Simple Gingerbread Man Collage Art

Inside: This gingerbread man collage art is simple enough for toddlers, but preschoolers enjoy it, too. Grab some glue and scraps of paper and start creating!

It’s obvious by the amount of activities I have on this website that I am quite fond of the gingerbread man theme.

My students always love it, too!

Once I read The Gingerbread Man book, the children are hooked!

We have gingerbread men all over the classroom, in the sensory bin, as a bakery in the dramatic play area…

But our favorite place to explore the gingerbread man is at the art table.

This year I went super simple with my two year olds and put together a collage activity that involves squeezing glue, because that’s what they are into. As soon as they see bottles of glue on the art table, they come running.

If you are looking for something simple that works on fine motor skills, this is it!

Collage Art

I say this often in my YouTube videos: Every year is so different.

For example, my class last year loved 3-dimensional art.

This year? Not as much.

But what this year’s group does love more than any other class I’ve had is creating collages.

Especially if they can squeeze the glue.

They were introduced to collage art when we made our acorn collage last month.

I decided to do that same activity again except using a gingerbread man shape rather than an acorn.

Squeezing Glue

Toddlers and preschoolers love to squeeze glue from individual bottles.

At least mine always have!

They love wrapping their little hands around the bottle while squeezing and watching streams of glue fall to the paper.

I talk about it here: The Benefits of Squeezing Glue

So, let me share how this activity is done!

Gingerbread Man Collage Art

Supplies:

• Gingerbread printable (I used the outline from our Gingerbread Packet, but I also have this freebie, if you don’t mind the detail.)
• Scraps of paper or other small pieces
• Individual squeeze bottles of white glue
• Brown tempera paint, if you want to tint your glue

Preparation:

Cut out the gingerbread shapes, making sure to have enough for each child.

Place scraps in individual containers.

Tinted Glue

Then, you can tint your glue. This is optional, but something I love to do.

I put a few drops of brown tempera paint in each glue bottle. Easy!

Setting up the Art Table

The above photo shows how I set this activity on our art table.

I provide art during our free-choice centers time and usually have six spots available during that hour.

Children can come and go as they wish during that time.

Related: Managing the Art Table

I like to use trays (these are my favorite) for each space.

I placed the gingerbread man shape on each tray as well as a bottle of glue.

The scraps are in square containers that were donated to us. They appear to be some sort of packaging material, but I am not sure where from. (And I get A LOT of messages about these!)

Start Creating!

Invite your children to squeeze the glue on to the gingerbread man shape.

I tell my students to “make their glue dance”, meaning that they need to move the glue bottle around as they squeeze.

We still do get some puddles, but not near as many as they get the hang of it.

If you find that the glue is coming out quickly, tighten the lid just a bit to thin the stream.

Add more glue if desired, pressing more pieces on top.

And see how the glue is running off of the gingerbread man in the photo above?

This is why I use trays. 😊