A gingerbread theme is great before Christmas! Today, I have free gingerbread cutting strips for you with seven gingerbread-themed photographs and a second page of more advanced cutting strips. The second page can be used for tracing as well. As usual, the free gingerbread cutting strips are an instant download and very easy to prepare.
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Montessori-Inspired Printables at Living Montessori Now
My daughter, Chrissy (a former Montessori child), and I are partnering to bring you a series of Montessori-inspired printables. (Note: Chrissy has some sweet, themed, free kids’ fitness printables that are great for homes or classrooms!)
The printables are typically themed and use a number of Montessori principles (although you don’t need to be a Montessori teacher or homeschooler to use them). The cutting strips use photographs or realistic images to emphasize reality. These cutting strips have seven gingerbread-themed photographs on the first page and a photograph of a gingerbread man on the second page.
Preschoolers love to learn proper terminology, so I tell you the name of the objects or animals featured whenever I can. I list what each photo is on the credits page.
Free Gingerbread Cutting Strips
To download, click here and then click on the file image in the upper right corner of the PDF to save to your computer (just choose where you want it saved).
Note: Go to the bottom of the post for free cutting strips for a wide variety of themes!
Montessori-Inspired Activity Using the Gingerbread Cutting Strips
Gingerbread Cutting Strips
Cutting skills are so important for preschoolers. Two year olds can begin working on them, too. When children are first working on cutting skills, they’ll have an easier time cutting cardstock than paper. So, in the beginning, I recommend printing the strips on cardstock. Printer paper is fine for children with more advanced cutting skills.
I’m not sure where I got the basket, although the small Multicraft tray would work, too. I’ve always liked Fiskar scissors for kids, which are sharp enough to cut paper easily. I added a gingerbread man from our gingerbread unit for interest.
For home use with the cutting work, I like to have a small container to catch the paper scraps. I used a small wooden box we had, although you could use any small container. For younger children, I recommend keeping the basket or tray up out of reach when it’s not being used.
For classroom use, you might want to use Ziplock bags to catch the scraps. Children have fun taking their scraps home in a bag … or saving them to paste onto a collage.
More Gingerbread Resources
Free Gingerbread Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Gingerbread Unit
Free Decorate Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
You’ll find lots of free gingerbread printables and activities in my Free Gingerbread Printables and Montessori-Inspired Gingerbread Activities
There are a number of free gingerbread printables and activities in my Montessori-Inspired Christmas Language Activities and Free Christmas Printables.
A Montessori-inspired gingerbread activity that’s simple to prepare but doesn’t use a printable: Montessori-Inspired Christmas Gingerbread Man Fine-Motor Activity or Craft.
Free Gingerbread Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
More Christmas Resources
You’ll find lots and lots of Christmas activities of all kinds in my post with hundreds of December holiday activities for kids.
Montessori-Inspired Gingerbread Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
The Best Way to Begin Working on Scissor Cutting Skills
Even before using cutting strips, I recommend using an easier object to cut, such as strings of beads. You’ll find lots of tips and ideas for teaching scissor skills in my post on developing scissor cutting skills with Montessori-inspired activities.
More Montessori-Inspired Paper Cutting Activities
You’ll find ideas for home and classroom setups in my post on Montessori-inspired paper cutting activities.
All Our Free Themed Cutting Strips
I’ve arranged the following gallery in alphabetical order. Just click on an image to go to the post with the related free printable!
You can see all our free cutting strips with the latest at the top here.
I hope your child (or students) enjoys using the cutting strips. 🙂
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