The Gingerbread Man


Author: Eric A. Kimmel

Illustrator: Megan Lloyd

Genre: Folklore

Theme: Provides rhyme and rhythm in a fun, common tale

Grade Levels: Pre-K/Kindergarten/Elementary Grade Lesson Below

Quick Summary: An old man and an old lady make a gingerbread man for desert. He leaped out of the oven and took off running. The old lady and the old man chase after the gingerbread man, but to no prevail they cannot catch up. The gingerbread continues to run past other animals as they try to catch him so they can enjoy him as a tasty treat.

Pre-Assessment Strategies: Discuss with the class the importance of this story and how it is a classic loved by all. I will point out that the gingerbread becomes too confident in the story that no one will catch him and sometimes too much confidence can backfire on you. I will then point out how gingerbread are made and when they are typically enjoyed by humans everywhere.

Post-Assessment Strategies: After the reading, the students will discuss the post-reading questions I will assign them. I will allow them to work in groups to work on these post-reading questions. This type of group work helps build teamwork, communication, and the share of the workload amongst each member in the group. After going over the post-reading questions of the gingerbread man, the students and I will go to the cafeteria and make some gingerbread. This activity will get the students to get out of the classroom environment and enjoy this amazing desert. Making the gingerbread will once again build a sense of teamwork and the importance of following directions. As the teacher, I will strictly supervise everything, as well as handle most of the work. However, I would plan on letting the students take a very minor role in cooking the gingerbread. After all the students hard work from listening to the story and partaking in the post-reading questions, they can finally enjoy this delicious treat! This lesson will be incorporated at the lower to mid grade levels.


Assessment: Post-reading questions

Reflection: I loved gingerbread growing up and having my parents read this story to me was the best. It was even better because making gingerbread with my mother was always a yearly tradition.

Kimmel, Eric A. (1993) The Gingerbread Man. New York: Holiday House. Grades K-1.