I loved making these gingerbread houses, originally they were going to be a craft project, but then I had the idea of using coloured cellophane for windows and using them to learn about primary and secondary colours.
You can keep it really simple and just use a torch to light the inside or if you have the equipment take the opportunity to make a simple circuit.
If you’d prefer a more traditional gingerbread house I also have a making a strong gingerbread house investigation testing different strengths of icing sugar.
Don’t forget to check out my other easy science experiments for kids too!
![Light up gingerbread house science activity](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/light-up-gingerbread-house-1024x684.jpeg)
What you need:
Cardboard
Scissors
Cellophane – primary colours work best
Either a basic circuit with a light or a torch
Glue or tape. I used a hot glue gun ( ask an adult to help )
Felt tip or chalk pens to decorate.
Instructions
First you need to construct a gingerbread house. I made a simple triangle shape. To do this cut out two squares ( the same size ) and two triangles ( the same size ).
Cut a window in one of the squares and attach one colour of cellophane with tape.
Use the glue to construct the house.
![](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CB900221-4025-469F-B80C-5A2ED735093E_1_105_c.jpeg)
Cut out two more squares from the cardboard and a window inside them about the same size as the window in the house.
Use a different colour of cellophane to place inside the windows. I used red, blue and yellow for the windows so I could place them on top of each other to make secondary colours.
Turn off the lights and place a torch or your circuit inside the house. Place different colour windows over each other to see how the colours change.
![colour mixing gingerbread house](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CB900221-4025-469F-B80C-5A2ED735093E_1_105_c.jpeg)
![colour mixing activity](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/colour-mixing-activity-1024x684.jpeg)
What colours can you make from primary colours?
Yellow + Blue = Green
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue + Red = Purple
Primary colours cannot be created by mixing other colours together.
Red, Yellow and Blue
Secondary colours are made by mixing primary colours.
Tertiary colours are made by mixing a primary colour with a secondary colour.
More colour mixing science activities
Mix colours with paint and squishy bags.
![mixing colours activity](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DSC_1082.jpg)
Make a colour mixing wheel.
![colour-mixing-wheel](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DSC_0024.jpg)
Try colour mixing with food colouring and water.
![colour mixing](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/P1020211-2.jpg)
This dropper painting activity from Laughing Kids Learn is great too!
More Electricity Experiments for Kids
Learn about circuits and make a torch using a simple circuit and switch.
Build your own light up town!
Design and create an art bot, using a simple circuit with a motor.
![colour mixing gingerbread house](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Colour-changing-gingerbread-House-Pin-683x1024.jpg)
Last Updated on December 15, 2020 by Emma Vanstone
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