2024 Secret Santa Cookie Cutter Exchange Success!

T3 Alaska celebrated the Cookie Cutter Exchange project as an excellent end-of-year activity that appealed to students with diverse interests. Some students were captivated by design and 3D printing technologies, while others enjoyed the baking aspect or writing personalized letters. Deciding on swag to represent their communities added a creative and meaningful dimension to the project.

Coaches appreciated the small-scale, project-based goal that encouraged creativity and iterative problem-solving. They observed older students mentoring newer ones in basic design tools while pushing their own skills toward more advanced designs. A common challenge arose when students discovered that printing letters created backward cookies, prompting them to refine their processes and improve their designs.

As is sometimes the case with T3 projects, the Cookie Cutter Exchange found new opportunities its initial scope in some communities. Students engaged local organizations like Chambers of Commerce for swag contributions and even expanded the project into a community service initiative by creating stocking stuffers.
also send pictures!

Cookie Cutter Secret Santa Exchange Project

‘Tis the season for Holiday Baking! We’ve added even more fun to the annual holiday baking event – a cookie cutter exchange! Here’s how it works – be sure to read all the instructions before starting. 😉

1. First, sign up your site by November 7 so we can get you printing and baking materials, plus a shipping label to your secret santa site.  *Students don’t have to wait until November 8th to start prototyping cookie cutters.
2. You’ll get information on your secret santa on November 8. 
3. Ask your students to create a cookie cutter design that represents their school or community.  Be sure to go through these activities with your students.  There are instructions in the slide notes.
4. Print enough cookie cutters for the students in your secret santa site.  Upload the .stl file and your letter to our shared Google Drive.
5. Mail your cookie cutters, culture letter, and local fun stuff to your secret santa site before November 25.  The earlier the better.
6. Plan a cookie baking party between December 5-18 using Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix and use the cookie cutters.  Be sure to go through these activities with your students.  There are instructions in the slide notes.
7. Upload photos of your cookie cutters, teammates and cookies to this shared Photo Album before Dec. 19. 
8. Send a thank you to your secret santa site through Discord!
9. Have every student complete this post-exchange survey.

Please take attendance through AirTable (select Computer Science, Community Service,  Tech, art, music, PE, or cultural knowledge activities, and any other descriptions that are relevant e.g. “helped others”) throughout the project.  In the notes, please put “2024 Cookie Cutter Exchange”