Gingerbread Houses with Kindergarten?

Question

I teach K and really want to make Gingerbread Houses. I remember making them in 1st grade with frosting and graham crackers, without using a milk carton or anything as a base, that way you could bring it home and eat it a few days later. Has anyone done this or have any ideas? Would this be too hard for 5-6 year olds?

Answer 1

i think it depends on how you think your kids would handle it.  there have been some years where my kids were barely able to use scissors, and other years where i could tell my kids had more artistic ability.

if you aren't sure, you could build one bing gingerbread house where you pull small groups of children to help you at a time, and the others can be decorating gingerbread men.  these gingerbread men would make great presents to take home, and you would be able to have each child make a few, since they are cheaper than the houses.

another option would be if you have good parent volunteers.  maybe you could make them the week before winter break, and have some parents volunteer to come in and help you.  if you get enough you could split them up into small groups per parent.  this would make it a lot easier on you, and still give your kids the experience.

Answer 2

when i was in kindergarden the teacher gave us gramcrackers with frosting and little toothpicks. and it was our job to put then together then she gave us other little candys to put on the house with some more frosting it was a lot of fun and i liked it when i was little u should really try it ^_^

Answer 3

if you buy the frost that you squrt from a bag or can it works beautfully.  you just get the four walls cemented with the frosting and it stands.

Answer 4

It is a very difficult thing to do with a large class of Kindergartners.  I was able to do it by bringing in a baker and having him do a house for the kids.  We all got to see and help it be made, and eat it afterward.  Ask around your class to see if anyone's parents are bakers or hotel chefs.

Answer 5

I did this at easter with my daughter who is five and I got some good ideas from this website. We uses graham crackers and icing to do this. http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/rec...

Answer 6

YES. i think it would be hard and when they are little they are probablly hypher and might mess up the house or something

Answer 7

The project my son did in Kindergarten that was really cute was snow men made out of toothpicks and marshmallows. She used other candy (M&Ms and such) for the eyes and decortations. I think the gingerbread houses would be nice for the class to do in the classroom but would definitely not make it out of the door intact. (It wouldn't be too hard though, I don't think--especially if you have a room mother helping out and breaking the class down into smaller sections--have it as one of the "centers" and have the class roatate so that you're not trying to have the entire class do it at the same time. On the other centers, have easier, self-managed things to do such as coloring a snowman, etc.) Good luck and have fun!

P.S. Have the parents bring in some of the supplies so that you don't have to spend all the money--have a sign-up sheet for the different ingredients or assign children with things to bring.

Answer 8

Don't you wish you could teach your class inside a gingerbread house? A real one?

No, not for them. If anything they will have tons of fun and make a huge mess. Just make sure that you have permission slips because it is a food-based project and some might have allergies. Make sure to list the ingredients you will be using for all parents to read.

Show them a demonstration and then have them team up at tables to make them. They can sit for a day or two and then you can have a day where you have milk and eat them during downtime.

Answer 9

walmart have them in boxes already 5.00 each

Answer 10

This 'mini' craft has big flavor. Kids can decorate this Miniature Gingerbread House and enjoy as a Christmas treat, or as a decoration for years to come.

What you'll need:

7 graham crackers

Frosting for glue (recipe below)

Assorted small candies for decorating

Ribbon

Pastry bag and tip or Ziploc bag and scissors

Frosting

1/2 pound confectioner's sugar

3 tbs. butter/margarine

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

1 1/2 - 2 tbs. Milk

Mix all the ingredients together until smooth and easy to spread, but not runny. Add more sugar if too runny.

If you have a pastry bag, place frosting in bag and use a small tip. You can use a Ziploc bag cutting a small hole in the corner.

Place one graham cracker flat on the table, squeeze a little frosting around all edges. You may need an extra pair of hands.

Place one cracker on each side standing up. It now looks like a box without a top.

Carefully squeeze more frosting on all outside corners from top to bottom and around the bottom of the box.

Let stand for a short while to let frosting harden a little. This will make working with the roof a little easier.

Now squeeze frosting on two of the top edges of the box and place the last two graham crackers in a V shape on as the roof. Looks like a triangle on a box now from the side. It may overhang if you can get the frosting to hold for you.

Squeeze frosting along the top of the roof where crackers join. Let stand again until frosting hardens a little.

Now comes the fun part - with leftover frosting, cover the roof to look like snow. (two sides are left open) Then squeezing small amounts on candy, place candy on the house to decorate. You can use the frosting to add things like doors and windows. Just use your imagination.

After project is totally dry, string ribbon through to open side of the roof and hang on Christmas tree.

Tips:

If you want to do this project with young children, you might want to make the base house ahead of time, gluing the corners from the inside - and let it harden. Then turn them loose with frosting and small candies to do the decorating.

Notes:

This Gingerbread House is safe to eat, but if you would like to save your treasure for years to come you can use a spray varnish in a well ventilated area. (2 - 3 coats of varnish).

Answer 11

what if you made the house shape for each kid, with the graham crackers and frosting and let it dry ,  then on the project day - just have the kids put some frosting on the roof and decorate with candies .... my daughters have also had them done on a styrofoam like plate - that is big enough that they also made a "yard"  with the candies.....