Lessons & Activities on the Three Little Pigs

Teach math concepts through the story in many ways. The teacher could create a shopping list full of different items the pigs would need to build and furnish their homes and a price guidebook for those items. Students could then shop as though they are each of the pigs and estimate the cost for their homes. Older students could make blueprints for a home sturdy enough to withstand the blows of a wolf.

Students of various ages can use this story to understand sequencing. Younger kids can trace which house was blown on by the wolf first, second and third. Another idea is to put the story on sentence strips and have students reorganize the story in the correct order. Older students can analyze the story and determine what would happen next. In addition, ask students to write a sequel to the story that explains what each pig lived on to do.

An idea for teaching this story using point of view for younger children is to have them brainstorm what each pig would have been thinking about his brothers and their houses during the wolf-blowing incidents. Older children are often amused by the Jon Scieszka story "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs," as it is told from the point of view of the wolf. Discuss the original story and Scieszka's to determine how points of view are different. Ask students to write about whether the wolf is lying or telling the truth.

Students of all ages appreciate performing to their classmates and others, so use the story to create a dramatic retelling. Use art time to create puppets of each character using basic supplies. For example, create a wolf out of a paper bag and little pigs out of empty toilet-paper rolls. Have students write their own scripts or use a reader's theater script that is already written. Students could practice their skills at memorizing parts and public speaking while working on this project.

Use this story to teach skills of comparing and contrasting stories. Find different versions of the story, such as "Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig" by Eugene Trivizas or "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka. Have students create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the story variations.

Use the story to teach different elements of a story, especially to teach folk tales. Teach students to recognize the difference between folk tales and fairy tales by reading this story as well as one or two fairy tales or folk tales. Older students could enjoy the original versions of the story that were not meant for children, which usually include violence. Discuss reasons why folk tales used to be written this way and their purpose, then discuss their current role in society.