Middle school science classrooms were filled with creativity, collaboration, and a little holiday sweetness as students took on a hands-on seasonal STEM challenge: designing and building gingerbread houses entirely from edible materials.
As part of the assignment, students were tasked with more than just making their houses look festive. Each structure had to meet specific engineering and math-based criteria, including a required number of doors, windows, floors, angles, and architectural elements. From planning stable foundations to measuring precise angles, students applied scientific thinking and problem-solving skills every step of the way.
Working in teams over several days, students tested construction methods and problem-solved together as their edible structures took shape. Laughter and creativity filled the room as students experimented with frosting as mortar and candies as structural supports, discovering firsthand how design choices impact stability.
Once completed, the gingerbread houses will be judged by staff members and fellow students, who will evaluate each project based on creativity, craftsmanship, and how well it meets the challenge requirements.
The learning didn’t stop in science class. In corresponding English Language Arts classes, students extended the project by writing imaginative real estate listings for their gingerbread homes. These detailed descriptions highlight key features, layout, and design elements, giving judges a clear and creative understanding of each structure’s unique qualities.
By blending science, math, and language arts, the gingerbread house project provided a fun and meaningful way for students to demonstrate critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity, proving that learning can be both rigorous and sweet.