EYFS The Gingerbread Man Outdoor Activities
Looking for simple EYFS Gingerbread Man activities? The Gingerbread Man is a brilliant story for Early Years because it supports repeated language, storytelling, sequencing, movement, role-play, maths, mark-making and problem-solving. New to Early Years Outdoor Learning? Use this handbook to help explain the Beginners Guide to Early Years Outdoors.
Taking The Gingerbread Man outdoors helps children retell the story actively. They can run, chase, build bridges, follow trails, make maps, count gingerbread shapes and explore the story through hands-on outdoor learning.
These ideas are low-prep, playful and ideal for Nursery and Reception children. Make a start and download now with a 60-day free trial.
New to Outdoor Storytelling? Start Here
If outdoor learning feels overwhelming, start small.
Try:
One 10-minute story trail
One repeated phrase from the story
One outdoor activity linked to a character, setting or problem
You do not need expensive resources. You can use:
chalk
hoops
cones
story cards
gingerbread man templates
sticks
stones
leaves
clipboards
crates
fabric
buckets
natural loose parts
toy animals
large paper
The aim is not to recreate the whole story perfectly. The aim is to help children move, talk, retell, imagine and learn through story-based outdoor play. Make a start and download now with a 60-day free trial.
Try This Tomorrow
If you only do one thing, try this:
Run, Run Gingerbread Man Trail
Create a simple outdoor trail using chalk arrows, cones or story picture cards. Children follow the trail and retell parts of the story as they move.
At each stop, children say:
“Run, run, as fast as you can!”
Add simple actions:
run to the cone
jump over the river
tiptoe past the fox
crawl through the tunnel
balance over the bridge
freeze like the Gingerbread Man
Time: 10–15 minutes
Prep: Low
Learning: Story language, sequencing, gross motor skills, speaking and listening
This is a brilliant quick win because children instantly know the repeated phrase and can join in through movement.
EYFS The Gingerbread Man Outdoor Activity Ideas
1. Gingerbread Man Story Trail
Set up a story trail around your outdoor area.
Use pictures or objects to represent:
the little old woman
the little old man
the cow
the horse
the dog
the fox
the river
the Gingerbread Man
Children move from station to station and retell what happens next.
Ask:
Who chased the Gingerbread Man first?
Who came next?
Where did he run?
What happened at the river?
What would you do if you were the Gingerbread Man?
This supports story sequencing, vocabulary, memory and communication.
2. Build a Bridge for the Gingerbread Man
Challenge children to build a bridge so the Gingerbread Man can cross the river safely.
They could use:
sticks
logs
crates
planks, if safe
stones
cardboard
fabric
blocks
natural loose parts
Ask:
How can he cross the river?
Is the bridge strong?
Is it long enough?
What could make it safer?
Will the fox still trick him?
This supports problem-solving, early STEM, teamwork and language.
3. Gingerbread Man Maths Hunt
Hide gingerbread shapes, number cards or gingerbread picture cards around the outdoor area.
Children can:
count how many they find
match numbers to quantities
sort by size
make groups of 2, 5 or 10
order gingerbread men from smallest to biggest
create simple repeating patterns
Try:
“Find 5 gingerbread men.”
“Put 3 by the river.”
“Can you make a big, small, big, small pattern?”
This supports counting, sorting, ordering, pattern and mathematical language.
4. Outdoor Gingerbread Man Mark-Making
Use the story to give children a reason to make marks.
Children could create:
“Stop!” signs
maps for the Gingerbread Man
wanted posters
speech bubbles
recipe marks
story labels
fox warning signs
river crossing signs
Use chalk, clipboards, large paper, cardboard, sticks in mud or water painting.
You could say:
“The Gingerbread Man needs a map so he knows where to run.”
This gives early writing a clear purpose.
5. Gingerbread Man Chase Game
Create a simple chasing and movement game inspired by the story.
One child or adult is the Gingerbread Man. The others are characters from the story. Instead of fast chasing, use safe EYFS movements.
Try:
walk like the cow
gallop like the horse
tiptoe like the fox
stomp like the old man
run safely to the river
freeze when the adult calls “river!”
Keep the game structured and safe with clear boundaries.
This supports gross motor skills, listening, turn-taking and story recall.
Outdoor Play Lanyards : Let’s Play Unicorns (Lanyards)
Gingerbread Man Activity for SEND Support
Calm Gingerbread Story Basket
Set up a quieter outdoor story basket with a small number of objects.
You could include:
one gingerbread man picture
one fox picture or toy
blue fabric for the river
a stick bridge
story sequence cards
a small tray
simple now-and-next visuals
Children can:
place the Gingerbread Man on the trail
move him over the river
match characters to pictures
repeat the key phrase
choose what happens next
build a small bridge
Use short, repeated language:
“Run, run.”
“Stop.”
“River.”
“Fox.”
“Bridge.”
“Safe.”
This can support:
communication
sequencing
sensory regulation
confidence
attention
predictable routines
story understanding
Children can respond through speech, gestures, pointing, symbols, movement or choosing objects.
Why Take The Gingerbread Man Outdoors?
The Gingerbread Man works brilliantly outdoors because the story is full of movement, repetition, characters and problem-solving.
Outdoor Gingerbread Man activities can help children:
retell a familiar story
use repeated language
sequence events
develop gross motor skills
practise counting and sorting
explore positional language
build and problem-solve
make purposeful marks
work with others
develop confidence in speaking
Outdoor learning makes the story physical, playful and memorable.
Useful EYFS Vocabulary
You can model and repeat key words throughout the activities.
Try:
run
fast
chase
river
bridge
fox
safe
cross
stop
first
next
last
over
under
behind
across
bigger
smaller
same
different
Repeated vocabulary helps children build confidence and join in with the story.
Outdoor Play: Let’s Play Emergency Services
Want Ready-to-Teach EYFS Outdoor Story Resources?
The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club helps busy teachers save planning time with:
ready-to-use EYFS outdoor activities
story-linked outdoor learning ideas
outdoor literacy and maths resources
SEND-friendly activities
seasonal and topic-based planning
simple ways to take learning outside
playful resources for Nursery and Reception
Make a start and download now with a 60-day free trial.
FAQs
What are good EYFS Gingerbread Man activities?
Good EYFS Gingerbread Man activities include story trails, bridge building, gingerbread maths hunts, outdoor mark-making, chase games, role-play and story sequencing activities.
How can I teach The Gingerbread Man outdoors?
You can teach The Gingerbread Man outdoors by creating a story trail, acting out the repeated phrase, building a bridge across a pretend river, using character cards and setting up movement-based retelling games.
What EYFS areas of learning does The Gingerbread Man support?
The Gingerbread Man can support communication and language, physical development, PSED, literacy, maths, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.
How can The Gingerbread Man support early literacy?
The story supports early literacy through repeated language, story sequencing, role-play, character talk, mark-making, maps, signs, speech bubbles and retelling.
How can The Gingerbread Man support outdoor maths?
The theme can support outdoor maths through counting gingerbread men, ordering by size, sorting characters, making patterns, using positional language and creating number trails.
Is The Gingerbread Man good for Nursery and Reception?
Yes. The Gingerbread Man is ideal for Nursery and Reception because it has repetition, simple characters, clear sequencing and lots of opportunities for movement and role-play.
Can Gingerbread Man activities support SEND learners?
Yes. Gingerbread Man activities can be adapted with story baskets, visual prompts, fewer characters, repeated language, clear routines, sensory resources and simple movement tasks.
What resources do I need for Gingerbread Man outdoor activities?
Useful resources include chalk, hoops, cones, story cards, gingerbread templates, blue fabric, sticks, stones, crates, clipboards, toy animals and natural loose parts.
How do I make story activities outdoors manageable?
Keep the activity short, use clear boundaries, choose one story focus at a time and repeat the same structure. A simple 10-minute story trail can be enough to create meaningful outdoor learning.
Ready for More EYFS Outdoor Learning Ideas?
If you want more simple, curriculum-linked outdoor learning ideas for Early Years, join The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club.
Make a start and download now with a 60-day free trial.
