This activity is intended to connect Multiplication and Division fact family equations to coordinating word problems.
Materials:
Gingerbread Man - Large ~ I used the large gingerbread die cut pattern.
Gingerbread Men - Small ~ 4 per student.
Small Circles ~ 3 per student - I used red and green
Large ledger sized grey construction paper - "Cookie Sheet"

1. First, give each student a set of 4 word problems. Have them identify the fact family their word problems are related to.
2. Make the Fact Family Gingerbread Man
~ Glue on the 3 colored buttons, and write one of the numbers for the fact family on each one
~ On each of the arms, write one of the two multiplication equations that is true for that fact family.
~ On each of the legs, write one of the two division equations that is is true for that fact family.
3. Make the Word Problem Gingerbread Men
~Glue one word problem to the tummy of each small gingerbread man.
4. Put it all together
~Using the large grey paper as the cookie sheet, have them lay out their cookies with the large gingerbread man in the middle. Then, put a word problem gingerbread man in each corner so that it is next to the equation that you would use to solve the question.

Note: Due to the commutative property of multiplication, the two multiplication word problems can be put in either place. The division problems have a specific place they can go. This is a great conversation to have when discussing why. Also, one of the division word problem is a shared equally example, and the other is a repeated subtraction example. It does not effect the finished product, but could also be a good conversation.


I have included the Publisher file that I created the word problems in so that you can change the names if you want to from Miss Webb. Each problem is about gingerbread cookies, and I tried to make a mix of the facts used. There are enough word problem sets that there are 12 different fact families. I have a pdf version if you cannot open a publisher file.
The problems are grouped together in columns of 4 word problems that would all go to one student. There are 3 sets on each page.