Learner Spotlight: Elle Tapson

Meet Elle, the friendliest entrepreneur in town! Elle is an iLEAD first grader with a passion for learning, making things and helping others!

Not wanting to burden Santa (“he had enough to worry about already”), Elle ran a lemonade stand on one hot afternoon to raise money for her heart’s desire: a FurReal Unicorn toy named Star Lilly. After emptying her piggy bank, Elle worked tirelessly on her business plan, which she will tell you includes “lots of thinking, lots of math, buying cups, and talking to people.”

Elle’s lemonade sold for $1 for a big cup of delicious lemonade (classic or strawberry!) complete with a decorative slice of lemon, a sprig of mint and a colorful straw! And let’s not forget the most important ingredient – LOVE!

Her lemonade sold out in three hours and raised $87, just $10 short of her goal. The event brought many neighbors from her community together to enjoy their refreshments and help Elle meet her goal. Elle did a few chores around the house, and with some clever price matching, she was able to take her beloved Star Lilly home! This experience taught Elle that “you have to work hard for unicorns.”

When she is not running a beverage stand, Elle loves learning all about France and would one day like to go to Paris. Elle’s favorite day of the week is French Friday, where she learns French with her daddy and her teacher, Ms. Stone (first name Rosetta). Her other favorite things include attending classes at the California Science Center, cooking with Raddish Kids recipes, and watching “Odd Squad.” Elle is a devoted explorer and scientist, and spends many hours exploring nature with her two sisters and her magnifying glass. She LOVES cooking interesting recipes for all meals, and her dream is to start a cooking club with her friends next year.

Along with her family, Elle regularly volunteers her time at community service events such as the Children’s Hunger Fund food and toy drive. Elle enjoys working hard to help other people, and her regular participation in these events has done so much to help others in her community and around the world!

Elle’s Strawberry Lemonade Recipe (Adapted from allrecipes.com)
1 3/4 cups white sugar
8 cups water
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
1 pound strawberries, washed and hulled.

Directions: In a small saucepan, combine sugar and one cup water. Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled. Blend the strawberries in a blender with a little water until smooth. Mix with the chilled syrup. Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining seven cups water.