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Three Little Pigs Building Inspector

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Grades K-240-50 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Students become building inspectors reopening the pigs' neighborhood after a windstorm. They test common building materials for strength, then construct and wind-test a small house to earn its occupancy certificate.

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Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Prep: 9 minActivity: 40 min1 session~$2/groupOne table or clear floor areaBeginner-friendly

Setup

Gather only common or recycled items needed to build a small house within the size limit using the strongest material combination, with the pig figure inside. Place the materials beside a simple recording sheet or blank paper, and prepare the Three Little Pigs Building Inspector challenge in one working area; no digital device is needed.

Activity

  1. Test straw, sticks, and blocks one at a time against the fan to see which material best resists being blown over.
  2. Build a small house within the size limit using the strongest material combination, with the pig figure inside.
  3. Test the house against the fan — when the wolf changes wind direction, check whether the side and back walls hold up too, and reinforce as needed.
  4. Issue an occupancy certificate, backing it up with your test results and measurements.

Done when: The learner completes Three Little Pigs Building Inspector after carrying out this core test: Test the house against the fan — when the wolf changes wind direction, check whether the side and back walls hold up too, and reinforce as needed. The learner then uses that result to complete the final task: Issue an occupancy certificate, backing it up with your test results and measurements.

Materials

Straw, craft sticks, small bricks or blocks, tape, a small desk fan, a toy pig figure

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Disclosure: Materials links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Steps

  1. Test straw, sticks, and blocks one at a time against the fan to see which material best resists being blown over.
  2. Build a small house within the size limit using the strongest material combination, with the pig figure inside.
  3. Test the house against the fan — when the wolf changes wind direction, check whether the side and back walls hold up too, and reinforce as needed.
  4. Issue an occupancy certificate, backing it up with your test results and measurements.

Standards it satisfies

  • NGSS · K-2-ETS1-3

    Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.