How could the gingerbread man cross the river if he did not want to get on the fox’s back? We have many different ways. In groups we discussed options for the gingerbread man, we chose one and designed it on a whiteboard. We then collected equipment from inside or outside and constructed our model. We tested it in water outside. 

Group 1: lightening struck a large tree and it fell across the river. The gingerbread man walked across the trunk.

Group 2: a Lego bridge.

Group 3: a bridge that opened when the gingerbread man crossed to stop the other characters running after him.

Group 4: stepping stones.

Group 5: a boat.

Group 6: lily pads to jump across.

During testing, the gingerbread man was able to cross the river using constructions from groups 1-5. Unfortunately when the gingerbread man stepped onto the leaf of group 6, he was too heavy and the leaf sank to the bottom of the river leaving the gingerbread man wet.