Gingerbread Man Shape Game

One of my favourite themes for Christmas, although it is easy to use any time of the year, is Gingerbread and there are so many fantastic books to choose from. From the traditional Gingerbread Man story to modern versions. For this week’s Gingerbread Theme for The Virtual Book Club for Kids, we’re featuring the book Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett and have a DIY Math Game for toddlers and preschoolers to “Dress the Gingerbread Man” whilst focusing on basic shape recognition.

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Bret focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

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With beautiful illustrations, this twist on the Gingerbread Man story by Jan Brett Gingerbread Baby is an ideal book to share with toddlers and preschoolers. There is a second book which we also love and would recommend adding to your bookshelf Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett which continues the story of the Gingerbread Baby. Both of these books have been favourites with my children, read at Christmas time and anytime we would read the more traditional Gingerbread Man story.
Create a beautiful Salt Dough Gingerbread Man Garland and work on Repeating Patterns.

Dress the Gingerbread Man DIY Shape Game

In this game, we are focusing the first 3 shapes – triangle, square and circle and have used these to “dress” the gingerbread man with eyes and buttons.

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Materials needed for this DIY Gingerbread Man Math Game

Download of our blank Gingerbread Man printer for each player plus 1 version of the shape dice net

A collection of Triangle, Circle and Square buttons or wooden shapes. We used shapes from our Tap and Tack but you could use a collection of shape buttons

Printer – we have an HP Envy with Insta Ink and I have been really happy with the quality and cost of this printer

Laminator

Cardstock to create the dice

Scissors or Craft Knife and cutting mat

Double-Sided Sticky Tape

Preparation

Download a copy of the Gingerbread Man Math Game and print out 1 gingerbread man per player plus a single copy of the shape dice.

Laminate the copies of the Gingerbread Man for each Player and then cut out the dice. Score along the edge of the tabs and between the side to make it easier to fold.

Place the double-sided sticky tape on each of the tabs and fold to make a cube.

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Make some Gingerbread Men Cookies with the Kids to eat after you play this game with this Kid-Friendly Easy Gingerbread Recipe.

Playing the Game

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Decide what the winning point would be (you could place some dots to show the areas that need to be completed e.g. 2 eyes, 3 buttons, mouth, nose etc…) and the first person to “dress” the gingerbread man with their shapes would win.

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Take it in turns to throw the dice.

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

When it stops – name the shape “Circle”, “Square” or “Triangle”. The player then picks up the corresponding shape and dresses the Gingerbread Man with it.

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

If you have multiple coloured shapes you could also add in naming the colour of the shape that they are dressing the Gingerbread Man with.

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

More Gingerbread Themed Activities for Toddler and Preschoolers

Each week for the Virtual Book Club for Kids the Co-ordinators and cohosts shape fun activities, crafts and recipes aimed at toddlers and preschoolers on the chosen theme and featured book. It’s easy to join us connecting and creating with books you can either sign up for our weekly book based activity newsletter (and get this DIY Dress the Gingerbread Man Shape Game FREE) and get the ideas straight to your inbox. Or you can come and join our Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook Group with nearly 8000 other parents, carers and educators focusing on books each week.

Here are this week’s fun activities for toddlers and preschoolers on the week’s theme of Gingerbread.

Gingerbread House Glyph from Mama Smiles

Gingerbread Patterning from My Storytime Corner

Gingerbread Man Craft Exploring Colours from J Daniel 4’s Mom

Gingerbread Baby Scissor Skills from School Time Snippets

Foam Gingerbread Christmas Busy Bag from Views from the Step Stool

Kid-Friendly Gingerbread Recipe

Gingerbread Man Shape Game – You are Here!

Gingerbread Baby Salt Dough Pattern Making

Gingerbread Man Paper Chain

Fingerprint Gingerbread Man Ornament from The Educators’ Spin On It

Gingerbread Man Number Hop from Toddler Approved

Giant Gingerbread Man People from Toddler Approved

Gingerbread Man Collage from Toddler Approved

Build a Gingerbread Boy Number Game from Toddler Approved

Pin this Gingerbread Math Game for Toddlers and Preschoolers to Make and Play Later

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Bret focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Share this DIY Math Game with Others on Facebook

Multiple player DIY math game inspired by The Gingerbread Man focusing on learning basic shapes ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

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