In a green, sun-dappled meadow, lived three little pigs who were brothers. One day, their mother told them, "You are big enough now to build your own houses. Make them safe and strong, and always watch out for the Big, Bad Wolf."
The First Two Pigs
The first little pig was full of excitement and wanted to get back to playing his flute as quickly as possible. "I'll build my house with straw!" he declared. He gathered a big pile of golden straw and, in just a short while, had a little house. It was a bit wobbly, but he didn't mind. He was finished first and spent the rest of the day playing happy tunes.
The second little pig thought a house of sticks would be a little stronger. He gathered a bundle of twigs and branches and carefully built his house. It took a bit longer than the straw house, but soon he was finished and went to join his brother, singing and dancing.
The Third Pig's Plan
The third little pig, however, was a thoughtful planner. She remembered her mother's words about being safe and strong. She knew that a good house needed more than speed; it needed a good plan. "I will build my house out of bricks," she decided. Her brothers laughed. "That will take all day!" they shouted. But the third little pig didn't mind. She worked carefully, drawing a little map in the dirt, measuring her walls, and mixing mud and sand to create mortar. She laid each heavy brick one by one, making sure the walls were thick and the foundation was solid. It was hard work, but she knew that putting in the effort now would mean a safer home later.
The Big, Bad Wolf
Soon, the Big, Bad Wolf came wandering through the meadow. He saw the straw house and knocked on the door. "Little pig, little pig, let me come in!" he called in a sweet voice.
"Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!" cried the first little pig.
"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" growled the wolf. He took a deep breath and blew. The straw house, built so quickly, tumbled down in a heap! The first little pig squealed and ran as fast as he could to his brother's stick house.
The wolf followed and knocked on the door of the stick house. "Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in!"
"Not by the hair of our chinny-chin-chins!" they cried.
"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" The wolf huffed and puffed, and the stick house creaked, groaned, and finally fell apart. The two little pigs scrambled out and raced to their sister's brick house.
A Strong Foundation
The wolf, now very cross, arrived at the brick house. "Little pigs, let me come in!" he roared.
"Not by the hair of our chinny-chin-chins!" they all shouted from inside.
The wolf huffed and he puffed. He puffed and he huffed. But the strong brick house didn't move one inch. He was amazed. "Why is this house so strong?" he wondered. It was strong because the third little pig had a good plan. She had solved the problem by choosing the right materials and putting in the time and effort to build it correctly.
Tired and out of breath, the wolf gave up and stomped away into the forest. The three little pigs were safe. The first two pigs learned that while playing is fun, taking your time to solve a problem with a good plan is the smartest and safest choice of all.
Learning Goals
Moral of the Story: This classic children's story teaches young readers that a little bit of hard work and thoughtful planning can save you a lot of trouble later on. It's a valuable bedtime story for kids that emphasizes the importance of problem-solving skills, perseverance, and making wise choices.
Key Vocabulary
- Wobbly: Shaky and not stable.
- Mortar: A mix of sand, water, and cement to hold bricks together.
- Foundation: The strong base that a house is built on.
Discussion Questions
- Why did the first two pigs build their houses so quickly?
- What makes a good plan?
- What is something you can take your time with to do a good job?