Sometimes, the easy way is not always the best way. This is the famous tale of three brothers, and how hard work and good planning are what ultimately save us from danger.
The Three Little Pigs
Once upon a time, a mother pig had three little pigs: Silas, who was lazy and loved to play; Woody, who was always in a hurry; and Brock, who was hardworking and wise. One day, their mother told them, "You are all grown up now, and it is time for you to go out into the world and build your own houses."
Silas, the first pig, met a man with a bundle of straw. "Give me that straw so I can build my house quickly and go play!" said Silas. He built a house of straw in just an hour.
Soon, the Big Bad Wolf came by and knocked on the door. "Little pig, little pig, let me come in!" The pig cried, "No, not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!" The wolf said, "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" He gave one mighty puff, and the straw house blew away. Silas ran away to his brother's house as fast as he could.
Woody, the second pig, had built his house out of sticks. Silas arrived, panting for breath. Moments later, the wolf arrived and said, "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" And with a great puff, the house of sticks came crashing down. The two pigs ran as fast as they could to their brother Brock's house.
Brock had spent a long time building a strong house out of red bricks. When his two frightened brothers arrived, he told them, "Don't worry, my house is strong."
The wolf arrived, very angry. "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll huff and I'll puff!" He blew and blew until his face turned blue, but the brick house didn't move an inch.
The clever wolf realized he had to find another way in, so he decided to climb down the chimney. But the three clever pigs heard him climbing on the roof. Quickly, they placed a big pot of boiling water in the fireplace, right under the chimney.
When the wolf slid down, he fell right into the pot! He howled in pain and shot back up the chimney like a rocket, running far away into the forest, never to return. And the three little pigs lived happily and safely ever after in the strong house of bricks.
🎯 Enrichment & Learning
Values and Lessons Learned
- Hard work pays off: The pig who worked hard and built his house carefully was the one who was able to protect himself and his brothers.
- Shortcuts can be dangerous: Trying to finish a job quickly with weak materials (straw and sticks) led to disaster.
- Plan for the future: It is wise to build a strong foundation to face future challenges (like the wolf).
- Brains can beat brawn: The wolf couldn't knock the house down with force, but the pigs defeated him with clever planning (the pot trap).
Comprehension Questions
- What materials did each of the three pigs use to build their houses?
- What did the wolf say before he tried to blow the houses down?
- Which house could the wolf not blow down?
- How did the wolf try to get into the brick house in the end?
- How did the pigs defeat the wolf?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Why do you think the first two pigs chose easy building materials?
- Was it a good thing that the pigs worked together in the end? What does this teach us about teamwork?
- What do you think the wolf learned from this experience?
Practical Application Questions
- Think of a project you had to do (at school or home). Was it better to do it quickly, or to take your time and do it well?
- How can you and your siblings or friends work together to solve a problem?
- What does it mean to "build a strong foundation" in your own life (in learning or friendships)?
🎨 Interactive Content
Fun Activities
- Building Challenge: Using different materials (playing cards for straw, popsicle sticks for sticks, and LEGO bricks for bricks), try to build three small houses. Use a fan or blow on them to see which is strongest.
- Role-Playing: Act out the scenes with the wolf and each of the three pigs.
- Drawing Game: Draw the three different houses and the wolf trying to blow them down.