Three Little Pigs Houses

In the story “The Three Little Pigs,” the pigs build their homes in different ways. This experiment will help children understand why the wolf could blow down the straw house the easiest!

 

• Set out the materials, beginning with the straw (or grass). Ask children if they think they can make it move by blowing on it. Of course, this should be pretty easy to do.

 

• Following the straw, ask the child(ren) to try blowing the sticks. This of course will be more difficult than the straw house but should be doable. They may have to partner up though and blow together.

 

• Finally ask your child(ren) to try and blow the rocks, they should not be able to do this (or if they are it will at least be very difficult)!

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• So why couldn't the wolf blow down the house of brick? It was simply to heavy to blow with such a small gust of air!

 

• In order to extend this activity, ask the children to actually build houses made of each of these materials. Which materials are easiest to work with? What seems the sturdiest when you press on it? Can you put weight on each house and see which will hold?