The Three Little Pigs
The Three Little Pigs (Drama Workshop)
Story Game:
Each child finds a space and sits down. Each child or a group of children are assigned a specific word and a corresponding action. The narrator/teacher reads the story aloud and when the children hear their word they must jump up and do their actions. The words are in bold to assist the teacher/narrator.
Movement words and actions:
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Any number: Show that number of fingers
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Little: Crouch down as small as you can
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Pig: Get on all fours and oink once
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Pigs: Get on all fours and oink twice
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Big: Stretch up as high as you can
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Bad: Make an angry face
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Wolf: Make hands into claws and say “aargh”
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Laughing: Laugh loudly
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Smiling: Give a big wide smile
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Trotted: Trot up and down the space
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Straw: Rub your hands together
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Sticks: Clap your hands together
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Bricks: Clap your hands on your thighs
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Huff/huffed: Blow
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Puff/puffed: Blow harder
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Blow/blew: Stamp feet on the ground
Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a mother pig who lived with her three little pigs. One day she said, “Little pigs, I think it is time for you to leave and make your own way in this big world. You each need to build your own house.” The little pigs were very excited about their new, big adventure. Mother pig gave each of her little pigs a hug, but she warned them, “Remember to watch out for the big bad wolf.” The little pigs waved goodbye to their mother, and they trotted into the woods. They were laughing and smiling, and soon they came across a man who was carrying some straw…
(continue the story with children jumping up to perform their words/actions as they occur in the tale)
Warm-Up: What’s the Time, Mr/Ms Wolf?
One child is chosen or volunteers to be Mr/Ms Wolf and stands at one side of the clear space, back to the group. The rest of the children stand at the opposite side and call out: “What’s the time, Mr/Ms Wolf?” The wolf replies with a time, e.g. “Four o’clock.” The children walk forward that number of steps. The game continues until the wolf suddenly calls “Dinnertime!” and chases the children back. Whoever is caught becomes the next wolf.
Choral Speaking: Straw, Sticks and Bricks
Teach the children the following poem. Encourage them to add actions for straw, sticks, bricks, pigs, and wolf. They say it together in unison:
Straw, sticks and bricks. Straw, sticks and bricks. The pigs built their houses out of straw, sticks and bricks. The wolf came by, he blew the straw down. He blew the sticks, but the bricks were strong. The pig lived happy all the days long in their house of bricks.
Occupational Mime
Divide the class into groups of four: three pigs and one wolf. The pigs move in a follow-the-leader style. The leader mimes collecting materials and building a house (first straw, then sticks, then bricks). The others copy. The wolf blows down the houses as they are built. Each pig rotates to take the lead.
Role-Play
Encourage children to use their whole body to mime gathering straw, breaking sticks, or lifting heavy bricks. Wolves should use body and facial expression to look fierce. Then add speech: What would the wolf say to the pigs? What would the pigs say in reply?
Talking Objects
Ask the children to use their breath to blow down a “house.” The teacher brings in objects (leaf, balloon, paper, tree, car, bridge). Each child becomes an object, introduces themselves (e.g. “I’m small, I’m green and live on a tree”), and then the group blows the object down.
Conclusion
The teacher leads a discussion: Why does the wolf get so angry? How can the children show the wolf how to relax using his breath?
Relaxation: Tummy Breathing
Children lie down with hands or a toy on their tummy. Inhale to a count of 3, watching the toy rise. Exhale to a count of 4, watching the toy fall. Repeat 10 times. Ask: How do you feel? What did you notice about your toy when you breathed in and out? How could this exercise help the wolf?
Relaxation: Burst Balloon
Children lie on the floor and imagine they are balloons filling up with air. When full, the teacher counts to three, the children shout “Bang!” and release all the air, collapsing like deflated balloons.
