Three little pigs building houses

Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge

August 20, 2021 By Emma Vanstone 2 Comments

This Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge is a brilliant science experiment for learning about stability of structures and properties of materials. It’s great for Early Years Science age, but can also be extended for older children too.

If you like this, you might also like our Gingerbread Man science experiments.

We made six different types of Three Little Pig houses loosely based on the story.

Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge

Yoy’ll need

Sticks

Straws – plastic and paper

Marshmallows

Elastic bands

Cardboard

LEGO

Squeezy bottle or small fan to use as wind

Sugar cubes

Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge Instructions

In the classroom I set up 5 different areas with different materials for the house building and let the children explore each area.

Stick house

We talked about the properties of the stick which made it suitable for house building. The best sticks were quite smooth, without too many bumps and all a similar size.

Straw House

I bundled the straws up, to make them easier to build with and let the children work out the best way to put them together.

Sugar Cube House

This one was the most popular and kept the children occupied for a long time. You could extend this task by spraying the house with water once finished or sticking the cubes together with different materials, for example, icing sugar, marshmallow fluff or even just dampening the cubes to see if they stick that way.

Paper/Cardboard/Straw walls

I built a frame using LEGO and then cut paper and cardboard walls to test as well as a wall that could be built from straws. The children then used a squeezy bottle to blow “wind” onto the walls and observed what happened.

LEGO/Brick House

I built this LEGO house and left one side of the roof empty so the children could test sticks, ripped cardboard and the LEGO tiles to see which protected against the squeezy bottle wind the most. I placed some tissue paper squares inside the house so the effect of the wind was visible to the children.

Marshmallow and Straws

The children loved this one, but it did get a bit sticky and the houses are not very stable. Smaller, harder sweets and cocktail sticks might work better.

These FREE printable design sheets might be handy too!

Three Little Pigs House Design Sheets

Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge Extension Tasks

Try spraying each house with water and observing what happens. Can you make predictions first?

Can you test how stable the houses are by giving them a shake?

Which other materials could you build a house from?

Suitable for Early Learning Goal 16

Exploring and using media and materials

They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

Key Stage 1

Everyday Materials

Uses of Everyday Materials

Working Scientifically

Last Updated on August 20, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

The Three Little Pigs Houses

[en español]

Materials you will need for all the houses are

the top of a milk carton (adults should cut the top off for the kids) or use a single serving carton and you won't need to cut it,
scissors,
tape or glue,
a marker
OPTIONAL: brown paper (we used cut up paper bags)

STRAW HOUSE (three different options of materials):

some sort of straw. .. We used packing material, you could also use raffia or dried weeds from outside (this is great fun to collect on a nature walk),

OR
use yellow tissue paper or crepe paper, cut into 4 or 5 inch strips. Twist the strips of it into pieces of straw (just roll/crunch them between your palms, like making snakes out of playdough)
OR
use the Straw Template I've provided. Just cut the sheet into pieces to fit around your house.

WOOD HOUSE (three different options of materials):

some sort of twigs... Use popsicle sticks, toothpicks or real twigs from outside (this is also great fun to collect on a nature walk),

OR
Roll pieces of paper bag around a straw and tape/glue to make logs or use newspaper to make your logs and then paint them brown. For more detailed directions, see the instructions for Abe Lincoln's cabin.
OR
use the Wood Template I've provided. Just cut the sheet into pieces to fit around your house.

BRICK HOUSE:

Suggestion from Nicole, one of our viewers: One idea I had for making the bricks on the brick house was to cut a sponge into a square and dip it in tempera paint, then sponge the bricks on the milk carton top.
Suggestion from Jean, one of our viewers: I have just printed the sheets for the "Three Little Pigs" story and I have a suggestion for the brick house, I plan to use legos.

OR
use the Brick Template I've provided. Just cut the sheet into pieces to fit around your house.

CORK PIG:

Tasha (age 6) insisted that the toilet paper roll pig and pig paper bag puppet weren't good because the pig wouldn't be able to get in the front door of the house (unlike her big sister, this fact did not bother Kaitlyn - age 2 - in the least. She was quite happy with a tiny house and a big paper bag pig puppet to go with it).
Anyways, Tasha made this craft up and I thought I'd share it with you quickly, just in case you have children who are aware of proportion, too!
Take a cork from a wine bottle and paint it pink or wrap it in pink construction paper.
Cut out a white paper snout (or use a white dried bean), white paper eyes (or use googly eyes) and pink triangle ears (pink construction paper or colour white paper with a pink marker)
Glue all this to the head.
Cut out a spiral tail (cut a pink circle and then cut it in a spiral shape) Glue the tail to the back.
Glue 4 beads or 4 dried beans to the bottom as legs. (arrange the legs on a piece of paper, put glue on top of them and set the pig on top of the glue... This is lots easier than putting the glue on the pig and trying to stick the legs on).

I'm assuming your container has been opened at some point... Staple or tape the part that you opened closed again.
Cover your house with paper.
- We used brown paper bag, cut it in a long strip the width of our carton and wrapped it around the carton.
- We then taped it (you could glue).
- You could use white paper instead.
Draw a door on the house (and windows if you want) with a marker
Apply glue on one side of the house. Glue your chosen material/template piece onto the side.
Do this with all the sides.

Cut a piece of brown (or white paper) to be a roof size (ours was about 8 inches x 5 inches for a 2L carton, but it will differ depending on whether you use a 2L, 1L or single serving carton).
Fold your roof down the middle and then unfold again.
Cover your roof (top) with the chosen material/template piece. You can actually use a different kind of roof material if you want to.
Put glue on the top of your carton and carefully place your roof on top.

OPTIONAL:

You can take a sheet of cardboard (one panel from an empty cereal box will work well) and glue your house to it.
Add ground:
- Cover the cardboard with grass (wadded up bits of tissue paper or construction work well for this)
  or
- make a fall scene by adding a few bits of orange/red/yellow tissue paper or construction paper leaves
  or
- make a winter scene with cotton balls.
Add trees:
- Take pinecones, paint green (if you want) and glue to the scene as trees.
  or
- Take a twig. Cut bits of green (or fall coloured) paper and glue to the twig as leaves. Make a mound of playdough or cut a smidge of floral foam and glue it on the cardboard and stick your twig in it.
Make a path from small pebbles or sand (apply glue to the cardboard and pour sand/pebbles over top. Let dry and then go outside and gently tip is over to remove excess).
Add a cork pig if you like.

Templates:

Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

Straw Template

Wood Template

Brick Template

Print friendly version of these instructions

Fairy tale Three little pigs - read online

Once upon a time there were three little pigs in the world. Three brothers.

All the same height, round, pink, with the same funny ponytails. Even their names were similar. The piglets were called: Nif-Nif, Nuf-Nuf and Naf-Naf.

All summer they tumbled in the green grass, basked in the sun, basked in the puddles.

But autumn has come.

The sun was not so hot anymore, gray clouds stretched over the yellowed forest.

- It's time for us to think about winter, - Naf-Naf once said to his brothers, waking up early in the morning. - I'm shivering from the cold. We may catch a cold. Let's build a house and winter together under one warm roof.

But his brothers didn't want to take the job. It is much more pleasant to walk and jump in the meadow on the last warm days than to dig the earth and carry heavy stones.

- We'll make it! Winter is still far away. We'll take a walk, - said Nif-Nif and rolled over his head.

— When necessary, I will build a house for myself, — said Nuf-Nuf and lay down in a puddle.

“Me too,” added Nif-Nif.

- Well, as you wish. Then I will build my own house, - said Naf-Naf. “I won't wait for you.

It was getting colder and colder every day. But Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf were in no hurry. They didn't even want to think about work. They were idle from morning to evening. All they did was play their pig games, jump and roll.

“Today we will take a walk,” they said, “and tomorrow morning we will get down to business.

But the next day they said the same thing.
And only when a large puddle by the road began to be covered with a thin crust of ice in the morning, the lazy brothers finally got to work.

Nif-Nif decided that it would be easier and most likely to make a house out of straw. Without consulting anyone, he did just that. By evening, his hut was ready.

Nif-Nif put the last straw on the roof and, very pleased with his house, sang merrily:

You can get around half the world,
Get around, get around,
You won't find a better home,
You won't find it, you won't find it!

Singing this song, he went to Nuf-Nuf.

Nuf-Nuf was also building a house not far away. He tried to finish this boring and uninteresting business as soon as possible. At first, like his brother, he wanted to build a house out of straw. But then I decided that it would be very cold in such a house in winter. The house will be stronger and warmer if it is built from branches and thin rods.

So he did.
He drove stakes into the ground, intertwined them with rods, heaped dry leaves on the roof, and by evening the house was ready.

Nuf-Nuf proudly walked around him several times and sang:

I have a good house,
New home, solid home,
I'm not afraid of rain and thunder,
Rain and thunder, rain and thunder!

Before he could finish the song, Nif-Nif ran out from behind a bush.

— Well, your house is ready! - said Nif-Nif to his brother. "I told you we'd get it over with quickly!" Now we are free and can do whatever we want!

— Let's go to Naf-Naf and see what kind of house he built for himself! - said Nuf-Nuf. "We haven't seen him in a long time!"

— Let's go and see! Nif-Nif agreed.

And both brothers, very pleased that they did not have to worry about anything else, disappeared behind the bushes.

Naf-Naf has been busy building for several days now. He dragged stones, kneaded clay, and now slowly built himself a reliable, durable house in which one could hide from wind, rain and frost.

He made a heavy oak door with a bolt in the house so that the wolf from the neighboring forest could not climb up to him.

Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf found their brother at work.

— What are you building? - the surprised Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf shouted in one voice.

— Is it a pig house or a fortress?

— Piglet's house should be a fortress! Naf-Naf calmly answered them, continuing to work.

— Are you going to fight with someone? Nif-Nif grunted merrily and winked at Nuf-Nuf.

And both brothers were so merry that their squeals and grunts carried far across the lawn.

And Naf-Naf, as if nothing had happened, continued to lay the stone wall of his house, humming a song under his breath

I, of course, am smarter than everyone else,
Smarter than everyone, smarter than everyone!
I build a house from stones,
From stones, from stones!
No animal in the world,
Cunning Beast, Scary Beast,
Will not break through this door,
Through this door, through this door!

— What animal is he talking about? - Nif-Nif asked Nuf-Nif.

— What animal are you talking about? - Nuf-Nuf asked Naf-Naf.

- I'm talking about the wolf! - answered Naf-Naf and laid another stone.

- Look how afraid he is of the wolf! - said Nif-Nif.

- He's afraid of being eaten! - added Nuf-Nuf.

And the brothers cheered even more.

- What kind of wolves can be here? - said Nif-Nif.

- There are no wolves! He's just a coward! - added Nuf-Nuf.

And they both began to dance and sing:

We are not afraid of the gray wolf,
Gray wolf, gray wolf!
Where do you go, stupid wolf,
Old wolf, dire wolf?

They wanted to tease Naf-Naf, but he didn't even turn around.

- Let's go, Nuf-Nif, - said then Nif-Nif. “We have nothing to do here!

And two brave brothers went for a walk. On the way they sang and danced, and when they entered the forest, they made such a noise that they woke up the wolf, who was sleeping under a pine tree.

— What's that noise? - the angry and hungry wolf grumbled with displeasure and galloped to the place where the squealing and grunting of two small, stupid pigs could be heard.

- Well, what kind of wolves can be here! - said at that time Nif-Nif, who saw wolves only in pictures.

- Here we will grab him by the nose, he will know! added Nuf-Nuf, who also had never seen a live wolf.

And the brothers rejoiced again and sang:

We are not afraid of the gray wolf,
Gray wolf, gray wolf!
Where do you go, stupid wolf,
Old wolf, dire wolf?
And suddenly they saw a real live wolf!

He stood behind a large tree, and he had such a terrible look, such evil eyes and such a toothy mouth that a chill ran down Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf's backs and thin tails trembled finely, finely. The poor pigs couldn't even move for fear.

The wolf got ready to jump, snapped his teeth, blinked his right eye, but the piglets suddenly came to their senses and, squealing throughout the forest, rushed to their heels. They have never run so fast before! Sparkling with their heels and raising clouds of dust, the piglets each rushed to their home.

Nif-Nif was the first to reach his thatched hut and barely managed to slam the door in front of the wolf's very nose.

— Unlock the door now! the wolf growled. “Or else I’ll break it!”

— No, — grunted Nif-Nif, — I won't unlock it!

The breath of a terrible beast was heard outside the door.

— Unlock the door now! the wolf growled again. “Otherwise I’ll blow so hard that your whole house will fly apart!”

But Nif-Nif, out of fear, could no longer answer anything.

Then the wolf began to blow: “F-f-f-w-w-w!”.

Straws flew from the roof of the house, the walls of the house shook.

The wolf took another deep breath and blew a second time: “F-f-f-w-w-w!”. When the wolf blew for the third time, the house was blown in all directions, as if it had been hit by a hurricane. The wolf snapped his teeth in front of the little piglet's snout. But Nif-Nif deftly dodged and rushed to run. A minute later he was already at the door of Nuf-Nuf.

As soon as the brothers locked themselves in, they heard the wolf's voice:

— Well, now I'll eat you both!

Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf looked at each other in fear. But the wolf was very tired and therefore decided to go for a trick.

- I changed my mind! he said so loudly that he could be heard in the house. “I won’t eat those skinny piglets!” I better go home!

Did you hear? - Nif-Nif asked Nuf-Nif. He said he won't eat us! We are skinny!

- This is very good! - Nuf-Nuf said and immediately stopped trembling.

The brothers became cheerful and sang as if nothing had happened:

We are not afraid of the gray wolf,
Gray wolf, gray wolf!
Where do you go, stupid wolf,
Old wolf, dire wolf?

And the wolf didn't even think of going anywhere. He just stepped aside and hunkered down. He was very funny. He had a hard time keeping himself from laughing. How cleverly he deceived two stupid little pigs!
When the pigs were completely calm, the wolf took the sheep's skin and cautiously crept up to the house. At the door, he covered himself with skin and knocked softly.

Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf were very frightened when they heard the knock.

Who is there? they asked, their tails shaking again.

- It's me-me-me - poor little sheep! the wolf squeaked in a thin, alien voice. - Let me spend the night, I strayed from the herd and very tired!

— Let me in? the good Nif-Nif asked his brother.

- You can let the sheep go! Nuf-Nuf agreed. - A sheep is not a wolf!

But when the pigs opened the door, they saw not a sheep, but the same toothy wolf. The brothers slammed the door and leaned on it with all their might so that the terrible beast could not break into them.

The wolf is very angry. He failed to outsmart the pigs! He threw off his sheepskin and growled:

— Well, wait a minute! There will be nothing left of this house!
And he began to blow. The house leaned a little. The wolf blew a second, then a third, then a fourth time.

Leaves were falling from the roof, the walls were trembling, but the house was still standing.

And only when the wolf blew for the fifth time did the house stagger and fall apart. Only one door still stood for some time in the middle of the ruins.

The pigs ran away in terror. Their legs were paralyzed with fear, every bristle trembled, their noses were dry. The brothers rushed to the house of Naf-Naf.

The wolf overtook them with huge leaps.

Once he almost grabbed Nif-Nif by the hind leg, but he pulled it back in time and added speed.

The wolf also pressed on. He was sure that this time the piglets would not run away from him.
But again, he was out of luck.

The piglets quickly rushed past a large apple tree without even hitting it. But the wolf did not have time to turn and ran into an apple tree, which showered him with apples.

One hard apple hit him between the eyes. A large lump jumped up on the wolf's forehead.

And Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf, neither alive nor dead, ran up to the house of Naf-Naf at that time.

Brother quickly let them into the house. The poor piglets were so frightened that they could not say anything. They silently rushed under the bed and hid there. Naf-Naf immediately guessed that a wolf was chasing them. But he had nothing to fear in his stone house. He quickly bolted the door, sat down on a stool himself, and sang loudly:0003

No animal in the world,
Cunning Beast, Scary Beast,
Will not open this door,
This door, this door!
But just then there was a knock on the door.

Who is knocking? Naf-Naf asked in a calm voice.

- Open without talking! came the rough voice of the wolf.

- No matter how! And I don't think so! - Naf-Naf answered in a firm voice.

- Oh, yes! Well, hold on! Now I'll eat all three!

- Try it! - answered Naf-Naf from behind the door, not even getting up from his stool. He knew that he and his brothers had nothing to fear in a solid stone house.

Then the wolf sucked in more air and blew as hard as he could! But no matter how much he blew, not even the smallest stone moved.

The wolf turned blue from the effort.

The house stood like a fortress. Then the wolf began to shake the door. But the door didn't budge either.

The wolf, out of anger, began to scratch the walls of the house with his claws and gnaw at the stones from which they were built, but he only broke off his claws and ruined his teeth. The hungry and angry wolf had no choice but to get out.

But then he raised his head and suddenly noticed a large, wide chimney on the roof.

- Yeah! Through this pipe I will make my way into the house! the wolf rejoiced.

He carefully climbed onto the roof and listened. The house was quiet.

“I'm still going to have a bite of fresh piglet today,” thought the wolf, and after licking his lips, climbed into the pipe.

But as soon as he began to descend the pipe, the piglets heard a rustle.

And when soot began to fall on the lid of the boiler, smart Naf-Naf immediately guessed what was the matter.

He quickly rushed to the cauldron in which water was boiling on fire and tore off the lid.

- Welcome! - said Naf-Naf and winked at his brothers.

Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf have already completely calmed down and, smiling happily, looked at their smart and brave brother.

The piglets did not have to wait long. Black as a chimney sweep, the wolf flopped right into the boiling water.

Never before had he been in so much pain!

His eyes popped out on his forehead, all his hair stood on end.

With a wild roar, the scalded wolf flew into the chimney back to the roof, rolled down it to the ground, rolled four times over his head, rode his tail past the locked door and rushed into the forest.

And the three brothers, the three little pigs, looked after him and rejoiced that they had taught the evil robber so cleverly.

And then they sang their cheerful song:
At least you will go around half the world,
Get around, get around,
You won't find a better home,
You won't find it, you won't find it!
No animal in the world,
Cunning Beast, Scary Beast,
Will not open this door,
This door, this door!
The wolf from the forest never,
Never never
Will not return to us here,
To us here, to us here!
Since then, the brothers began to live together, under the same roof.
That's all we know about the three little pigs - Nif-Nif, Nuf-Nuf and Naf-Naf.

Riddles about the three little pigs | Riddles based on fairy tales | Riddles

The brothers know a lot about work,
A wolf will not be able to get into the house.
(Three little pigs)

All summer they had fun, played,
And autumn came, they began to build houses,
The wolf demolished two houses - they all took refuge in one,
And the three of them lived together in that house.
(Three little pigs)

Fat brothers lived,
All three noses are snouts.
The older brother is smarter than everyone,
He built the house from stones.
Answer guys,
Who are those brothers? ….
(Three little pigs)

"We are not afraid of the gray wolf,
The gray wolf - clicks with its teeth"
This song was sung loudly
Three funny ... are not afraid,
Because that beast of prey
Will not destroy a brick house.
(Three Little Pigs)

- We are not afraid of the gray wolf,
Gray wolf, gray wolf,
Where do you go, stupid wolf,
Old wolf, bad wolf?
(Piglets from the school of S.Mikhalkov "Three little pigs")

Go around half the world,
Go around, go around,
It's easier not to find home,
Not to be found, not to be found!
Building a house out of grass
Piglet … Nif-Nif!
Even though the terrible, scary beast
did not burst through the door.
But he broke the house from the rods,
He flew somersault.
This house is a pity to whom?
Piglet ... Nuf-Nuf!
He, of course, is smarter than everyone,
Smarter than everyone, smarter than everyone.
He builds a house from stones,
From stones, from stones.
What's everyone's name, huh?
Piglet... Naf-Naf!
This is an easy question for a child.
heroes were called what? — … !
(Three little pigs)
Author: Irina Baty

A village in the forest —
three brothers were building.
Watched the wolf with interest,
as they quarreled.
I decided to eat them, but it did not work out -
just climbed onto the roof in vain.
Barely feet the wolf carried away
singeing his gray tail.
Singing a song loudly
having fun ... .
(Three Little Pigs)
Author: Blinnikova Marina

Oink-oink-oink - what three brothers
No more fear of the wolf,
Because that beast of prey
Won't destroy a brick house?
(Three little pigs)

Three brothers are building a house together,
It will be warm and cozy in it.
The brothers know a lot about work,
The wolf will not be able to get into the house.
(Three little pigs)

Fat brothers lived,
All three noses are snouts.
The older brother is smarter than everyone,
He built the house from stones.
Answer guys
Who are those brothers? ….
(Three Little Pigs)

Who didn't want to work,
Did he play and sing songs?
To the third brother then
We ran to a new house!
Saved from the cunning wolf,
But for a long time the tails were shaking!
The fairy tale is known to any child,
And it is called ... .
(Three little pigs)

The toothy wolf is not afraid of us,
The walls in our house are strong.
In this house, the older brother
was glad to shelter the younger ones.
(Three Little Pigs)

Round nose, snout,
It is convenient for them to dig in the ground,
A small crochet tail,
Hooves instead of shoes.