"Hi. Welcome to Literally Lemonade. How may I help you?" asked DeMello Elementary student Sydney Plouffe to a family stepping up to the wooden counter. The patrons ordered three lemonades.

The student-run lemonade stand is the brainchild of the DeMello team, inspired by the Greater Fall River Lemonade Day. The project was one of 10 stands in Dartmouth participating in the Lemonade Day program, which aims to teach youth the entrepreneurial skills involved with starting, owning, and operating their own business.

"I learned how to run a business and to work as a team," said student Peter Herlihy, 10. Herlihy explained that, when he gets older, he wants to run a sailing program.

The student spent two weeks prepping for the sale, which included 11 lesson plans, said first grade teacher Rachael Dyer, who oversaw the project. She explained that DeMello crunched that into four lessons, however, as the team learned of the project somewhat late. However, students got a firsthand look at making a business plan, creating a shopping list, and health standards during that time, with some additional perks.

"We taste-tested the lemonades," said Dyer. She said after picking out which brands they wanted to sell, the team also painted signs, built the wooden stand, and baked at home.

The DeMello stand sold three types of lemonade, including both pink and yellow powdered lemonades, and a freshly squeezed lemonade made from lemons, sugar, and water. The students also sold cookies, cupcakes, rice crispy treats, and brownies.

Students collected tips, all of which will be donated to the New Bedford-based Gifts to Give. However, after deducting expenses, the profits will be split among the team, said Dyer.

"Each one would get their pay, and they can make their decisions like I do," she said, adding that some of the students wanted other charities to receive the money, and the students can donate to the cause they care most about this way.

The 19-student team split shifts during the five-hour day, but the traffic flow remained constant.

"A lot of people are coming in because of the signs," said student Tiago Lameiro, dressed in a poncho as yellow as the drinks his teammates served. He yelled at passing cars, "Lemonade, 75 cents!"

Nicole Sirois sipped lemonade with her three children, all DeMello students. "We were going rain or shine," she said.

Other stands around Dartmouth included Slam Dunk Lemonade at Burgo's, 101 Slocum Road; Sour Power, 714 Dartmouth Street; Double C's Juicy Lemonade Shack, 614 Dartmouth Street; The Doherty's Lemonade, 23 Bridge Street; Hayden's Lemonade Stand, 50 Horseneck Road; Avery's Lemonade, 83 Faunce Corner Road; Jayla's Juice, inside Old Navy; Sophie's Sweet & Sour Lemonade, Buffalo Wild Wings; and The Sweet Lemon, Fabulous Foundations by Nancy.