We began our Holidays Around the World/GBM theme today (it will continue for the month of December).  I am so excited about this!  I’m having so much fun helping the GBM prepare his mailings to be sent back to us that I can hardly stand it! 🙂  The kids are going to love it!

We began by taking a picture walk through Paul Galdone’s version of The Gingerbread Boy.  We talked a lot as we looked at the pictures that there was no 100% sure fire way to tell if the GBM was actually made of Gingerbread–it lead to a great discussion about looking at the details of the pictures (which carried over into Writer’s Workshop later in the day).  We then read the story.  The children created pictures of various animals/people chasing the GBM in Writer’s Workshop and had fun with it! 🙂

We then created our Predictable Chart for the week.  It was kind of a tricky one to word, “The ______ chased the Gingerbread Man.”  The children gave me a word that fit into the blank in the sentence.  They could get as crazy and silly as they wanted to–and they did!

After lunch and recess, we created a Gingerbread Glyph: (click on him once and then again to make him full size and printable) I’m not sure where this picture came from–I’ve had him for 10+ years, so if you know, please let me know so I can give credit! 🙂

The directions:

Buttons:

If you are a boy, color the gingerbread man’s buttons blue.

If you are a girl, color the gingerbread man’s buttons pink.

Nose:

If you have no pets, color the gingerbread man’s nose red.

If you have cats, color the gingerbread man’s nose green.

If you have dogs, color the gingerbread man’s nose yellow.

If you have fish, color, the gingerbread man’s nose orange.

If you have other pets or a combination of the above, color the gingerbread man’s nose purple.

Mouth:

If you favorite dessert is ice cream, color the gingerbread man’s mouth red.

If you favorite dessert is cake, color the gingerbread mans’ mouth pink.

If you favorite dessert is something else, color the gingerbread man’s mouth purple.

Eyelids:

If your favorite season is spring, color the gingerbread mans’ eyelids pink.

If your favorite season is summer, color the gingerbread mans’ eyelids green.

If your favorite season is autumn, color the gingerbread mans’ eyelids orange.

If your favorite season is winter, color the gingerbread mans’ eyelids blue.

Eyebrows:

If you have made a gingerbread man, color the eyebrows brown.

If you have not made a gingerbread man, color the eyebrows yellow.

Squiggles:

If you have eaten gingerbread, color the squiggles gray.

If you have never eaten gingerbread, color the squiggles green.

After we finish doing this whole group, the children color the remaining parts of the GBM brown and cut him out.  We use him as a bulletin board display.  I put up a copy of the glyph key so others walking by can figure out whose GBM is whose.

I also went shopping today with a list from the GBM himself and got a few things we will be using over the next couple of weeks.  Applesauce, cinnamon, hot chocolate, whipped cream, marshmallows, gingerbread cookies, cups, wax paper, cinnamon raisin bread mix.  I’ll let you know as we use them! 🙂

I also made a passport to use with my children as they travel to different countries.  They will each get a stamp as we learn about a country.  Here is the passport.  It is very generic and can be changed to meet your needs:

holidaypassport

Another great resource for a Holidays Around the World theme is the “December” ideas book from the Education Center (Mailbox Magazine people/Teacher’s Helper).  You need to get the one for grades 1-3.  Although some of the ideas are a little tough for Kindergarten–it will lead you in the right direction and give you some ideas!  (TEC195-if it’s still in print!)

See you tomorrow!

Kristen 🙂