I started the study of homes with an introduction of the different types of places people live, such as a house, apartment building, mansion, trailer, cabin, and castle. When we were on cabin, one student, M.G., made a connection,
"That's like the house in the three little pigs." she excitedly called out.
"I know the three little pigs!" R.H. responded.
I was so delighted that they made a connection. I asked everyone else if they knew the story of the three little pigs. It shocked me that only a few did. I realized that since most of my students come from immigrant families, their family may not have exposed them to fairy tales. I recalled back to my kindergarten experience. I can relate to my students since my parents also came from China. They didn't speak English and were working most of the time. When they came home after a long day of work, we'd eat dinner and I would go to sleep. There was never time to sit and read to me or tell me stories. They relied on school for that sort of thing.
Enter Wolf | Enter Pig |
We read two versions. In one story, the two pigs with the straw and stick house gets eaten by the wolf and in the end, the third pig cooks the wolf for dinner. The other story, a more child friendly story, has the two pigs run to the brick house of their brother and the wolf only gets burned and runs away.