Lesson Plan: The Three Little Pigs – Building Foundations in Mathematics
Grade Level: Reception / Kindergarten
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Objective: Introduce mathematical concepts related to construction, sequencing, and comparison using the story of "The Three Little Pigs."
Introduction: Let's Build!
Welcome the Students
Gather your students in a circle and ask them to share what they know about different types of houses.
Storytime
Begin by reading "The Three Little Pigs" aloud. As you read, encourage the children to engage by making sound effects (like huffing and puffing) and acting out parts of the story.
Transition to Mathematics
Discussion: Foundations of Buildings
After the story, engage the students with the following questions:
- "What materials did the three little pigs use to build their houses?"
- "Which house do you think was the strongest? Why?"
Explain that just like the pigs, all buildings need a strong foundation.
Activity 1: Size and Construction Comparison
Materials Needed:
- Pictures of houses made of straw, sticks, and bricks
- Measuring tapes (or string with measured lengths)
- Large paper and crayons
Instructions:
- Group Work: Divide the class into three groups, each representing one of the little pigs. Assign them the material their pig used.
- Comparison Discussion: Ask each group to discuss and compare the attributes of their materials (light vs. heavy, strong vs. weak).
- Measuring Activity: Have the children use measuring tapes to measure out how tall each type of house could be if they were real (you can simplify this for comprehension by using set units like 'blocks').
- Drawing Activity: Each group will then collaborate to draw their pig's house, ensuring they include its attributes based on what they’ve discussed.
Activity 2: Sequencing the Story
Instructions:
- Sequence Cards: Prepare a set of cards that depict key events from the story (e.g., "First Pig builds his house," "Wolf comes to blow the straw house down," etc.).
- Group Work: Hand out the cards to mixed groups of students and ask them to put the cards in order while discussing what happened first, next, and last.
- Role Play: After they have sequenced the events correctly, invite them to act out their sequence. Encourage each group to recall and use phrases from the story as they perform their segment.
Activity 3: Little Pig Art
Materials Needed:
- Craft materials (coloured paper, scissors, glue, googly eyes)
- Art supplies (markers, glitter, stickers)
Instructions:
- Creative Construction: Using the materials, ask students to create their own version of each of the three little pigs.
- Sharing Time: Once completed, invite the students to share their creations with the class, and discuss which attributes they included to represent the little pigs (what colours, textures, etc.).
Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Learning
Gather the students once more in a circle and discuss:
- "What did we learn about building strong foundations?"
- "How can we compare different objects or characters using what we learned today?"
Encourage them to think about how hard work (like the third pig) pays off in building something strong.
Closing Activity: Sing a short, simple song about the three little pigs, incorporating counting or sequencing to round off the lesson.
Homework (Optional):
Send home a simple worksheet where they can draw their version of a house and write a sentence about what materials they think make it strong.
This engaging structure fosters students’ understanding of mathematical concepts while nurturing their creativity and critical thinking skills through a beloved story.