There’s something so magical about gingerbread season in preschool! The story of the Gingerbread Man brings laughter, imagination, and endless opportunities for hands-on learning. From baking-themed sensory play to gingerbread math, literacy, and fine motor centers, this theme is always a favorite with little learners. Whether you’re diving into classic stories, setting up a pretend bakery, or chasing a runaway cookie around the classroom, these Gingerbread Man activities will make your holiday week both joyful and meaningful. Here are some playful, low-prep ideas your preschoolers will love!
Gingerbread Man Scavenger Hunt
We have a Gingerbread Man that shows up in our classroom in December and moves around the room to keep us on our toes. Don’t touch him, though, or he will run away! At some point he does run away and we go look for him throughout the school We love reading The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School and then doing a hunt to try to find him! HERE is a fun and free printable to use!
Gingerbread Books
We love reading The Gingerbread Man books! There are so many fun versions to read and compare!
Some of our favorite are:
The Gingerbread Man – Retold by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
The Gingerbread Man – Retold by Gail Yerrill
The Gingerbread Man – Retold by Catherine McCafferty
The Gingerbread Boy – Retold by Paul Galdone
The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School – Laura Murray
The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas – Laura Murray
The Gingerbread Man Loose in the Library – Laura Murray
The Gingerbread Girl – Lisa Campbell Ernst
The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers – Lisa Campbell Ernst
The Runaway Gingerbread Man – Laura Murray (step-into-reading)
The Library Gingerbread Man – Dottie Enderle
Catch That Cookie! – Hallie Durand
Gingerbread Baby – Jan Brett
Gingerbread Friends – Jan Brett
Gingerbread Christmas – Jan Brett
Gingerbread Ornaments
These ornaments look and smell just like gingerbread cookies, but they’re made from a simple dough that hardens beautifully and lasts for years.
Ingredients
Option 1: Gingerbread Salt Dough
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- ½–1 cup warm water (add slowly)
Option 2: Cinnamon Applesauce Dough (smells amazing!)
- 1 cup cinnamon
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 tablespoon glue (optional—helps them harden)
Both options work great for gingerbread men!
Instructions
1. Mix the dough
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly add water (or applesauce, depending on the recipe) until a soft dough forms.
If it’s sticky, add a little more flour or cinnamon.
2. Roll it out
Sprinkle a bit of flour or cinnamon on your surface.
Roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick—not too thin or they will crack.
3. Cut out shapes
Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to create your ornaments.
Gently transfer them to a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
4. Add a hole for hanging
Use a straw to poke a hole at the top of each gingerbread man.
Make sure it goes all the way through.
5. Bake or air dry
Bake method (faster):
- Bake at 200°F for 2–3 hours, flipping halfway through.
- They should be completely dry and hard.
Air-dry method (no oven needed):
- Lay flat on a baking sheet for 2–4 days, turning occasionally.
6. Decorate (optional)
Once cool and dry, decorate with:
- Puffy paint
- Glitter glue
- Small buttons (hot glue for adults only!)
- White paint pens
Or leave them natural—they’re adorable either way!
7. Add ribbon
Thread a ribbon or twine through the hole and tie a knot.
Tips for Success
- Thicker ornaments are sturdier.
- Don’t store them in humid areas.
- If using in the classroom, write each child’s name on the back with a paint pen before baking.
- Add more cinnamon if you want a darker “gingerbread cookie” look.
Gingerbread Man Display Craft
Make this cute Gingerbread Man and Woman display with THESE oversized wooden Gingerbread people cutouts. Use bows, googly eyes, fake gumdrops (I used these small ornaments and cut the string off), and white puff paint for the icing. Such a fun activity and cute display that will be used for years to come!
Gingerbread Man Sensory Bin
Add cute little mini erasers or figurines to your holiday sensory bin! Here’s how to dye the noodles:
You’ll Need
- Dry pasta
- Liquid food coloring (or liquid watercolors)
- 1 teaspoon vinegar or rubbing alcohol (helps color stick)
- Zip-top bags or containers with lids
- Wax paper or baking sheet for drying
Instructions
1. Add pasta to a bag
Pour about 1–2 cups of dry pasta into a zip-top bag or container.
2. Mix your color
In a small cup, combine:
- A few squirts of food coloring
- About 1 teaspoon vinegar or rubbing alcohol
(For vibrant colors, add more coloring!)
3. Shake it up
Pour the color mixture into the bag and seal it tightly.
Shake, shake, shake until all the pasta is coated.
4. Dry the pasta
Spread the dyed noodles on:
- Wax paper
- A baking sheet
- A tray
Let them dry for 1–2 hours, or overnight if you used a lot of liquid.
Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
5. Store
Once completely dry, store the noodles in an airtight container for months.
Tips & Tricks
- For BIG batches, use gallon bags.
- Liquid watercolors give the brightest colors.
- To make rainbow pasta, repeat the process with different colors.
- If the noodles feel tacky after drying, lightly rinse them with rubbing alcohol or add a tiny bit more and re-dry.
- Keep them away from moisture to prevent softening.
Gingerbread Man Graphing
Add graphing skills to your Gingerbread Man theme! We tasted gingerbread cookies and graphed if we liked them or not. You can also take one bite and graph which part of the cookie you ate first. This is such a fun (and tasty!) way to incorporate early math skills, counting, number comparison, and number analysis skills!
Gingerbread Man writing pages and class book
The Gingerbread Man class book and writing pages. Create a class book by having each child fill out each page in the book. Included are two different covers in color and in black and white. Five different writing page styles included for various learners and writers. Preschool students can draw a picture and dictate their sentences to the teacher, while older students can write their own sentences. See preview for different styles. For use in preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classrooms.
For personal journals, make a copy of the page for each child’s journal as well. Great for Gingerbread Man lessons and themes!
Click HERE for more Gingerbread Man printables, games, worksheets, and activities for kids!
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