Inside: Work on color sorting skills with this hands-on gingerbread man activity. Can be used as a table activity, for circle time, or for large motor fun!
When gingerbread men appear in our classroom, you know it’s December!
You will find a gingerbread banner hanging in our window, little gingerbread men and a gingerbread house in the sensory bin, and gingerbread-shaped ice in trays, just waiting for paint!
Today I’m sharing a color sorting gingerbread activity that will be another great addition to the gingerbread theme.
It involves a free printable, and I’ve included multiple ways to use it.
You also might like: Five Little Candy Canes Circle Time Activity
Teaching toddlers and preschoolers their colors is easiest when done through hands-on activities.
No flash cards are necessary!
I’ve shared many ideas in my favorite collection of color recognition activities.
I can’t wait to add today’s activity to that collection!
Color Sorting Gingerbread Man Activity
There are several ways to use this printable.
After grabbing the link to the free download (scroll down towards the bottom of this page to find the link), make copies and get started!
Gingerbread Pom Pom Color Matching
What you will need:
Pom poms that are the same colors as the gingerbread men in the printable.
Setting it up:
Cut apart each of the gingerbread men from the printable.
Place them on the table along with matching colored pom poms.
Invite your toddlers and preschoolers to recognize each of the colors, finding the matching colored pom poms.
For example, when they identify the yellow gingerbread man, they will find the yellow pom poms and place them on top.
Gingerbread Button Color Matching
Use the same method as the pom pom color matching, using buttons instead.
Color Sorting Gingerbread Man Activity for Circle Time
This activity is a great way to work on color recognition skills!
Make one set of the gingerbread man printable that will be placed on the floor.
Then, make enough additional sets so that each child has at least one of the colored gingerbread men.
As you call on each child, have them walk up to the gingerbread men that are on the floor and place their gingerbread man on top of the matching colored one.
When finished, count how many of each color there are. If there are different amounts, which color has the most? Which one has the least?
Gingerbread Man Hunt
Get your children moving during circle time with this activity!
Hide the gingerbread men around the room and have your children go on a hunt.
As each gingerbread man is found, the children will announce what colors they are and then place them on a tray.
Using this Gingerbread Man Activity Virtually
When we did this activity virtually, I had a small play oven available.
I made two copies of the printables – one to place in the oven and one to hide.
Before our meeting started, I hid one set in our hallway.
I kept the other set for our meeting.
During our meaning, before I put them in the oven, I asked the children to identify each color.
I then placed them in the oven and closed the door.
I discretely removed the gingerbread from the oven (my laptop’s screen was facing in another direction).
I read a book and then told the children I was going to now open the oven to check on them.
The oven was now empty!
I told them we were going to take a walk down the hallway to see if we could find them.
I held my laptop facing out and as they saw one appear in the screen, they let me know what color it was.
More to Read
Christmas Circle Time Activities
Gingerbread Man Circle Time Printable Props
More Gingerbread Fun!
