Sweeten Your Writing Block: The Ultimate Gingerbread House Craft & Activity Guide 🍬🏠

It’s 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.

Step 1: The Writing (The "Vegetables" Before Dessert) 🥦

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. It’s a sneaky way to get them writing a lot because they are so excited about the final product.

Step 2: The Craft (The Fun Part) 🎨

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!

Step 3: Stock Your Decoration Station 🍬

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 Sugar-Free / Allergy-Safe Route (Beads!) Want to avoid the sugar crash? Beads are an amazing alternative that last forever and look surprisingly realistic.

Happy Holidays and Happy Writing! 🎄✨

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