Three Little Pigs: Drawing
Recall The Three Little Pigs, draw the straw, stick, and brick houses, arrange them in story order, and retell the tale with character pictures.
- 5 years
- Some prep
- At home
- About 15 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Language：Drawing key events gives your child visual clues for retelling the story in order and understanding how a story unfolds.
- Movement：Drawing the pigs’ houses gives your child practice controlling a drawing tool with small hand movements.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
The Three Little Pigs
- 2
washable markers
- 3
printer paper
- 4
printed and cut-out pictures of the wolf and three pigs
Step 1
Begin the Story
After reading The Three Little Pigs, invite your child to recall what happened. Review who was in the story, where they were, and how the story began.
What to notice
- Names the main characters in the story
Comprehension and Text Structure - Focuses closely while listening to your story
Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- Your child may leave out part of the story. Build from what they already said and ask one question that helps complete the beginning.
Step 2
What Kind of House?
Next comes the exciting house-building part of “The Three Little Pigs.” Ask whether your child remembers the three kinds of houses, then invite them to draw each one. Talk about the ending too: Are the pigs safe in the end?
What to notice
- Describes the kinds of houses in the story Comprehension and Text Structure
- Uses colored drawing tools to draw different houses
Fine Motor
Tips
- If your child cannot remember all the houses, look back through the book together and find how the story describes each one.
- Talk as your child draws: “Which house looks easiest to blow down? Which one looks strongest? What makes you think so?”
Step 3
Retell the Story
Arrange the three finished houses in story order and bring out the character pictures. Play the wolf while your child plays the pigs, and listen to how they retell the story.
What to notice
- Retells the main events of the story with your prompts Comprehension and Text Structure
- Becomes absorbed in acting out the story Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- Before arranging the houses, invite your child to recall their order in the story. If needed, ask, “Which house did the first little pig build?”
- Each time the first two houses are “blown down,” turn the sheet face down to pretend the house has scattered.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026