Photo Essay: School project gingerbread display at Mount Vernon Special

Mount Vernon - 'Tis the season where communities are displaying all sorts of festive cheer. One Virginia-based elementary after-school club built several wonderful gingerbread houses which are currently on display at the Mount Vernon Estate's Education Center.

An after-school club at Fort Belvoir Elementary School built several beautifully constructed gingerbread houses which are currently on display at Historic Mount Vernon: George Washington's Estate & Gardens. Fort Belvoir Elementary is part of the Fairfax County Public School district. The gingerbread house project was part of an after school program called GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science). GEMS is part of a STEM program located (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) at Fort Belvoir Elementary School called Kids' Lab.

Leigh Goessl

Row of gingerbread houses set up at the Mount Vernon Estate's Education Center.

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According to a sign that is posted next to the gingerbread houses in the Education Center at Mount Vernon, the club's members are in the third and fourth grade. The sign also indicated the houses were all designed, engineered, constructed and decorated by the students. Digital Journal saw the fantastic work of these students yesterday and took some photos:

Leigh Goessl

A gingerbread house created by students at the Fort Belvoir Elementary School.

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Leigh Goessl

The gingerbread houses were created by a girls' after school club called GEMS, which is part of a STEM program.

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Leigh Goessl

Third and fourth grade students created these gingerbread houses that are currently on display at Mount Vernon during the 2012 holiday season.

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Leigh Goessl

A gingerbread house made by students a part of Fort Belvoir Elementary School's GEMS, program. An after school club for girls.

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Leigh Goessl

A gingerbread house created by students

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Leigh Goessl

One of the gingerbread houses currently on display at the Mount Vernon Estate's Education Center during the 2012 holiday season

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Leigh Goessl

A gingerbread house created by third and fourth grade students part of an after school girls' club.

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The Fort Belvoir GEMS program also participated in a national science fair last spring, according to the Washington Post. More coverage from Digital Journal on Mount Vernon and events, please visit this page.