Are you looking for an engaging unit to use in your preschool classroom this winter? A gingerbread theme is always a hit! In this post, I will share some of my favorite preschool gingerbread unit activities that your students will love!
The Benefits of Themed Units in Preschool
Themed units are such a great tool for learning in the preschool classroom. There are several reasons why preschool themes are so helpful for young learners:
- Seasonal Fun: Preschool themes are an easy way to incorporate seasonal fun into your classroom. Themes allow you to embrace the excitement of the season while keeping the learning routine on track.
- New Vocabulary: As we know, Pre-K and T-K students are working hard to build their vocabulary! Themed units expose students to new vocabulary in a very authentic and meaningful way. This will make it more likely that they will retain and use these new vocabulary words.
- Increased Engagement: Preschoolers benefit from engaging, hands-on activities. Themed units are often filled with engaging activities that young students will love!
8 Preschool Gingerbread Unit Activities
When it comes to choosing a preschool unit for December, I have always loved gingerbread! It’s not holiday specific but it still gives you the chance to bring some seasonal fun to the classroom. There are so many fun gingerbread activities out there, it can be a challenge to narrow down the options for a gingerbread week. I wanted to help by sharing some of my favorite options for the preschool classroom.
1. Gingerbread Read Alouds
I have always loved to introduce a new theme with engaging read alouds! For gingerbread week, The Gingerbread Boy is an great option for preschool. You can use a variety of comprehension activities that will help students practice identifying problem and solution, making predictions, identifying characters, and more. You can also use a gingerbread poem as a shared reading activity that incorporates the theme.
2. Gingerbread Nonfiction Text
In addition to fiction read alouds, you can incorporate the gingerbread theme using nonfiction text. This printable book discusses the steps for how to bake gingerbread cookies. The book uses actual photographs of the process to help students better understand the text.
After reading the book together as a class, students can practice sequencing by discussing the different steps in making gingerbread cookies. You can use picture cards to discuss the steps as a class, then give students their own sequencing worksheets to complete.
Students can use these visuals to help them describe the steps to bake gingerbread cookies. This gives students the chance to practice using all of the new vocabulary words they’re learning!
3. Gingerbread Taste Test
After discussing the steps to making gingerbread cookies, your students will likely be ready to try out these cookies for themselves! You can give students the chance to explore their five senses with a gingerbread taste test. (Similar to the taste test from the preschool apple unit!)
You can use an anchor chart to record students’ responses to what they see, hear, feel, taste, and smell during this gingerbread tasting activity. This is a fun way to help your preschoolers learn about and explore the five senses!
4. Gingerbread Centers
The gingerbread theme can also extend into your literacy and math practice during centers time! These low-prep center activities give students the chance to practice academic skills with a gingerbread twist!
For example, students can choose a gingerbread shape card and count the number of shapes on each side of the card. They can then use a counting mat to place the same number of manipulatives on each side of the mat. This can help them explore concepts like more or less!
6. Gingerbread STEM Challenges
The story of The Gingerbread Boy can inspire some engaging STEM activities for your classroom. First, students can use building blocks and popsicle sticks to create a bridge that will protect the gingerbread boy from the fox as he crosses the river. You can show your students examples of a bridge before inviting them to try building their own.
Another fun STEM challenge is encouraging students to think of safer ways that the gingerbread boy could have crossed the river. Many students will likely recommend a boat!
This STEM activity invites students to make a boat out of aluminum foil that can take a paper gingerbread boy across the river. Students are always so excited to see their boats float on the water!
6. Gingerbread Dramatic Play
Do you have a dramatic play station in your preschool classroom? That is a great place for some gingerbread fun! Your preschoolers will love running their own gingerbread bakery! Students can fulfill orders for gingerbread cookies by adding different combinations of decorations from the gingerbread menu. There are even order forms that students can use to place their gingerbread orders.
7. Fine Motor Practice
Students can practice fine motor skills with themed activities during your gingerbread unit. For example, they can practice tracing lines as they help each gingerbread man get to a cookie jar. Your students also might enjoy learning how to draw a gingerbread cookie! Themed fine motor practice is a great way to keep students engaged in hand-strengthening activities.
8. Gingerbread Craft
A craft is the perfect way to celebrate everything your students have learned during the gingerbread unit! Crafts can help your preschoolers practice important fine motor skills as they cut and paste the pieces for the gingerbread craft. It’s always so fun to see all of the students’ completed crafts displayed on a holiday bulletin board!
Printable Gingerbread Unit for Preschool
Are you planning a gingerbread unit for your preschool classroom? I’ve put together a set of gingerbread activities that you can use in your Pre-K or T-K classroom. This preschool gingerbread unit includes everything you need to plan meaningful learning activities for your students.
If you’d like to take a closer look at everything included in this printable gingerbread unit, you can find it in my TPT store.
Save These Activities for Your Preschool Gingerbread Theme
Be sure to save this post if you’d like to come back to it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite preschool board on Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly find these engaging activities when you’re setting up gingerbread week for your preschool classroom!
