts.

This book gives us a realistic character with a realistic life situation to expose the reader to real-world math problems and solutions. Reading this story, I can see how it would be effective in a few different areas, including:

-          Calling on critical math skills.

-          Allowing the reader to see how their math lessons relate to the real world.

-          Making math learning more enjoyable.

This isn’t a genre I have put much thought into in the past. If you would have said the words “math book” to me a week ago, I immediately would have thought about a textbook. Now, though, I see how useful books revolving around math concepts can be for a developing reader.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is likely the most popular science fiction book series today. Rated at a middle grades reading level, it is the perfect book series to have in a middle school classroom.

The series is introduced in the first of three books that complete the trilogy, aptly named The Hunger Games. We are introduced to Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, and the world of Panem, the state that exists after the fall of North America. In this world, the tyrannical government hosts a yearly Hunger Games, a king-of-the-hill style contest where 24 contestants, two from each district that make up the nation, fight to the death.

The first book introduces us to the games themselves, with our protagonist being caught in a love triangle with her District 12 Hunger Games partner Peeta Mellark and her best friend Gale Hawthorne. While the struggle to overcome tyranny becomes the main focus of the series as it progresses, the technology that is a part of their every day lives help classify this series as science fiction.

The Capitol, home to the oppressive government, is characterized as a technologically advanced metropolis that has made significant gains in the areas of science and engineering. The text explains “they do surgery in the Capitol, to make people appear younger and thinner.” The clothing designed for Katniss to introduce her to Panem for the Hunger Games displays actual flames. These descriptions of technology used in the Capitol paint a picture showing how they take advantage of it to distance themselves from the lower-class citizens of the districts.

We also see evidence of advanced technology within the arena, where the Hunger Games are played out. This includes the control room, where the Gamemakers control the environment of the arena with sophisticated technology; technology that allows the Capitol to create new species of animals to implement into the Hunger Games; and medicine that Katniss takes advantage of to instantly heal her injuries inside the arena. There are numerous pieces of technology we see subtly included in the storyline in later books, but I don’t want to spoil anything!

Overall, The Hunger Games primary focus is on the dystopian future, showing the plight of the citizens of the districts. However, its science fiction elements can be taken advantage of for the purpose of a classroom setting. The inclusion of these small technological advancements can show students the possibilities of the future. We don’t currently have medicine that instantly heals burns; why can’t we in the future? The science fiction genre should open your students’ minds to limitless possibilities for the future and show them that the current state of the world is just temporary.

It is their job to mold the future. Let’s help them make that happen.