It’s the start of December, and teachers everywhere are staring at their to-do lists. Holiday concert practice. Class party planning. Parent emails. And somehow, they still need to teach 20 five-year-olds how to decode CVC words and compose numbers to 10…while the smell of gingerbread cookies and candy canes fills the hallways.
Has this ever happened to you?
The month of December is magical, but it’s also chaotic. And the last thing anyone needs is another complicated lesson plan or center rotation that takes hours to prep.
That’s why gingerbread-themed activities are so popular in preschool and kindergarten classrooms during gingerbread week.
In this post, I’m rounding up my favorite gingerbread math and literacy activities for preschool and kindergarten from hands-on gingerbread centers to print-and-go no-prep worksheets you can use for morning work, homework, small groups, or sub plans.
Best part? Everything here is designed to be easy and fun, with printable, low-prep gingerbread activities that work with materials most classrooms already have.
Gingerbread Math and Literacy Centers for Kindergarten
This complete gingerbread centers bundle includes 38 hands-on activities – math centers, literacy activities, and fine motor play dough mats – all designed to keep kindergarteners engaged and learning throughout December.
Activities come in full-color and low-ink versions, plus recording worksheets for easy assessment.
Gingerbread Literacy Centers
Alphabet recognition and formation (uppercase and lowercase letters), phonemic awareness (syllable counting), beginning and ending sounds, CVC word families, digraphs, blends, and sight words (Pre-Primer and Primer). Every activity is rooted in Science of Reading principles.
Gingerbread Math Centers
Number recognition and counting (0-50), ten frames and subitizing, place value (tens and ones), composing and decomposing 10, addition and subtraction within 10, 2D shapes, patterns, measurement, and graphing.
Gingerbread Play Dough Mats
Fine motor skill building with gingerbread man, gingerbread girl, gingerbread house mat, gingerbread dog, and gingerbread cat themes.
Why These Gingerbread Themed Activities Work in December
Let’s be honest: December is chaotic. But that doesn’t mean learning stops.
Here’s why gingerbread-themed center activities are the perfect solution:
High engagement meets high standards – The festive gingerbread theme captures attention while targeting essential kindergarten skills.
Actually saves time – Print once, laminate (optional), add basic manipulatives like dice and counters, and centers are ready for weeks.
Keeps routines intact – Structure and predictability during the busiest month of the year.
Plus, when students are genuinely excited about gingerbread houses and gingerbread cookies, behavior management gets easier. Engaged students = fewer disruptions.
Inside the Gingerbread Literacy Activities
The literacy centers cover everything from alphabet knowledge to advanced phonics – all aligned with Science of Reading principles. Students love these engaging gingerbread reading activities!
Skills Covered:
- Alphabet: Letter recognition (uppercase and lowercase), letter formation, and letter matching
- Phonemic Awareness: Syllable counting and segmentation
- Phonics: Beginning sounds, ending sounds, CVC word decoding and encoding, word families, digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh, ph), beginning blends
- Sight Words: Pre-Primer and Primer high-frequency words
Let’s take a look at a few of the literacy centers in detail.
Gingerbread Beginning Sounds Mats and Games
Strengthen initial sound fluency with print‑and‑go mats and games students can play independently or with a partner.
How it works:
- Students roll a die, locate the matching letter, and cover a picture that begins with that sound.
- They continue rolling and listening for the initial phoneme until all pictures on the board are covered.
- In the partner version, students take turns and race to cover their boards for efficient, repeated practice.
Why it’s powerful: The clear, repeatable routine keeps attention on sound–symbol mapping, providing many fun repetitions and quick insight into which sounds need review.
What’s included: 5 single‑player mats (color and black‑and‑white) plus coordinating partner game boards. This activity is ideal for centers, morning tubs, fast finishers, or a brief small‑group warm‑up.
Gingerbread CVC Word Families (Tap • Map • Write)
This center bridges decoding and encoding in one activity.
How it works:
- Students look at the pictures belonging to the CVC word family.
- They tap out and map the sounds.
- Then they write the complete word on on the gingerbread house.
Why it’s powerful: Once students master one word family pattern, they can read and write dozens of words. This is the kind of transferable skill that builds reading confidence fast.
What’s included: 29 different mats covering all the major CVC word families, plus recording worksheets.
Beginning Digraphs: Gingerbread Themed Word Building Task Cards
Strengthen decoding and encoding with focused practice on common beginning digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh).
How it works:
- Students say the picture, segment the sounds, and identify the initial digraph.
- They build the word with magnetic letters, then write it on the recording sheet.
Why it’s powerful: Digraphs represent one sound made by two letters; isolating that unit helps students avoid guessing and supports accurate blending and spelling.
What’s included: A set of beginning‑digraph task cards with picture prompts, plus a coordinating recording worksheet for assessment or review.
Sight Words: Roll and Race to the End (Partner)
Build automatic recognition of high‑frequency words with a fast‑paced partner game.
How it works:
- Each player places a counter at Start, rolls the die, moves along the path, and reads the word they land on.
- If a word is tricky, the partner can provide support and the player rereads before the next turn.
- Play continues until a player reaches Finish.
Why it’s powerful: Frequent exposure help students store words for instant recall. The simple routine keeps attention on reading the word accurately while the partner format adds accountability and motivation.
What’s included: Printable game boards for Primer word sets in color and black‑and‑white ready for literacy centers, morning tubs, or small‑group warm‑ups.
What Else is Included?
The literacy centers also include:
- Alphabet tracing mats with proper letter formation guidance
- Roll and cover games on gingerbread houses for letter recognition
- Clip cards for beginning and ending sounds
- CVC roll, read, and cover games with partner race options
- Digraph and Beginning Blend activities
- Syllable towers where students clap and build with cubes
- Syllable clip cards
Inside the Gingerbread Math Activities
These hands-on math centers make number sense, operations, and geometry engaging with gingerbread houses, gumdrops, and festive themes.
Skills Covered:
- Number Sense: Counting and number recognition (0-50), ten frames, subitizing, sequencing
- Place Value: Understanding tens and ones (11-20)
- Operations: Composing and decomposing 10, addition and subtraction within 10
- Geometry: 2D shape identification
- Patterns: AB, AAB, ABC patterns
- Measurement: Nonstandard measurement with gingerbread houses
- Data: Graphing and data collection
Let’s take a look at a few of the math centers in detail.
Numbers 1–10 and 11–20: Ten‑Frame Mats and Games
Build number sense with quick routines that connect counting, subitizing, and ten‑frames.
How it works:
- Students spin a number, show it on the ten‑frame with counters, and cover the matching ten‑frame picture on the board.
- They continue spinning until they build and cover all numbers on their mat..
- In the partner Race to Cover version, players take turns spinning and covering their matching ten frames.
Why it’s powerful: Ten‑frames provide a clear visual model for composing and decomposing numbers, bridging rote counting to flexible thinking.
What’s included: Printable mats for Numbers 1–10 and Numbers 11–20, plus coordinating Race to Cover partner games – ideal for math centers, morning tubs, intervention, or quick checks in small group.
Gingerbread Village Addition Towers
Kinesthetic learners absolutely thrive with this activity.
How it works:
- Build towers using colored linking cubes to match the addition fact
- Stack them together to find the sum
- Record the equation on the worksheet
Why it’s brilliant: Addition becomes tangible. Students can see, touch, and manipulate the numbers instead of dealing with abstract symbols.
Gingerbread House: Measurement Task Cards
Introduce nonstandard measurement with gingerbread house measurement task cards.
How it works:
- Students select a card, line up the ruler or cubes along the edge, and count the units to find the height of each gingerbread house.
- They record the measurement on the worksheet next to the matching house.
- Use in centers for independent practice, or pull a small group to model aligning units with no gaps or overlaps.
Why it’s powerful: Students learn about measurement ideas and using equal‑sized units, starting at the edge, and counting carefully before moving to standard tools. The ruler supports accurate unit placement.
What’s included: A set of gingerbread house measurement task cards, printable nonstandard rulers, and a recording worksheet for quick checks or assessment.
What Else is Included?
The math centers also include:
- Counting to 50 activities and games
- Numbers before and after practice
- Place value activities with tens and ones
- Subtraction within 10 with roll and solve games
- Subtraction game (spin and race to the bottom)
- 2D shape spin and cover with gingerbread cookies
- Pattern building with gumdrops
- Roll and graph data collection
Gingerbread Man Play Dough Mats: Fine Motor Fun with Purpose
These aren’t just adorable – they’re building the hand strength and muscle memory students need for writing.
What’s included:
- Gingerbread man mat
- Gingerbread girl mat
- Gingerbread house mat
- Gingerbread dog mat
- Gingerbread cat mat
How to use them:
Students roll play dough and decorate their gingerbread friends with “buttons,” eyes, and details
Perfect for:
- Morning tubs and soft start activities
- Brain breaks between academic tasks
- Calm corner for self-regulation
- Early finisher stations
- Sensory bin additions
The science behind it: The resistance of play dough strengthens the small muscles in hands and fingers – the same muscles needed for pencil grip and handwriting control.
How to Set Up and Run Gingerbread Centers
Quick Prep Overview
Print Smart
- Choose color OR black-and-white versions (both included)
- Start with 4-6 centers – no need to prep all 38 at once.
- Print the centers that match the skills your kindergarten class is focusing on
Laminate (Optional)
- Laminating makes centers last all December and beyond
- Dry-erase pockets work just as well
Gather Materials
Most classrooms already have these:
- Dice (standard 1-6)
- Spinners (a paperclip and pencil work if needed)
- Counters (two-color chips, linking cubes, mini erasers, or dry beans)
- Clothespins (for clip cards)
- Dry-erase markers
- Playdough
Organize by Skill
- Use labeled bins, zippered pouches, or gallon-sized bags
- Label clearly: “Alphabet Centers,” “CVC Words,” “Making 10,” “Addition”
Running Centers in Your Classroom
Introducing Centers
Many teachers find success introducing 2-3 centers at a time during whole group, modeling exactly how to play, where materials go, and what clean-up looks like. Once students can independently complete the first batch, add 2-3 more.
Recording worksheets provide accountability and make informal assessment easy during rotations.
Gingerbread No-Prep Worksheets: The Perfect Companion
Not every day calls for full center rotations. Sometimes you need something quick such as morning work that’s ready to go, homework that reinforces what you’re teaching, or emergency sub plans that actually keep students learning.
That’s where the Gingerbread No Prep Worksheets come in.
These printable activities cover essential kindergarten skills like the centers but in a traditional worksheet format that requires zero setup.
What Makes These Gingerbread Worksheets Different?
Truly No-Prep
Print and go. No laminating, no cutting, no materials to gather. Just print the pages you need and hand them out.
Skill-Focused, Not Busy Work
Every worksheet targets a specific kindergarten standard with intentional practice that builds mastery. These aren’t coloring pages disguised as learning. They’re legitimate skill-building printable activities with a festive gingerbread theme.
Flexible Use
Students use these worksheets however your classroom needs them:
- Morning work or bell ringers
- Homework packets
- Assessment tools
- Sub plans
- Early finisher activities
- Small group practice
- Review before holiday break
The worksheets span a range of difficulty levels within each skill area, so you can easily match activities to student readiness. Perfect for preschool through first grade classrooms.
Skills Covered in the Gingerbread Worksheets
Literacy Skills:
- Alphabet Practice: Letter recognition (uppercase and lowercase letters), letter tracing, beginning letter sounds
- Phonemic Awareness: Syllable counting, rhyming
- Phonics: Beginning sounds, ending sounds, middle sounds, CVC word building and reading
- Sight Words: Pre-Primer and Primer word recognition, tracing, and sentence building. Students write sight words in context.
- Word Families: Practice with common CVC word families (-at, -an, -ig, -op, etc.)
Math Skills:
- Number Recognition: Identifying and tracing numbers 0-20
- Counting: Count and color, count and write, one-to-one correspondence
- Ten Frames: Building number sense with visual models
- Number Bonds: Composing and decomposing numbers within 10
- Addition & Subtraction: Equations within 10 with visual supports
- Place Value: Understanding tens and ones
- Shapes: 2D shape identification, tracing, and drawing
- Patterns: AB, AAB, ABC pattern recognition and creation
- Graphing: Simple data collection and interpretation
How Teachers Use Gingerbread Worksheets
Morning Work Routine
Place a worksheet at each student’s seat as they arrive. Students come in, unpack, sit down, and start working. It settles the class and gives teachers time to take attendance, check folders, and handle morning logistics.
Differentiated Homework
Send home worksheets matched to each student’s current skill level. Parents appreciate activities that are clear, focused, and don’t require them to teach new concepts.
Assessment Without the Stress
Use worksheets as informal assessments to check understanding after teaching a concept. The recording format makes it easy to see who’s got it and who needs more support.
Sub Plans That Actually Work
Leave a stack of worksheets with simple instructions. Students stay engaged, learning continues, and you don’t come back to chaos.
Review Before Break
The week before winter break, use worksheets to review key concepts in a low-pressure format. Students stay engaged with the festive theme while reinforcing what they’ve learned.
Small Group Targeted Practice
Pull a small group and work through a worksheet together, providing immediate feedback and support for students who need extra help with a specific skill.
Pairing Gingerbread Activities with Your Favorite Gingerbread Books
Using different versions of the gingerbread books alongside these activities creates a rich, engaging gingerbread unit. Here are some favorite gingerbread book options:
- The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth
- The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
- The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
- The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires
More Fun Gingerbread Activities and Gingerbread Man Crafts
Looking for even more ways to make gingerbread week special? Here are some additional gingerbread man activity ideas teachers love:
Gingerbread Crafts:
Students will love creating their own paper gingerbread man using a gingerbread template. Add buttons, icing details, and decorations to make each gingerbread person unique. These make adorable bulletin board displays or ornament gifts for families.
Gingerbread STEM Activities:
Challenge students to build a gingerbread house that won’t fall down using various materials. This engaging gingerbread STEM activity combines engineering, problem-solving, and creativity.
Sensory Bin Ideas:
Create a gingerbread-themed sensory bin with brown rice or sand, cookie cutters, mini gingerbread people, and scoops. Students love exploring textures while building fine motor skills.
Ready to Simplify Your December Planning?
If you’re looking for gingerbread-themed practice that requires zero prep and covers all your essential kindergarten skills, The Gingerbread No Prep Worksheets are exactly what you need.
If you’re looking for fun center activities, the Gingerbread Math and Literacy Centers Bundle is what you need.
Wrapping Up the Gingerbread Activities Fun
So, whether you’re looking for engaging gingerbread math and literacy centers to keep little hands busy, or quick gingerbread no-prep worksheets for those hectic December mornings, I hope this post has given you plenty of fun gingerbread activities to make your gingerbread week both magical and manageable.
Remember, these gingerbread activities for preschool and kindergarten are designed to save you time while keeping students excited about learning. Keep checking back, because I’ll be adding even more gingerbread man activities, including some adorable gingerbread crafts, to help you create the ultimate gingerbread unit.
