Huff, puff, and let the fun begin with these exciting Three Little Pigs activities for EYFS! This classic tale is perfect for helping children explore teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, all while hitting their EYFS Early Learning Goals.
Let’s jump into some hands-on, playful learning!
Blossom’s Recommended Three Little Pigs Activities for Early Years:
Activity 1: Build the Pigs’ Houses
Provide materials like straw, sticks, and small bricks, along with glue or tape, for children to recreate the pigs’ houses. Encourage them to experiment with building techniques and test which house is the strongest. Add a toy wolf to “blow” the houses down for extra fun!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Understanding the World
- The Natural World:
- Explore the materials (straw, wood, bricks) and their properties.
- Past and Present:
- Discuss how houses are built now compared to the pigs’ homes.
- The Natural World:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Children use their imagination to design and construct houses.
- Being Imaginative and Expressive:
- Role-play with the wolf and pigs enhances creativity.
- Creating with Materials:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Building and handling materials strengthen hand-eye coordination.
- Fine Motor Skills:
Activity 2: Retell the Story with Puppets
Create simple stick puppets for the pigs and the wolf using paper, craft sticks, and crayons.
Let the children use their puppets to act out the story, either individually or in groups, using a table or cardboard box as a stage.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Literacy
- Comprehension:
- Retelling the story helps children understand sequencing and characters.
- Comprehension:
- Communication and Language
- Speaking:
- Acting out the story builds vocabulary and storytelling skills.
- Listening, Attention and Understanding:
- Children focus on the sequence and details of the story.
- Speaking:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Building Relationships:
- Working in groups encourages cooperation and teamwork.
- Building Relationships:
Activity 3: Huff and Puff Science Experiment
Set up an activity to test how much “huff and puff” it takes to blow different objects over. Use items like feathers, straws, small blocks, and toy pigs. Let children blow on the objects with their mouths or through straws and record which ones move the most.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Understanding the World
- The Natural World:
- Children explore forces like wind and air pressure.
- The Natural World:
- Mathematics
- Number:
- Count how many puffs it takes to move each object.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Compare results to find patterns in what moves easily.
- Number:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Using straws strengthens muscles around the mouth and fingers.
- Fine Motor Skills:
Activity 4: Create a Three Little Pigs Scene
Provide paints, crayons, and craft supplies for children to create a scene from the story.
They could draw the pigs’ houses, the big bad wolf, or the pigs celebrating their brick house victory.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Children use various resources to bring the story to life.
- Being Imaginative and Expressive:
- Artwork reflects their understanding of the tale.
- Creating with Materials:
- Literacy
- Writing:
- Encourage older children to add captions or labels to their artwork.
- Writing:
Activity 5: Build a Pig’s House Obstacle Course
Create an outdoor or indoor obstacle course with areas representing each house. For example, use straw or fabric for crawling through, sticks for climbing over, and blocks for balancing on.
Add a wolf chase for extra excitement!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Gross Motor Skills:
- Running, jumping, and crawling improve coordination and strength.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Picking up and placing objects along the course enhances dexterity.
- Gross Motor Skills:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Managing Self:
- Completing the course builds confidence and perseverance.
- Managing Self:
- Communication and Language
- Listening, Attention and Understanding:
- Children follow instructions to navigate the course.
- Listening, Attention and Understanding:
These Three Little Pigs activities for EYFS are a fantastic way to combine storytelling, creativity, and hands-on learning. From building houses and role-playing with puppets to conducting science experiments, children explore a variety of skills while enjoying a timeless story.
For UK nurseries and early years providers, these activities are a great way to engage young learners while supporting development across all EYFS Areas of Learning and Development. Watch as they huff, puff, and achieve their Early Learning Goals!
