Byrd First Class Early Learning Center took a tour of the school Wednesday on a gingerbread man hunt. 

The past two weeks, Byrd teachers have been reading the tale of the Gingerbread Man to their students. But for four classes, that tale came to life Wednesday.

“They get to participate in the story, so it becomes real for them,” said Theresa Casey, K-4 teacher at Byrd. “I love it. It’s so exciting. The children’s’ eyes are so big and bright. They are so excited.”

Principal Carolyn Keasal read about the concept several years ago and has used it at other schools, but she decided to bring the idea to Byrd for the first time this year.

“The purpose is for the children to take a tour of the school and meet people like the secretary and the principal and their advocate,” Keasal said.

The students heard the end of the story that morning, and at the end of the book there was a clue as to where the gingerbread man was.

At each location, the children found another clue as to where the gingerbread man was headed next.

At each stop, they were introduced to a new staff member who read them the next clue. Eventually, they made their way to the kitchen where the gingerbread man had accidently fallen in the oven and baked.

Laughs could be heard when they saw the gingerbread man, and many were asking when they were going to get to eat him.

“It is like Christmas morning [when they find him],” Casey said. “They had a challenge and they have met the challenge and they got to do it themselves.”

Though it’s a fun activity, it’s also about encouraging the students to meet the different faculty members and learn the different rooms in the school that they walk the halls of every day.

“They are excited to learn about all the different places around the school,” Casey said. “It’s just a fabulous experience.”

The past two weeks, Byrd teachers have been reading the tale of the Gingerbread Man to their students. But for four classes, that tale came to life Wednesday.

“They get to participate in the story, so it becomes real for them,” said Theresa Casey, K-4 teacher at Byrd. “I love it. It’s so exciting. The children’s’ eyes are so big and bright. They are so excited.”

Principal Carolyn Keasal read about the concept several years ago and has used it at other schools, but she decided to bring the idea to Byrd for the first time this year.

“The purpose is for the children to take a tour of the school and meet people like the secretary and the principal and their advocate,” Keasal said.

The students heard the end of the story that morning, and at the end of the book there was a clue as to where the gingerbread man was.

At each location, the children found another clue as to where the gingerbread man was headed next.

At each stop, they were introduced to a new staff member who read them the next clue. Eventually, they made their way to the kitchen where the gingerbread man had accidently fallen in the oven and baked.

Laughs could be heard when they saw the gingerbread man, and many were asking when they were going to get to eat him.

“It is like Christmas morning [when they find him],” Casey said. “They had a challenge and they have met the challenge and they got to do it themselves.”

Though it’s a fun activity, it’s also about encouraging the students to meet the different faculty members and learn the different rooms in the school that they walk the halls of every day.

“They are excited to learn about all the different places around the school,” Casey said. “It’s just a fabulous experience.”