Its All About the Gingerbread Man

Kindergartners forgot about Christmas and Santa this week. All they could think about was the gingerbread man. It was no wonder since their teacher has totally immersed them in a variety of gingerbread activities. I never knew there could be so many things to do from one story.My best memory of kindergarten was making gingerbread men with my class and Miss Ann. 

Today it still reigns as a highlight for children in kindergarten. 

Who would have ever guessed that two boxes of gingerbread mix could provide so much fun.

The class had such a good time making one large gingerbread man and decorating it with all sorts of candies, cereals and raisins. The cooks baked it in the kitchen and the gingerbread man was enjoyed as an afternoon snack. 

If you decide to use a prepared mix rather than homemade cookie dough I would suggest using Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookie Mix. It took two boxes to make one large gingerbread pictured above.    

Of course a gingerbread man needs a poem to be complete. So to refresh your memory...
Once there was a gingerbread man,
Baking in a gingerbread pan.
Raisin eyes and a cherry nose,
Trimmed right down to his fingers and toes.
A gingerbread man in a gingerbread pan!
Here's the old woman who made him so sweet,
A treat for her and her husband to eat,
She made him with flour and sugar and eggs,
She gave him a face and two arms and two legs.
A gingerbread man in a gingerbread pan!
Now open the oven to see if he's done,
This gingerbread man, he know how to run.
Out of the oven and onto the floor,
Now run away out the kitchen door.
The gingerbread man, he's out of the pan!
Now chase him old woman, now chase him old man
Chase him, yes chase him as fast as you can!
Through the garden and out the gate,
Catch him right now, before it's too late.
The gingerbread man, he's out of the pan!
Along came a cow who wanted a treat
And the gingerbread man, he looked good to eat
Run, run, as fast as you can
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man
I'm the gingerbread man and I'm out of the pan!
Along came a horse who wanted a snack
But the gingerbread man, he never looked back
Run, run, as fast as you can
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man
I'm the gingerbread man and I'm out of the pan!
Along came a farmer who wanted a treat
And the gingerbread man, he looked good to eat
Run, run, as fast as you can
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man
I'm the gingerbread man and I'm out of the pan!
Along came a dog who wanted a snack
But the gingerbread man, he never looked back
Run, run, as fast as you can
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man
I'm the gingerbread man and I'm out of the pan!
Along came a hog who wanted a treat
And the gingerbread man, he looked good to eat
Run, run, as fast as you can
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man
I'm the gingerbread man and I'm out of the pan!
Along came a fox who wanted a treat,
And this gingerbread man, he looked good to eat.
Jump on my back, my gingerbread pet,
And we'll cross the river, so you won't get wet
Mr. Gingerbread man, who's out of the pan!
There was no place to go, there was no place to run
And a ride on the river could be lots of fun!
So off with the fox did Gingerbread go
And what happened next, you already know
To the gingerbread man, who's out of the pan
That sly old fox had a de-lic-ious treat
And the old man and woman had nothing to eat
Not a bite was left for the cow or the dog,
The horse or the farmer or hungry old hog
There's no gingerbread man in or out of the pan!
So let us go home and get out the pan
And we'll make ourselves a new gingerbread man!
And when he is eaten, we'll make us some more
But this time we'll be certain to lock the back door!
A new gingerbread man, in a gingerbread pan!

Gingerbread cookie making was followed by listening to many different versions of the story all week 

and other related gingerbread man activities. I thought this one was particularly creative. 

Fill the empty gingerbread boxes with paper gingerbread men.  A different sight word was placed on each gingerbread man. Three gingerbread mans had a fox drawn on. The box was passed around to a small group of children. The object was to see who could collect the most gingerbread man in an allotted time. If you drew a fox on a gingerbread out of the box you lost all your gingerbread man and had to start over.  

But the real highlight for me was sharing my holiday gift with the students. It was heartwarming to see that the gift of words can really excite a group.
Pete The Cat series is a real favorite in this classroom. In this new book the catchy lines that rhyme make you want to burst out in song.  All of the books are on YouTube and you hear the pages read in song. 
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons is about Pete the Cat wearing his favorite shirt—the one with the four totally groovy buttons. But when one falls off, does Pete cry? Goodness, no! He just keeps on singing his song—after all, what could be groovier than three groovy buttons? Count down with Pete in this rocking new story from the creators of the bestselling Pete the Cat books.

Mix It Up is a sequel to the book Press Here.  Both books are whimsical interactive books and can be heard being read on YouTube.  Accept Hervé Tullet's irresistible invitation to mix it up in a dazzling adventure of whimsy and wonder. Follow the artist's simple instructions, and suddenly colors appear, mix, splatter, and vanish in a world powered only by the reader's imagination. 

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Need a last minute homemade gift idea? I thought this creative idea from Kathleen was the perfect destresser... bath salts. 

The jar came from Target and lavendar oil from the dollar store. 

here's Kathleen's recipe and thanks to her for sharing :)

LAVENDER BATH SALT:

Ingredients:
2 cups Epsom Salt
3/4 cup Baking Soda
6-10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
1/4 cup dried Lavender (optional)
Directions:
Mix ingredients together well in a GLASS bowl. Let the salt dry overnight and then store in air tight container for gifting or personal use.