A Focus on MATH -The Gingerbread Man
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Three books are highlighted here, one on basic skills in Language Arts, one on Basic Skills in MATH, and another on Science Experiments for young learners. Each unit include additional Fine Arts and writing exeriences as well. Using the books together gives the classroom an integrated unit using the theme of The Gingerbread Man. Honey Pot Press also has a collection of Center Games for practicing basic skills in Math and Language Arts. Games include the Zip Around format, Bingo format, and Board Game formats. These are available in English and Spanish for further practice of counting, addition, rhyming, letter/sound matching, shape naming, position words, clock reading, coins, color naming, and more, using a Gingerbread Man theme.
The Activities
- THE LANGUAGE ARTS UNIT Begin your integrated unit using the Gingerbread Man Language Arts activities described on the linking page.
- COUNTING OBJECTS - Have a parent volunteer count Gingerbread erasers (available through Oriental Trading Company 1-800-228-2269) with each child recording how far they can count. As a center activity, give the students small paper plates with one numeral written on each plate. Ask the students to place the number of Gingerbread cookies (erasers) on each plate or card, according to the numeral written on the plate.
- NUMERAL CARDS - Make numeral cards 0-5 or 0-10 (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) depending upon the level of your students. Put cards at a center with the appropriate number of erasers. Children must arrange numerals in correct order and then place the correct number of erasers below the numeral card. These cards can also be used in front of the whole class for arranging in correct order, numeral recognition, naming, etc.
- NUMBER MATCH GAME - Duplicate two sets of numeral cards (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) and play the direct match game. Pass out one card to each student in the class. Chant the following: Find someone who is holding a number just like yours. Find someone who is holding the same number. Once each student has found their match, direct them to say the number they are holding. Tell them to clap the number of times to represent their cards. Next, chant: Find someone who has a number that's not like yours. Find someone who's holding a different number. Once the students are again paired with different numbers, ask them to name each other's numbers and to (for older students) to either find the difference or add the two together.
- GINGERBREAD PUZZLE Cut out a Gingerbread Man shape (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) and cut apart into puzzle pieces. Children put the puzzle together by matching the number with correct number of dots.
- SPIN A GINGERBREAD MAN - Each student has a plain Gingerbread Person paper and spinner (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). To make Gingerbread Person features, the child must first spin a numeral one, in order to draw the eyes and keep spinning until each number in sequence is reached and each feature is drawn.
- NUMERAL NAMING PRACTICE - Using the Gingerbread Man T-Scope (included with unit from Honey Pot Press), give the students practice in naming numerals. This is a good center game, or can be used for homework practice.
- GINGERBREAD MAN STAMP AND COUNT - Duplicate Gingerbread Man Stamp and Count pages (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). Provide child with a small Gingerbread Man stamp. Child recognizes numeral and stamps that many Gingerbread Men in that row. This is a good assessment tool as well.
- GINGERBREAD MAN COUNT AND WRITE - Duplicate the student pages, Gingerbread Men Count and Write (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). Student counts the number of Gingerbread Men pictured and writes the numeral. This is a good assessment tool as well.
- GINGERBREAD MAN CHECKERS - Partners play a game of checkers using the checker boards (included with the unit from Honey Pot Press) and markers. (Be careful to provide two different sets of markers for each pair of students.) Direct the students to set their boards up just like a regular game of checkers. As they jump and move their markers to the other side of the board - toward the opponent's side, direct them to name the numeral shown or to count the number of dots, etc. If they are correct they may countinue their move. If they are not correct, they must return to their former position and loose their turn. The student who moves their markers to the other side first is the winner.
- ADDITION PRACTICE - Using the Gingerbread Man T-Scope (included with the unit from Honey Pot Press), give the students practice in addition. This is a good center game, or can be used for homework practice.
- GINGERBREAD MAN COVER-UP - Each child has a small paper Gingerbread Man cut out (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). Children predict how many of a certain object (small marshmallows, jelly beans,raisins, or Unifix Cubes, etc.) will cover the inside area of the paper Gingerbread Man cut out. Then the child covers the Gingerbread pattern with the objects to find out the answer. Compare prediction with answer. You may want to use the Gingerbread Man recording sheet for the students to record their work (included with unit from Honey Pot Press).
- TEN LITTLE GINGERBREAD MEN - Duplicate the poem (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) on sentence strips. Make ten Gingerbread Men (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) and mount on craft sticks. Direct the class to recite the poem and tell each child holding a Gingerbread Man to run away at the appropriate part of the poem. You can extend this activity by writing a subtraction number sentence after each child runs away. You can then invite one child back at a time and write an addition sentence.
- ESTIMATION JAR - Fill a jar with plastic Gingerbread Man erasers (Oriental Trading Company 1-800-228-2269). Children record an estimation on a Gingerbread recording card (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). Count erasers and record answer. Compare answer with the estimations. Begin with an estimation in a range rather than an exact amount, for example, "I estimate there are between 5 and 10 Gingerbread Men in the jar." or "I estimate there are between 25 and 30 Gingerbread Men in the jar."
- SORTING GINGERBREAD MEN - Duplicate the Gingerbread Men (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) in a variety of colors. Laminate for extended use. Notice that the children can sort by color, by smiles, by types of eyes, by number of buttons, and by size. Place a collection of these cards at a center and have the students sort over and over, each time telling you their rules for sorting.
- GINGERBREAD MAN PATTERNS - Use the same Gingerbread Man cards from the sorting activity and ask the students to arrange them in patterns. Place at a center for lots of practice.
- I CAN SORT STUDENT BOOK - Duplicate a set of Gingerbread Men (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) to use to illustrate the student book, I Can Sort. Duplicate the book text pages (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). Mount these pages to counstruction paper and use the sorting set of Gingerbread Men to illustrate the book. If making one book to use at a center, laminate each page for extended use and then staple together. Place this book in a center with the laminated cards used above and have the students read the book and then sort their cards according to the text. You may want to have each child make their own I Can Sort Book.
- I CAN MAKE PATTERNS STUDENT BOOK - Duplicate a set of Gingerbread Men (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) to use to illustrate the student book, I Can Make Patterns. Duplicate the book text pages (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). Mount these pages to construction paper and use the sorting set of Gingerbread Men to illustrate the book. If making one book to use at a center, laminate each page for extended use and then staple together. Place this book in a center with the laminated cards used above and have the students read the book and then pattern their cards according to the text. You may want to have each child make their own I Can Make Patterns Book.
- MATCHING - Make a set of each of the Gingerbread Man Game Boards and playing cards (included with unit from Honey Pot Press). Sample activities are to match numeral card with correct number word card, match color word with correct color Gingerbread Man card, etc. Each student uses one game board and a set of matching cards. Direct them to place the appropriate playing card on teh space on the game board. When the student has placed all his/her cards, check for accuracy. For an additional matching game, duplicate two sets of cards (included with unit from Honey Pot Press) and simply ask the students to match cards that have the same smiles, same eyes, same number of buttons, etc. A blank template is also included for the teacher to prepare additional matching cards or basic skills they may be working on in class.
- MEASUREMENT - Lay two pieces of 7 foot long brown butcher paper on the floor. On the top sheet, trace around a tall person (6 feet of taller). Cut out the two pieces of paper together and glue around the edges. Cut a slit in the back for paper stuffing. Add features and trim to turn this person into a Gingerbread Person. Display in the classroom for a day or two. Ask students to estimate how many Unifix Cubes tall the Gingerbread Person is and write down their predictions. Ask students to put together groups of ten Unifix Cubes (each group using one color) and then put the groups of tens together until you reach the height of the Gingerbread Man. This is a good lesson to emphasize tens and ones. You can also make a Gingerbread family by making two additional cut-out figures, medium and small, and can have fun measuring heads, arms, legs, etc.
A Focus on FINE ARTS- The Gingerbread Man
GINGERBREAD MAN SNACKS
Pictures to Illustrate more of the activities from the Integrated Units
A Gingerbread Man Book Mural - Students are given decorating items and told to choose to use more of one kind and less of another type of decoration such as bows or buttons, etc. Once they decorate a Gingerbread Man, direct the students to sort their GB Men and to make a true statement about their GB Man. For example. I have more buttons and less bows. OR I have more sprinkles and less buttons. Mount their GB Men and statements on a large strip of butcher paper, and display as a class mural. Once finished with the mural, fold as a book and place in the class library for future enjoyment.
Cut large Gingerbread Man paper dolls from butcher paper. Ask the students to write a description of each doll as they add one feature at a time. For example, One nose, Two eyes, One smile, Two buttons, Our Gingerbread Man. Display as a class mural and when finished, fold as a book.
The classic story of the Gingerbread Man can serve as a child-centered theme to build a total curriculum around. Appropriate any time of the year, use these activities to teach, practice and apply concepts in math, language arts, and fine arts. This is a collection of activities shared by teachers with teachers. Some are original and many have been passed down from teacher to teacher. I thank teachers everywhere for sharing and am happy to be able to pass the ideas on to you for use in your classroom. I know these ideas will inspire additional games and activities as you use them.
Many of the activities are designed in a game format, played either by partners or in small groups. Others are designed to be used in a whole class arrangement while some are for independent practice. Many of the activities are also appropriate for homework to give the students additional review of basic skills. This unit, which is available for purchase through Honey Pot Press, is filled with blackline masters to make it easy for you to use these activities tomorrow and then again and again year after year. Most are best duplicated on heavy duty card stock. If you do not have acess to card stock, many of the games are available already duplicated on colorful heavy duty card stock through Honey Pot Press.
Address and phone numbers for additional resources pertaining to the Gingerbread Man theme and a bibliography are also included in the Language Arts unit.
Two books are highlighted here, one on basic skills in Math and the other on BASIC SKILLS IN LANGUAGE ARTS, each include additional Fine Arts exeriences as well. Using the two books together gives the classroom an integrated unit using the theme of The Gingerbread Man. HONEY POT PRESS also has Zip Around Games available in English and Spanish for further practice of counting, addition, and colors using a Gingerbread Man theme.
The Gingerbread Man theme is the vehicle you will be using to teach basic skills. This thematic format provides child-centered experiences to introduce and teach the young child basic skills in math and language arts.
Curriculum correlations to Fine Arts and Cooking exerpiences round out this unit as an integrated study of basic skills in Kindergarten and First Grade Classrooms.
I truly hope you enjoy this unit.
Carol S. Gossett
Honey Pot Press
Visitor 5758 since October 28, 2000.
