Summary: This classic story is about an old man and an old woman who make a gingerbread cookie in the shape of a man. The gingerbread man comes to life and runs out of the house yelling "Run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The old man, the old woman, a cow and a cat cannot catch him. He then meets a sly fox along the way and the fox convinces him to jump on his back so he can cross the river. The fox tells the gingerbread man to jump on his head so he does not get wet. The fox opens his mouth and eats the gingerbread man in one bite.
Hints for reading aloud
As you read the story to your child make sure you emphasize the words "Run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm a gingerbread man." Let your child chant the words with you.
Things to use at home
The Gingerbread Man book A fox cutout
A gingerbread man cutout A cow cutout
A cat cutout
Activities
Make play dough with your child. Make sure your child has an active role. Mix, pour, knead and color the play dough together. Use the cutouts to retell the story after you make the play dough. Role play the story and let your child be the gingerbread man.
Find other versions of this story at your local library. Read them with your child to find out what is the same and/or different about the various tales.
Play dough recipe
1 cup of flour
½ cup of salt
1 cup of water
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
2 teaspoons of cream of tarter A few drops of food coloring (any color)
Cinnamon (optional) This will give the dough a cookie fragrance
Heat and mix/knead ingredients until it forms a ball. Play dough can be stored in a plastic zip lock bag or covered container for use and re-use.
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