After completing our morning circle activities, we read "The Three Little Pigs". (I searched high and low for a rendition of the story in which the little pigs just run from the wolf to their brother's house! No one got eaten!) The kids were wide eyed as I used my different voices to be the pigs and the wolf. We used the wolf puppet to start acting out the final scene in which he goes down the chimney and falls into the pot of boiling water. Each child had a turn at being the wolf, jumping out of the pot and running around the tables to cool off from the hot water.
During recess, all of the kids pretended to be wolves by running back and forth across the playground together and growling. After their legs were tired, I saw Joseph and Beau making a sand birthday cake with several kids from the church preschool. Evan was fascinated with a child's t-shirt and approached his new friend to ask about the animals on the front of the shirt. Tucker was busy swinging and keeping track of the minutes left on the timer.
We worked together to make 'pigs in a blanket' for a snack. Rolling the Pillsbury crescent roll dough around the little sausages was tricky because it was sticky. But, everyone overcame the 'icky factor' and rolled up those little sausages! While they had a grand time making the 'pigs in a blanket', only one child wanted to eat any. I think Joseph had a grand total of nine!
During open play time, I saw the kids playing together to act out the different episodes of the story. They had set up one of my trifold poster boards, using it as a house to hide behind. They took turns being the wolf, using the words that the pigs and wolf say to retell the story. I was thrilled as the four of them started and continued this cooperative, imaginative play by themselves. As I was taking pictures, Tucker asked me to be the wolf. All four hid behind the 'house' as I recreated the wolf trying to blow down the house.....at least 8 times!
On Monday, we will make each of the houses along with the puppets and hopefully be able to act out the whole story!
