Gause: Teaching the Scientific Method Using Gingerbread Houses

Washougal, WA – First grade students at Gause Elementary recently explored use of the scientific method with a sweet holiday-themed assignment. The teacher team of Marvina Bugajski, Lyndsey Russell and Heather Hopkins guided students through the planning process to construct their very own gingerbread houses.

“They were asked to identify the steps they would use, develop a materials list and create a scale blueprint of their ideas,” explained Bugajski. “They also asked themselves a scientific question and made a prediction of what they thought might happen or a problem they may encounter. One student was concerned the walls might fall.  Afterward, students will be asked what their building challenges were and what changes they might have made to improve their build.”

The classrooms were filled with happy, smocked children, helpful parents and all types of candy to use as décor on Monday, December 17. Graham crackers were walls, peppermint sticks became chimneys and M&Ms lined sidewalks as students created their masterpiece gingerbread houses — just in time for Christmas. They were all smiles as they worked on their designs, many with frosting on their chins from sneaking a quick taste.

“We wanted to introduce students to approaching a project with a plan and the considerations of the scientific method. But mostly, it was about having fun,” Bugajski said.