For the third year in a row, science teacher Ray Shrout has engaged the students in a project to build “gingerbread structures.” The building materials include gingerbread, graham crackers, gum drops, icing, candy canes and other goodies.

“They are all edible. That was a requirement of the project,” Shrout said. “The base materials are graham crackers and an icing made from eggs and powdered sugar. The students do not eat the projects though, since the icing was made with raw eggs.”

Shrout said most of the materials were donated or brought in by the students. Additionally, remote-learning students completed their projects at home.

“I would estimate that close to 50 pounds of powdered sugar and 200 eggs were used just for the icing,” he said.

The fifth and sixth grade students of Clymer Central School look forward to the annual “gingerbread” structure project.

The result is an impressive display of structures, built on solid architectural principals, that would make Frank Lloyd Wright smile. On display are the Lincoln Memorial, the Freedom Tower, a Train Station, the White House, a Hunting Cabin, an Army Base, a football stadium, a Farm and Rockefeller Center.

“This is a great way to go over engineering and design around the holidays,” Shrout said. “Groups of two or three students spend a couple days researching various structures and planning out their projects before they start construction.”

Shrout said the students look at the real-life structures that inspire their projects and then discuss the engineering and design of them.

“We talk about support, bracing and angles when we are building the structures,” he said.

The students are completely responsible for their own projects, Shrout said.

“The students build the structures from start to finish. I help supervise and at times help troubleshoot but 95% of the work is them,” he said.

The project has become a greatly anticipated exercise, Shrout said.

“Now that we are in the third year, they really look forward to doing the project because many of them have had siblings that have done it. It seems like the projects get a little more elaborate each year.” he said

Like everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic posed difficulties to the project.

“I was unsure if we would be able to pull this project off this year,” Shrout said. “Between social distancing guidelines and balancing remote learners, I knew that it would be a challenge.”

Despite the challenges, the resulting structures were amazing, Shrout said.

“Two of the students (Alyssa Pratt and Victoria Messenger) built the Freedom Tower from NYC and at 3 feet tall, it was the tallest structure ever built for this project,” he said. “We also had three groups build The Lincoln Memorial and we had the first dome structure built this year by Bailey White, Maitilyn Rhines and Hayden Sexton who built the Taj Mahal.”

Clymer Principal Josh Tedone said he was impressed with the project in that it not only teaches science and mathematical principals of building, but adds to the seasonal morale.

“I think it is an example of the holiday spirit in the school,” he said. “Between this and the door decorating contest and the hallway decorations, the holiday spirit in Clymer is alive and well.”