Looking for a fun and easy December STEM challenge for kids? Try building a Gingerbread Man Trap! This hands-on engineering activity pairs perfectly with the classic story The Gingerbread Man and gives kids an exciting way to design, test, and improve their own trap. Use simple supplies, printable planning sheets, and creative thinking to try to “catch” the runaway cookie.
What Is a Gingerbread Man Trap?
This holiday STEM activity works well in the classroom, a makerspace, or at home—and it’s a great addition to any gingerbread theme. You can give it a Christmas theme or keep it as a neutral winter theme. Grades: K–2 (easily adaptable for 3–5)
In the traditional tale The Gingerbread Man, the cookie runs away, repeating the famous line, “Run, run, as fast as you can…” Kids LOVE the chase, which makes this story the perfect setup for an engineering challenge.
A gingerbread man trap is a simple device or structure that kids design and build to try to catch the gingerbread man. They plan their idea, choose materials, test their trap, and redesign as needed—just like real engineers.
🔎 Explore the engineering design process here with free printables! Problem-solving, Early engineering, Simple machines, Cause and effect, Recording results, and Creative thinking.
Gingerbread Man Trap Printable Pack
Use the free printable pages to make the activity even easier. The pack includes:
STEM Supplies & Tools Lists (Page 2)
A kid-friendly list of suggested materials, such as craft sticks, cardboard boxes, tape, yarn, pipe cleaners, paper cups, LED candles, marbles, cotton balls, and more.
💡 This is a fantastic opportunity to use what you have on hand! Look through the recycling bin and pick up a few themed items at the dollar store to create a tinker tray.
STEM Challenge Data & Results Sheet (Page 3)
Kids plan their trap idea, test it, and reflect on what worked and what didn’t.
How to Catch a Gingerbread Man Writing Activity (Page 4)
A First/Next/Then/Last writing organizer for sequencing and retelling.
Disguise a Gingerbread Man Template (Page 5)
Kids decorate a disguise so the gingerbread man can hide from the fox or blend in.
Gingerbread Trap Signs (Page 6)
Cute printable signposts like “Gumdrop Garden” and “Follow the Frosting Trail!” to add to the trap.
How to Build a Gingerbread Man Trap
Step 1: Read the Story
Start with The Gingerbread Man (traditional tale).
Talk about why everyone wanted to catch him and how clever he was.
Step 2: Plan Your Trap
Use the STEM planning sheet to sketch or describe the idea.
Kids consider questions like:
- How will the gingerbread man be lured in?
- What happens when he steps inside?
- Will the trap use a ramp, a lever, a door, or a string mechanism?
💡 Kids love to use graph paper! Encourage older kids to label the trap’s parts and consider adding measurements!
Step 3: Build Your Trap
Use craft sticks, cardboard, cups, yarn, and anything else you have.
Encourage kids to think creatively—there’s no wrong way to build a trap.
Ideas include:
- A drop-down door
- A funnel that leads to a “gingerbread safe room.”
- A bridge that collapses
- A box propped open with a stick and string
- A glowing “bait path” using LED lights
Let kids experiment and add the printable trap signs for decoration.
Step 4: Test It Out
Use a gingerbread cookie (yum – add the dissolving experiment) or a cutout to test the trap.
Step 5: Record the Results
Kids fill out the STEM Results Sheet: what worked, what didn’t, and what they learned.
Step 6: Redesign
Engineers improve their designs! Encourage kids to rebuild or redesign based on what happened. This is great if you have time, but it is optional. Instead, you can discuss what they might do differently next time using our questions for reflection.
💡 Kids learn that engineers test ideas, solve problems, and improve their designs. They also explore how gravity, balance, tension, and structure all affect the trap’s success.
Extension Activities
- Gingerbread Man Writing Activity: Use the First/Next/Then/Last organizer to explain how the trap works.
- Disguise a Gingerbread Man: Decorate the printable template to help the gingerbread man hide from the fox.
- Add a Simple Machine: Incorporate a pulley, lever, or ramp into your trap.
- Story Retell: Have kids retell or act out the story using their trap.
Free Gingerbread Man Trap STEM Printable
Download this free STEM challenge to get started right away!
Related STEM Activities
🔎 Explore all of our Gingerbread STEM Activities here.
- Christmas STEM Projects
- Winter Science and STEM Experiments
- DIY STEAM Ornaments
- Paper Gingerbread House
Printable Christmas Project Packs
Visit our SHOP for easy-to-print art, holiday, STEM, and science lesson plans for the whole year. Or join us in the Little Bins Club.
