GingerbreadMan

The Gingerbread Man
Thematic Unit

Run, run as fast as you can!

You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man!

I use the Gingerbread Man theme during the first
week of school We begin our unit by reading one
of the Gingerbread Man books. The children
enjoy hearing the story read many times. I also
read several versions of the story throughout the
week.

BOOKS:

The Gingerbread Man by Paul Galdone
The Gingerbread Boy by Richard Egielski
The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
The Cajun Gingerbread Boy by Berthe Amoss
The Stinky Cheese Man by John Scieszka

POEMS: Click on the Gingerbread Man for
Gingerbread Man Poems and Songs

Activities

Bake a Gingerbread Man
On the first day of school, make a Gingerbread Man.
Take him home to bake, but tell the children that you took
him to the school kitchen. The next day bring the empty
cookie sheet to school and tell the children that when you
were taking the man out of the oven he ran off the pan and
out of the kitchen.   Spend the next 2-3 days looking around
the school for the Gingerbread Man. This is a great way
for the children to tour the school building and meet other
staff members. Choose a place in the building to find the
Gingerbread Man.   When you find the him, the children
can eat him for snack

Below are several notes to use as you tour the school:

Note in Oven 
Dear Boys and Girls, 
Tomorrow look for me around________. 
And inside of books, 
I'm famous for running away 
And for my delicious looks!

School Office 
The office is a busy place. 
The secretary has a friendly face. 
She types with her left, 
Writes notes with her right. 
When the phone rings, 
She takes the call 
Without using any hands at all!

Principal's Office 
This is the Principal's office. 
___________ is nice you know. 
She told me not to run anymore, 
But to walk wherever I go!

Nurse's Office 
The nurse is our friend 
And I'll tell you why. 
She'll check your ears 
And she'll check your eyes. 
She'll fix the hurt that makes you cry. 
I have to run now -- can't say good-bye!

Custodian 
This is ________'s room. 
Do you see the mop and broom? 
He empties the basket 
And locks the door. 
________ is kind and good. 
Can we help him? 
We should!

Cafeteria 
This is the lunch room. 
_______ likes us a bunch! 
She always makes sure 
We have a good lunch. 
If we're very polite and 
help keep it clean, 
And use soft voices 
Our school will be keen!

Here's the poem/note that is with the GB man when he 'returns' 
to the classroom and it also goes home on the last day 
with the note to Mom and Dad: 
Dear Boys and Girls, 
I've run and run 
I need some rest 
I think this room is the best! 
Love, The Gingerbread Man

Dear Mom and Dad, 
The Gingerbread Man we found today, 
but I couldn't bring him home because 
I ate him! Instead I brought this little 
paper one home to remind me in later 
years how hard I hunted for him this 
week at ___________  school.

Date_________

Make a Character Graph
Make a graph using the characters from all the
Gingerbread Man stories. Find out which characters
appear the most in the different versions.

Make a Favorite Character Graph
Have each child draw a picture of their favorite character
from one of the Gingerbread Man stories. Make a graph
using the pictures.

Retell the Story
Retell the Gingerbread story using felt character pieces
and a flannel board.

Act out the Story
Have the children act out one of the versions of the
Gingerbread Man story.

Decorate Individual Gingerbread Men
Provide construction paper gingerbread men for the
children to decorate. This could also be a take-home
family project.

Make a Class Big Book
Create a page for each child and compile into a class big
book.

"Stop, Stop!" said (child's name)
But the Gingerbread Man said,
"Run, run, as fast as you can,
You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man!"

Door display and big book idea from
kinderhive.net

HOME

Thematic Units