A festive collaboration between our 1st and 5th grade buddy classes brought creativity, teamwork, and leadership to life in a sweet and meaningful way.
Students partnered up to design gingerbread houses and create digital gingerbread characters. Working together, each pair then developed and recorded a story featuring their gingerbread creation. The project included a special twist that made the experience even more powerful: our 5th graders took on a hands-off leadership role. Instead of doing the work themselves, they practiced clear communication, patience, and guidance by giving directions while their 1st grade buddies completed all of the creating on the iPads.
This intentional structure encouraged collaboration, problem-solving, and mutual respect. Younger students gained confidence as creators and storytellers, while older students stepped into mentor roles, learning how to lead and support others effectively.
The project was filled with creativity, teamwork, and festive fun, and it beautifully highlighted the strong connections formed through our buddy program. Experiences like this remind us how powerful cross-grade learning can be—and how much our students shine when given the opportunity to learn and grow together.