Encourage kids to use their engineering skills with this fun three little pigs construction challenge.The three little pigs need help to escape from the big bad wolf. Challenge kids to construct three houses that can withstand the blow of the bad wolf, using straws, craft sticks and legos.
The Challenge
Three Little Pigs construction challenges takes the famous tale of the three little pigs, and turns it into a stimulating STEM activity. Gather some straws, craft sticks, legos, scissors and glue then ask children to build three houses that can withstand the blow of the “big bad wolf”, or in this case a box fan.
Preparation; Three Little Pigs Building Challenge
Assemble a construction kits, one for each kid or group of kids. Each kit should include a box of straws, craft sticks, Legos, scissors and glue. Then decide if you want children to work in teams or individually, create enough kits for each child or team.
Discussion
First, ask kids if they know the story of the three little pigs. Then, discuss why the first two pigs failed to keep the big bad wolf from blowing down their house. Finally, ask if they think it’s possible to engineer a house made of straw or wood that can withstand the blow of the big bad wolf.
How to; Three little Pigs Construction Challenge
Give each child or team the construction kits you assembled. Ask children to take a few minutes to develop a plan for building each house. The lego house will require little to no planning, but the other two may take some trial and error.
Once the kids have a plan, allow them to construct their houses. Each house must fit a pig, have four walls and a roof. Children may blow on the house themselves to test its strength but may not use the full power of the fan until the final construction test.
Allow 30 minutes to an hour for the children to complete each house for the little pigs. After each team has finished all three houses have them present their construction projects and explain have they developed their ideas. Then, each house one at a time in front of a box fan, turn the fan on and see if “the big bad wolf” can get to the pig, or if the kids engineered a house strong enough to withstand the blow!
