Lets build a gingerbread house song

Making a gingerbread house together is one of the simple traditions that will build wonderful Christmas memories for you and your child. Whether you make it from scratch or from a kit, your little one will be delighted with the results, even if it is a bit lop-sided!

Lets build a gingerbread house song

(actions beneath the words)

Oh I really, really want to build a gingerbread house!

(make a pointed roof with both hands)

It could be a lovely home for a little mouse!

(make curly whiskers with fingers at cheeks)

We must make it stick together with some sugar glue,

(mime sticking action with clenched fists on top of one another)

And decorate with jelly beans that we can eat too!

(pretend to eat the jelly beans and rub tummy)

(sing to the tune of Miss Polly Had A Dolly)

Gingerbread House from our Kids’ Songs for Christmas series . It’s very easy to pick up as it borrows it’s tune from the well known song Miss Polly Had A Dolly, and if you’re not sure how it goes, have a listen to the chime bar clip above.

It’s a fun song to sing with the actions for toddlers as it’s so easy, and it’s the perfect song to sing while you’re making your gingerbread house together.

But if there isn’t time for baking, you could still make a lovely gingerbread collage together. Check out this one below made from fabric scraps and buttons. You could have loads of fun getting creative with the decorations!

Lets build a gingerbread house song

This song is based on the "Let's build a house" song. Ann wrote in to suggest it could also be used to do a gingerbread house lessons at Christmas, so here is a fully jingled up Christmas version for you!

How to teach ...

The easiest way is to simply show the kids some pictures of Gingerbread houses from Google then ask them to think how to make their own.

Or you could try the full lesson plan like we use with the "Let's build a house" song.

Part A - All together now ...

1. Write the phrase "My gingerbread house" on the top of the board. It doesn't matter if the kids can't read, it's just there as a visual anchor. Have it translated so the children understand what you are doing. To make it simple you could just tell them it means "a house made of candy"

2. Next ask them, again with translations, "So what do we need to build the house?"

3. Hopefully one child will come up with one thing. For example it might be a door or a window or something completely crazy!

4. Get the kid to draw it nice and big, and colourfully, on the board.

5. Teach the kids how to say this in English.

6. Ask "What else do we need?" and repeat from step 3.

After a while you'll have a very funky looking house on the board that everyone can admire. Run through all the English again. Take a digital camera shot of it if you like!

Lets build a gingerbread house song

Part B - My own house

Now give the kids the House Imagination Sheet. They have to come up with their own original new gingerbread house! You choose to either do it in groups or individually. You could just give the kids a blank sheet of paper, but the imagination sheet speeds things up a lot as there is at least something to start with.

Lets build a gingerbread house song

Part C - Confidence building

At the end of the class, or maybe in the next class, we want the kids to be able to present about their house. In order to get them confident enough to do this we use the song.

Simply teach the song acapella without the music using the A4 picture cards or software Mini Lesson if you have a computer in class. The key, as usual, is to gesture out each word as you say it.

Once the kids have got the hang out it, bring in the music really loud and the kids will love it, getting used to singing in big loud voices!

Part D - Say it out loud!

The final stage is to get the kids to come to the front and tell everyone about their own new gingerbread house. Big loud voices are the key here. This might run over into the next class, but is a very important part. Needless to say the kids love talking about their favourite candies!

Lets build a gingerbread house song

You can get this song in the Teacher's Set.

Recommended Game

Print out the special mini cards below.
1. Pick a card
2. Say "We need ... " plus whatever is missing on the card.
3. Get a point!

Lets build a gingerbread house song

Or use any of the Mini Card games with these cards.
They work great for balancing out mixed groups as you need not only the English skill but also the visual skills to figure out what is missing!