The air at Jubilee Academy has been filled with holiday cheer, the sweet smell of gingerbread, and the sound of excited chatter! Our students recently enjoyed one of our favorite annual traditions: decorating beautiful gingerbread houses in celebration of Christmas.
This wasn’t just a fun activity; it was a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect, create, and reflect on the true meaning of the season.
Combining Classes and Socializing
One of the highlights of the day was the chance to combine classes and encourage socialization. Older students helped guide our younger learners, sharing techniques for placing gumdrops and frosting perfect roof lines. This cooperative environment fostered a sense of community and kindness—essential lessons we strive to teach every day at Jubilee. It was beautiful to see friendships blossom across grade levels as students worked side-by-side on their edible masterpieces.
The Greatest Gift: Hearing the Story of Christ’s Birth
Amidst the colorful candies and sweet treats, we took time to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Our students gathered to hear the heartwarming story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Understanding this story—the story of hope, love, and the greatest gift given to mankind—is the centerpiece of our celebration. We cherish these moments of reflection, grounding our holiday excitement in the love and faith of the season.
Connecting Gingerbread to Montessori Principles
You might wonder how decorating a gingerbread house ties into our educational philosophy. The gingerbread activity is actually a fantastic, hands-on application of several core Montessori principles:
- Practical Life Skills: The act of spreading frosting, arranging small candies, and carefully placing decorations involves fine motor control, concentration, and precision—all key components of Practical Life exercises.
- Preparation of the Environment: The beautifully pre-made houses and bowls of carefully sorted candies provided a rich, organized, and inviting environment, encouraging the students to engage independently and creatively.
- Concentration and Order: To successfully decorate a house, a child must choose materials, plan their design, and execute it with focus. This process naturally cultivates concentration and a sense of order as they manage their space and their sweet supplies.
- The Power of the Hand: In the Montessori method, we believe the hand is the chief instrument of the mind. This activity was a perfect example, allowing the children to externalize their inner creative ideas through physical construction and decoration.
A Massive Thank You!
This heartwarming tradition would not be possible without the incredible generosity and dedication of some very special people.
We extend a massive thank you to the wonderful ladies of Lexington Baptist Church! Every year, they lovingly handcraft and assemble each gingerbread home for our children to decorate. Their tireless work and community spirit bring so much joy and sweetness to our school, and we are truly grateful for their partnership and their devotion to our students.
We wish all of our Jubilee Academy families a Christmas season filled with joy, peace, and the true spirit of the Lord!
