Teaching in December is an extreme sport. The energy is high, the excitement is palpable, and trying to get students to focus on a standard writing prompt can feel impossible.Β
That's why my favorite December holiday hack is to lean into the holiday chaos - but give it structure.
Enter the Gingerbread House How-To Writing Activity.
Itβs the perfect blend of academic rigor (yes, we are doing procedural writing!) and holiday party vibes. Whether you need a stunning hallway display, a "Save Me" activity for a Friday afternoon, or a fun project for homeschool, this activity checks every box.
Before we get to the glue and glitter, students dive into procedural writing. They plan out exactly how to build a gingerbread house using transition words and clear steps. Itβs a sneaky way to get them writing a lot because they are so excited about the final product.
The resource comes with templates to build a paper gingerbread house (both 2D and 3D versions). While the paper version is adorable on its own, I love setting up a "Decoration Station" to let students take their creations to the next level.
Teacher Tip: If you decide to add heavy 3D elements to the paper house, I recommend printing on cardstock or reinforcing the walls with a bit of scrap cardboard!
You don't need to spend a fortune to make this magical. Here are my favorite bulk finds from Amazon to turn those paper houses into masterpieces:
The "Classic" Candy Route Nothing beats the smell of peppermint and sugar. Here is a shopping list to cover all your architectural needs:
The Foundation: Mini Candy Canes are perfect for pillars, fences, or door frames.
Roofing & Siding: These Old Fashioned Hard Candies give a beautiful "stained glass" effect, while classic Spice Drops/Gum Drops add that pop of color to the roof.
Details: Use Holiday Hershey's Kisses for chimneys or large stepping stones, Christmas Gummies for landscaping, and Starlight Mints for windows!
The Sugar-Free / Allergy-Safe Route (Beads!) Want to avoid the sugar crash? Beads are an amazing alternative that last forever and look surprisingly realistic.
The Rustic Look: I am obsessed with these Gingerbread & Snowflake Wooden Beads. They match the craft perfectly.
The Fancy Decor: For students who want to get intricate, these Polymer Clay Beads add great detail.
Bulk Decor: You can't go wrong with standard Red & Green Pony Beads to fill in the gaps!
If your students love the Gingerbread activity, they will flip for the Elf Yourself Craft & Writing Project. It includes persuasive writing (Elf Applications) and narrative prompts.
Better yet? Grab the Christmas Writing Bundle to get both the Gingerbread House and the Elf activities, plus more!
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