In the weeks leading up to Christmas break, several second grade Freedom Elementary School class students built a "gingerbread village" from scratch.

The project was meant to utilize lessons the students had already learning in school so far about social studies, math, geography, planning and economics.

Problem-solving and interpersonal skills were also put to use through the group activity.

The project began when a parents of one of second grade teacher's Olivia Christiansen's students gave her a book reviewing a different teaching method in which children apply math skills to real-world applications while having fun.

Students had to estimate how many gingerbread people could be made from a single batch of gingerbread. They also made non-edible gingerbread people for the village.

Teams of students created construction paper layouts of the entire town, including streets, parking lots and green space.

The teams concluded the project by building paper and cardboard houses, businesses and buildings and connected their village layouts and located their buildings on paper grid.