Poem Lesson

The three little Pigs

By Roald Dahl

Teaching package

by Suzanne V and Quirina V

What you need to know about this package:

This package is made for either a havo 2 or vmbo-t 2 or 3 class, due to the length of the poem and the words that are used. With help of the youtube clips this poem can be used in lower levels or lower year groups. Here is the link to the clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DS2DnsJ04

In year 3, level vmbo-t, there is a poem about a pig in Stepping Stones. You could replace that poem with this package.

Students do not need to know anything about Roald Dahl to be able to work on these exercises but you can always give some background information if you want to.

This poem lesson is created to be given during 1 lesson. You can choose to add the last exercise and this will lengthen the package to 2 lessons. This is more about the theme of a fairy tale ‘gone wrong’.

In this teacher package the student exercises have been made italic. In the student work package there is no italic text.

Pre-reading

While reading

Post reading

Post reading, part 2

Student package

Pre-readingBefore reading this poem you want to activate the students knowledge about fairytales. Our exercises start with a question about pigs and pets. This is because we think that during the year the subject of pets will be discussed during class. This is a nice entry to our poem package.

Exercise 1

Do you have any pets?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Do you think a pig could be a pet?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

From the subject pets (which was a topic during other classes) we try to make the link to fairy tales (you can hint to the title of this poem on the from of their worksheets). To make sure every student knows what a fairy tale is we have the following questions. This is to check the prior knowledge of all students, particularly students with a different cultural backgrounds.

On the board put all things that students bring up about a fairy tale. This will be used later during class.

Exercise 2

Look up the word “fairy tale” in the dictionary. What is the definition?

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Name the title of a fairy tale that you know.

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Why is that story a fairy tale?

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Exercise 3

Do you know the story of little red Riding Hood?

Yes/No

If you know the story, write down below what happens.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

After this the students can start reading part 1 of the poem. Make sure the students are not able to continue to read further than part 1.

The Three Little Pigs

The animal I really dig, Above all others is the pig. Pigs are noble. Pigs are clever, Pigs are courteous. However, Now and then, to break this rule, One meets a pig who is a fool. What, for example, would you say, If strolling through the woods one day, Right there in front of you you saw A pig who'd built his house of STRAW? The Wolf who saw it licked his lips, And said, "That pig has had his chips." "Little pig, little pig, let me come in!" "No, no, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!" "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"

The little pig began to pray, But Wolfie blew his house away. He shouted, "Bacon, pork and ham! Oh, what a lucky Wolf I am!" And though he ate the pig quite fast, He carefully kept the tail till last. Wolf wandered on, a trifle bloated. Surprise, surprise, for soon he noted Another little house for pigs, And this one had been built of TWIGS!

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in!" "No, no, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!" "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"

The Wolf said, "Okay, here we go!" He then began to blow and blow. The little pig began to squeal.

He cried, "Oh Wolf, you've had one meal! Why can't we talk and make a deal? The Wolf replied, "Not on your nelly!" And soon the pig was in his belly.

"Two juicy little pigs!" Wolf cried, "But still I'm not quite satisfied! I know how full my tummy's bulging, But oh, how I adore indulging." So creeping quietly as a mouse, The Wolf approached another house, A house which also had inside A little piggy trying to hide. "You'll not get me!" the Piggy cried. "I'll blow you down!" the Wolf replied. "You'll need," Pig said, "a lot of puff, And I don't think you've got enough." Wolf huffed and puffed and blew and blew. The house stayed up as good as new. "If I can't blow it down," Wolf said, I'll have to blow it up instead. I'll come back in the dead of night And blow it up with dynamite!" Pig cried, "You brute! I might have known!" Then, picking up the telephone, He dialed as quickly as he could The number of …………………….

Exercise 4

Who do you think is the Pig going to call? ..………………………………..………………….

How will the story end?

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While reading

We have cut the poem into two parts. The students have to read the first part of the poem. Depending on your group and the level of your group you can:

- let the students either read the poem for themselves, - let them read it and listen to it at the same time (read it yourself or use

youtube) - or you can cut the poem into parts and let the students work in duos or

small groups trying to piece together the puzzle. The last word of the first part of the poem is omitted. The students have to make an educated guess at what is omitted. They may not know the English name, but can infer from the rhyming scheme that it has to at least be a word that rhymes and hopefully at least one student or group in your class can come up with ‘red Riding Hood’.

He dialed as quickly as he couldThe number of red Riding Hood.

"Hello," she said. "Who's speaking? Who? Oh, hello, Piggy, how d'you do?" Pig cried, "I need your help, Miss Hood! Oh help me, please! D'you think you could?" "I'll try of course," Miss Hood replied. "What's on your mind...?" "A Wolf!" Pig cried. "I know you've dealt with wolves before, And now I've got one at my door!"

"My darling Pig," she said, "my sweet, That's something really up my street. I've just begun to wash my hair. But when it's dry, I'll be right there."

A short while later, through the wood, Came striding brave Miss Riding Hood. The Wolf stood there, his eyes ablaze, And yellowish, like mayonnaise. His teeth were sharp, his gums were raw, And spit was dripping from his jaw. Once more the maiden's eyelid flickers. She draws the pistol from her knickers. Once more she hits the vital spot, And kills him with a single shot. Pig, peeping through the window, stood And yelled, "Well done, Miss Riding Hood!"

Ah, Piglet, you must never trust Young ladies from the upper crust. For now, Miss Riding Hood, one notes, Not only has two wolfskin coats, But when she goes from place to place, She has a PIGSKIN TRAVELING CASE.

Post readingAfter reading the poem you can go through a list of difficult words, sentences and proverbs. But first you need to discuss what the students think about the ending of the poem, this will give you an insight into the students’ understanding of the poem as a whole and it will make them think of it as a story and remove the focus on difficult words that they might not have understood. The following questions were designed for that purpose.

Exercise 5

Did you expect this ending? Why (not)?

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At this point you go back to what the students named to describe a fairy tale. You use their findings to discuss the next question.

Exercise 6

Is this story a fairy tale?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The fact that this is a fairy tale ‘gone wrong’ and that it is a poem (not written as a ‘normal’ story, should be addressed in the next question.

Exercise 7

How is this poem different from known fairy tales?

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At last you have a final discussion about their opinion about the poem. It goes a bit more in depth because the student must also understand that this is not a normal fairy tale (different ending) and it is written in rhyme.

Exercise 8

Did you like reading the fairy tale as a poem as opposed to reading it as a story?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Having discussed these more general questions, you can then decide to focus on difficult words and their meaning. First see whether they can get the meaning from the context and do not give away the answers too quickly. Here is a list of words or sentences that occur in the poem that may cause problems for students:

- trifle bloated- no, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin- squeal- not on your Nelly- bulging - indulging- That’s something really up my street- eyes ablaze- flickers- knickers- Ladies from the upper crust- Pigskin traveling case

Post reading, part 2

If you really like this package up to now you can add a lesson. This expands on the fact that this is a fairy tale ‘gone wrong’. The student is introduced to another fairy tale but this time it doesn’t have a different ending but a different point of view.

To give another example we use Jon Scieska’s ‘The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs’. You can use this clip on youtube to have the story told.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m75aEhm-BYw

After the students have seen this clip, they should be inspired to rewrite a fairy tale on their own (or in pairs).

Exercise 9

Choose one of the 2 options below to write your fairy tale:

1. Write a different ending to a known fairy tale. Make sure it is an ending

that no one will expect!

2. Rewrite a known fairy tale from a different perspective. Choose another

character from the fairy tale to tell the story and how he/she believe

things happened. Make sure you have some key points from the original

story in your new fairy tale.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Student package

The following pages can be printed for the students. You can have them stapled together or choose to first give the first part and later part 2 to make sure the students don’t cheat and read ahead and find out the ending before you get to it.

Poem Lesson

The three little Pigs

By Roald Dahl

Student worksheets

Exercise 1

Do you have any pets?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Do you think a pig could be a pet?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 2

Look up the word “fairy tale” in the dictionary. What is the definition?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name the title of a fairy tale that you know.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Why is that story a fairy tale?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 3

Do you know the story of little red Riding Hood?

Yes/No

If you know the story, write down below what happens.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The Three Little Pigs

The animal I really dig,

Above all others is the pig.

Pigs are noble. Pigs are clever,

Pigs are courteous. However,

Now and then, to break this rule,

One meets a pig who is a fool.

What, for example, would you say,

If strolling through the woods one day,

Right there in front of you you saw

A pig who'd built his house of STRAW?

The Wolf who saw it licked his lips,

And said, "That pig has had his chips."

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in!"

"No, no, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!"

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"

The little pig began to pray,

But Wolfie blew his house away.

He shouted, "Bacon, pork and ham!

Oh, what a lucky Wolf I am!"

And though he ate the pig quite fast,

He carefully kept the tail till last.

Wolf wandered on, a trifle bloated.

Surprise, surprise, for soon he noted

Another little house for pigs,

And this one had been built of TWIGS!

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in!"

"No, no, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!"

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"

The Wolf said, "Okay, here we go!"

He then began to blow and blow.

The little pig began to squeal.

He cried, "Oh Wolf, you've had one meal!

Why can't we talk and make a deal?

The Wolf replied, "Not on your nelly!"

And soon the pig was in his belly.

"Two juicy little pigs!" Wolf cried,

"But still I'm not quite satisfied!

I know how full my tummy's bulging,

But oh, how I adore indulging."

So creeping quietly as a mouse,

The Wolf approached another house,

A house which also had inside

A little piggy trying to hide.

"You'll not get me!" the Piggy cried.

"I'll blow you down!" the Wolf replied.

"You'll need," Pig said, "a lot of puff,

And I don't think you've got enough."

Wolf huffed and puffed and blew and blew.

The house stayed up as good as new.

"If I can't blow it down," Wolf said,

I'll have to blow it up instead.

I'll come back in the dead of night

And blow it up with dynamite!"

Pig cried, "You brute! I might have known!"

Then, picking up the telephone,

He dialed as quickly as he could

The number of …………………….

Exercise 4

Who do you think is the Pig going to call? ..………………………………..………………….

How will the story end?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

He dialed as quickly as he could

The number of red Riding Hood.

"Hello," she said. "Who's speaking? Who?

Oh, hello, Piggy, how d'you do?"

Pig cried, "I need your help, Miss Hood!

Oh help me, please! D'you think you could?"

"I'll try of course," Miss Hood replied.

"What's on your mind...?" "A Wolf!" Pig cried.

"I know you've dealt with wolves before,

And now I've got one at my door!"

"My darling Pig," she said, "my sweet,

That's something really up my street.

I've just begun to wash my hair.

But when it's dry, I'll be right there."

A short while later, through the wood,

Came striding brave Miss Riding Hood.

The Wolf stood there, his eyes ablaze,

And yellowish, like mayonnaise.

His teeth were sharp, his gums were raw,

And spit was dripping from his jaw.

Once more the maiden's eyelid flickers.

She draws the pistol from her knickers.

Once more she hits the vital spot,

And kills him with a single shot.

Pig, peeping through the window, stood

And yelled, "Well done, Miss Riding Hood!"

Ah, Piglet, you must never trust

Young ladies from the upper crust.

For now, Miss Riding Hood, one notes,

Not only has two wolfskin coats,

But when she goes from place to place,

She has a PIGSKIN TRAVELING CASE.

Exercise 5

Did you expect this ending? Why (not)?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Exercise 6

Is this story a fairy tale?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 7

How is this poem different from known fairy tales?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 8

Did you like reading the fairy tale as a poem as opposed to reading it as a story?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 9

Choose one of the 2 options below to write your fairy tale:

3. Write a different ending to a known fairy tale. Make sure it is an ending

that no one will expect!

4. Rewrite a known fairy tale from a different perspective. Choose another

character from the fairy tale to tell the story and how he/she believe

things happened. Make sure you have some key points from the original

story in your new fairy tale.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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