Preschoolers in Venita Loewen’s morning and afternoon classes are taking part in several holiday projects and activities in anticipation of the coming Christmas season. On Dec. 2, their creativity took off as they built a village of gingerbread houses from graham crackers and bowls of frosting and colorful candy.

“Sequencing skills are life-long skills that students begin learning in preschool,” said Loewen. “Prior to building the houses, the students talked about the steps that could be taken to construct a gingerbread house.”

The preschoolers were paired with some of Donna Glover’s sixth-grade students or an adult who helped with the building process. The helpers were advised not to do the building themselves, but to guide the younger students and encourage their creativity.

Each gingerbread house began with a 1-pint milk carton slathered with a thick layer of creamy white frosting, which was used to secure the graham cracker walls and roof.

Candy decorations and additional frosting became trim, windows, chimneys, doors, fences, and landscaping.

“Everyone involved agreed the gingerbread houses were pretty amazing and hard to resist,” said Loewen. “It was a fun project. The kids were excited by the results.”