Who's the Baker?

This activity is called "Who's the Baker?". I made this set about 15 years ago while I was student teaching. I had pulled the idea from a magazine and I would cite it, but I don't have any recollection of the source. The "Who's the Baker?" set is made up of pairs; each pair is a plastic cookie cutter (like the ones found at Michael's Craft Store) with a card stock "cookie" that has been traced, colored, cut and laminated for durability. The whole set can be individually sized to the number of plastic cookie cutters that you would like to use.

Ideas on how to use a "Who's the Baker?" set:

1. Circle Time or Story Time Activity: Pair this activity with a cookie oriented book such as Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington. Give each child a cookie cutter and store the "cookies" in a bag or basket. Pull out each cookie one at a time and ask, "Who's the baker?". Have the children look at the cookie and determine if the cookie matches the shape of their cookie cutter.
2. One on One or Small Group Matching Activity: Set out all the cookies on the floor in rows. Have each child one at a time choose a cookie and find its cookie cutter.
3. Songs and Rhymes: Either while the children are choosing the cookies during one of the other activities or as a separate activity, sing a song or rhyme based on the cookie cutter. For example, a sunshine cookie cutter might remind you of the song "Mr. Sun" or the teddy bear cookie cutter might remind you of "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around".
4. Play-doh or Baking: You can always use the cookie cutters with play-doh or with real cookie dough!

To create a "Who's the Baker?" set, you will need the following supplies:

• cookie cutters
• card stock
• markers and/or crayons
• scissors
• access to a laminating machine or clear contact paper

To make the set, trace each cookie cutter on card stock. Color and decorate the 'cookies' or you can have your children help you. Cut the shapes out and either laminate or cover in clear contact paper for durability.

While this activity isn't exclusively related to children's literacy, it lends itself well and can be teamed up with some great cookie or baking themed stories such as Walter the Baker by Eric Carle, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, and Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont.