Do a 3 Little Pigs STEM challenge! Build houses out of straw, sticks and stone, then huff and puff and blow them down! Do it over and over again!
My preschooler LOVES the story of the 3 Little Pigs. Each time we read it, she marvels at the pigs’ ingenuity to build a house that even a wolf can’t get past! We decided to read the story and develop a 3 Little Pigs STEM challenge to go along with it. We built and blew down houses of straw, stick and stone. Learning can be so fun!
In addition to this STEM challenge, check out our set of 3 Little Pig story stones to play with as well.
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Set Up Your 3 Little Pigs STEM Challenge
Hunt in your backyard for most of these items! Even if you can find exactly straw, sticks or bricks, find items that are related and that represent these materials. For example, maybe some dried grass could represent straw, and any kind of concrete block or large stone can represent the house of bricks.
What you need for the 3 Little Pigs STEM setup
Straw
Sticks
Stone
How to Set Up the 3 Little Pigs STEM Challenge
Go on a nature hunt for your materials! We gathered some dry grass as our straw, some sticks from the ground, and some patio stones as our bricks.
Place all of the items on the tray and start reading!
As the first pig builds a house out of straw, your little one can do the same. My 1 and 3 year old just piled some of the dried grass into a lump and started huffing and puffing to blow it down. They quickly found that the straw scattered easily and their house was destroyed!
Next, as the second little pig build a house of sticks, my 3 year old strategically build a house of sticks stacked like the Jenga game. They found that this was a bit sturdier, they were not able to blow it over, however, it only took a quick poke for their house to come crashing down.
Lastly, they stacked a couple of large patio stones to represent the brick house. No matter how hard they huffed and puffed, that house didn’t budge!
Horray! This was such a successful STEM Challenge for them! We talked about weight and what makes a structure sturdy. We did this over and over again, reading and huffing.
I hope you have just as much fun as we did with this 3 Little Pigs STEM challenge!
Check out more STEM Challenges that we have done!
See some activities inspired by nursery rhymes from the VBC co-hosts:
Five Little Ducks Counting and Story Retelling Activity – To Be A Kid Again
Hickory Dickory Dock Clock Play- Teach Beside Me
Humpty Dumpty Egg Sensory Bin – My Storytime Corner
Rainstorm Art Project (Rain, Rain Go Away) – Preschool Powol Packets
I’m A Little Teapot Pour Painting- Toddler Approved
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