The Three Little Pigs

Gathering Activity: Pink Pig Cotton Ball Masks
 

I have been in love with these adorable masks since I first saw these over a year ago here at  A Bushel and A Peck. 

We made sure to spray paint cotton balls pink and to cut out all the pieces BEFORE class.   Then we assembled them together as the kids arrived.

 



Circle Time

 

 Inspired by a wonderful article on Imagination Soup about the importance of sharing Fairy Tales with kids, we read a favorite Golden Book version of The Three Little Pigs.  (Yes, I do recognize the irony of being inspired by her wonderful article and then using a Disney version of the fairy tale.  However, in this instance, I felt like the essential lessons of hard work were still taught without the need of the wolf devouring the first 2 pigs.  My older sons have heard that version, but I spared my 2 year old...for now). 

We used these great flannel board story pieces to retell the story. I bought ours at Kaplan's Learning Company.   

However if you don't already have your own, I found a link for characters here at Preschool Printables.
http://www.preschoolprintables.com/felt/3pigs/feltpig.shtml

Fingerplays:
We sang "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" and "This Little Piggy Went to Market."


Art: Piggy Pudding Painting
 

We printed a picture of a pig onto pink construction paper for each child.  Then we gave each child a small cup of chocolate pudding to finger paint their piggy with “mud.”   

This was so funny to watch.  We didn't tell them it was chocolate at first.  Then when we did, they hesitantly tasted it, then dove in whole heartedly.

Except for one little guy.  We couldn't convince him to try the "mud."  He gave us this great "You have got to be kidding me!" look.  He also opted to use a paintbrush over his fingers.    I share this to show that it is important to let each child to control his or her own experiences on their own terms.   We want the children to enjoy themselves and we want to expose them to opportunities to try new things.  However we do not want to make any little ones to feel pressured . 

Snack: Piggy Bagel
I searched the internet and I think I found the absolute cutest piggy snack out there at I Heart Crafty Things. 

It was also very yummy and fairly healthy.  The only thing we did differently was to use 100% Fruit strips cut into thin slices in place of the licorice.   

Activities

1-One of our moms made this adorable 3 sided house.  (inspired by an idea found here).   The kids had fun acting out the story of the three little pigs with the house, pigs, and wolf.  

 

2-We brought out several different building materials and allowed the children and their moms to build their own house and to blow their own house down like the wolf.  We provided Duplo blocks, Lincoln Logs, wooden blocks, and Magnatiles.