The Three Little Pigs

Curriculum Area: English Language Arts (ELA)

Grade Level: Year 2 (Second Grade)
Standards:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6: Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5: Describe the overall structure of a story, including how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.

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Lesson Objective

By the end of this 20-minute lesson, students will:

• Identify and compare the points of view of different characters in The Three Little Pigs.
• Use different voices to distinguish characters while reading dialogue.
• Recognize and describe the beginning, middle, and end structure of the story.

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Materials Needed

• A large picture book copy of The Three Little Pigs
• Pre-made character masks (or character name cards) for the pigs and the wolf
• Chart paper and markers
• Printable story sequencing cards for small-group work
• A brief script with key story dialogue for student role-play

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Lesson Breakdown (20 Minutes)

1. Warm-Up Activity (4 Minutes) – "Expressive Voices"

• Invite students to think about how different characters in stories might sound.
• Model using distinct voices for each character (e.g., a high-pitched, nervous voice for Pig #1, a confident voice for Pig #3, and a deep, growling voice for the Wolf).
• Ask for two volunteers to say “Hello!” in different character voices and encourage the class to guess which character they are mimicking.

2. Read-Aloud & Character Dialogue (6 Minutes)

• Read a short section of The Three Little Pigs, pausing to model distinguishing character voices.
• Assign students to play the roles of the pigs or the wolf. While reading, have students take turns reading dialogue in character-specific voices.
• Ask:
  • “How do you think the wolf feels when he’s trying to blow down the houses?”
  • “What do you notice about how the pigs speak? Are they scared, confident, or something else?”

3. Story Structure Discussion (5 Minutes) – "Build the Story"

• On a large chart paper, draw three sections: Beginning, Middle, End.
• Ask:
  • “How does the story start? Who do we meet?” (Guide students to understand the introduction.)
  • “What happens in the middle?” (Discussion of the wolf’s actions.)
  • “What happens at the very end? What changes for the characters?”
• Distribute printable story sequencing cards and have students work in small groups to arrange them in correct order.

4. Closing Activity (5 Minutes) – "Character Hot Seat"

• Select one student to sit in the “Hot Seat” as a character (Pig #1, Pig #3, or the Wolf).
• The class asks the “character” questions (e.g., "Pig #1, why did you build your house out of straw?").
• Guide students to acknowledge different points of view: “Pig #1 might say this, but what would Pig #3 think?”
• Wrap up by reinforcing how we can show character differences with voices and how the structure of a story helps us understand what happens.

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Learner Variability & Academic Language Supports

• For English Language Learners (ELLs): Provide visual story maps to support comprehension. Offer key vocabulary (e.g., "straw," "bricks," "huff," "puff") with picture cues.
• For Students Needing More Support: Allow students to participate by holding up a sequencing card rather than verbally responding. Use sentence starters (e.g., "At the beginning, the pigs...").
• For Students Ready for Extension: Have them create and voice a new character (e.g., a fourth pig with an unusual house material).

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Assessment & Reflection

• Observation during role-play – Are students changing their voices appropriately?
• Monitoring discussion responses – Can students describe how the beginning introduces characters and the ending resolves the action?
• Reviewing sequencing activity – Do students correctly order events in the story?

Teacher Reflection

• Were students engaged with using different voices?
• Did students grasp the beginning-middle-end structure?
• Which students may need a follow-up lesson to reinforce these skills?

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This lesson combines performance, discussion, and hands-on activities to make The Three Little Pigs interactive and engaging while meeting key Common Core standards. Students leave with a deeper understanding of character perspectives and story structure in a way that feels fun and exciting! 🚀 👏