The Brain

GINGERBREAD HOUSESTEM CHALLENGE

ASKBRAINSTORM

PLANCREATE

IMPROVEGRAPHREFLECT

How can I engineer a gingerbread house that can

stand on its own?

© The Primary Brain, 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTSGingerbread House Directions ...............................................................................................................3Parent Materials Letter .............................................................................................................................4Gingerbread House STEM Challenge ................................................................................................5STEM Challenge Poster...................................................................................................................................6Brainstorm Worksheet .................................................................................................................................. 7Candy Graph Worksheet ..............................................................................................................................8Graphing Worksheet ..........................................................................................................................................9Reflect Worksheet One ................................................................................................................................ 10Reflect Worksheet Two ..................................................................................................................................11

Teacher Tips and TricksHello! Thanks for downloading my Gingerbread House STEM Project! I hope your students love this resource as much as mine do! Here are a few tips and tricks to help this lesson run smoothly for you:- Make sure to send out the parent letter a few days before you plan to begin this project.- To increase student engagement, I like to begin this resource with the brainstorming worksheet to see what students come up with independently, before showing any photos of gingerbread houses.- Team up with an upper grade classroom if you are in primary. It is such a great experience for students to work with a peer buddy!- Plan to have 2 hours to create the gingerbread houses. Some students will finish early, but others love to create a masterpiece.- Project the STEM CHALLENGE so students can follow the process through the day.- Use the two candy graphing worksheets to differentiate for your students. - Make sure to copy the candy graphing and reflection worksheets before beginning the houses. This way, you can pass out to early finishers. If time permits, complete both reflection pages!- Most of all, HAVE FUN!

Gingerbread HouseDIRECTIONS

Thanks for grabbing this freebie! I hope your students enjoy creating gingerbread houses as much as my students do.

Suggested Materials:Graham crackers (for the structure)Cupcake frosting (as the glue)Candies and Snacks to use as decorations such as pretzels, candy canes, sprinkles, cereal, gumdrops,marshmallows, m&ms, etc.

Assembly:Since this is a STEM challenge, I do not give specific directions on how to assemble the gingerbread houses. Before beginning the challenge, we goover the Question and studentsbrainstorm how they willbuild their houses. I explainthat the walls are made of graham crackers and the frosting is the glue that holdsthe graham crackers together.

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Gingerbread HouseSTEM CHALLENGE

Engineering Supplies:Graham crackers (for the structure)Cupcake frosting (as the glue)

Decorating Supplies:pretzelscandy canessprinklescerealgumdrops,marshmallowsm&msand any other fun items you find!

Parents,We need your help! We are collecting materials to help us build gingerbread houses in class! We are putting on our architect hats and using graham crackers and frosting to engineer a house that can stand by itself.

PLEASE RETURN BY:

@The Primary Brain, 2018

Gingerbread HouseSTEM CHALLENGE

ASK: - How can I engineer a gingerbread house thatcan stand on its own?

BRAINSTORM AND PLAN: - Brainstorm how you will build your house. - What materials will you use?- Draw a diagram of your gingerbread house.

CREATE:- Follow your plan and build your house. - Test your plan.

IMPROVE:- Reflect on your design. - What was the best part about your gingerbread house? - What could be better? - How could you improve your gingerbread house?

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How can I engineer a

gingerbread house

that can stand

on its own?

STEM CHALLENGE

© The Primary Brain

BRAINSTORM

What materials will you use?

Draw a model of your gingerbread house.

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how to build your gingerbread house

CANDY GRAPH

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Graph five of the candies you used

Which candy was used the most?

Which candy was used the least?

How many candies were used in all?

GRAPHING

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Graph five of the materials you used

Materials Used

REFLECT

Sketch your finished gingerbread house.

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on your finished gingerbread house

What was the best part about yourgingerbread house?

REFLECT

What is the best thing about your gingerbread house?

Did you have to change the plan for your house?

How could you improve your gingerbread house?

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on your finished gingerbread house

I hope you find this product helpful in your classroom! If you are looking for a customized product or have any questions, please email me at theprimarybrain@gmail.com

Follow my blog for teacher tips and freebies! www.theprimarybrain.com

©The Primary Brain, 2018. This purchase includes a single-teacher license for your individual classroom. By purchasing this product, you are entitled to reproduce the pages for classroom use only. If you would like to share this product, please purchase an additional license, at a discounted rate.

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Click on the product cover to see some of my other winter themed resources.

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