THE THREE (NOT SO) LITTLE PIGS
Objectives: Children will have a fun-filled and enjoyable experience while being exposed to the
aesthetics of Puppet Theatre
Children will explore the issues of sibling rivalry
Children will learn to cooperate
“The Three (Not So) Little Pigs” features rod puppets behind a six-foot tall curtain. It is an updated, modern, and comic version of the classic children’s story, “The Three Pigs”. It features a vegetarian wolf, remote control cars, electric guitars, and three pigs that need to work together and learn to cooperate.
Plot Outline: Mother introduces story and concept that pigs have been fighting and not cooperating. Introduction of 3 pigs and their interests – Little Yellow is a musician, Little Blue a mechanic and budding engineer, and Little Red is an architect and builder. After much exasperation and warnings about non-cooperative behavior, Mrs. Pig forces the boys to venture into the real world and make lives for themselves. Introduction of wolf, a vegetarian who’s on a new diet, the alphabet diet. He eats something different every day from a progression through the alphabet – apples, bananas, carrots…P = pizza. Pigs begin to build houses out of straw, sticks, and a spectacular house of brick. Wolf is forced to teach the first two very rude pigs a lesson by blowing down their houses. Little Red shares peas with the wolf in order to help with his hunger and diet. The three pigs learn that cooperation is the key to success and that they need each other to be happy and successful.
*Show includes substantial controlled verbal audience participation.*
Suggested Pre-Show Discussion
Topics
1. Discuss the nature of puppets – What kinds have you seen? How is a puppet used?
2. Discuss the nature of a theatre production. How is a puppet play different from an actor-based
play? How is it the same?
3. Discuss the basic elements of a story.
4. Discuss the different ways that we cooperate in class, with friends, and at home with family
members.
Pre-Show Activities
1. Read a play or short story, having students read each part aloud.
2. Read books about puppetry and puppet theatre.
3. Read various versions of “The Three Pigs” available in libraries.
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to staging design, the puppeteers set up on the floor in front of the stage. They will need a cleared area approximately 15 x 15 feet. Students may be seated either on the floor, in chairs, or at tables. Visibility is excellent for any form of seating.
Post-Show Discussion
Questions:
1. What did you think about the story? Did you think it was funny? What did you like about it?
2. What were the interests of the three pigs (music, mechanics, architecture)?
3. Why was the mother frustrated?
4. Do you think the mother did the right thing by throwing the boys out? Why?
5. Who is the most cooperative member of your family? Where do you fit in and why?
6. Why weren’t the pigs cooperating?
7. What kind of a diet was the wolf on? What could you add to the diet? What did you think about
the wolf?
8. Why did the wolf blow down the straw house? What was in the straw house?
9. Why did the wolf blow down the stick house? What was in the stick house?
10. Why didn’t the wolf try to blow down the brick house? How did Little Red help the wolf?
11. How do the pigs cooperate at the end of the show?
12. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of cooperative and uncooperative behavior. Discuss
why classmates and family become cooperative or uncooperative.
Post-Show Activities:
1. List 10 cooperative acts and 10 uncooperative acts.
2. Write a story about a cooperative person that you know. What makes them cooperative? Do you
like this person? Why did you choose this person?
3. Write a story about an uncooperative family member and what kinds of things might happen to
this person.
4. Write a story about how someone overcomes being uncooperative.
5. Write a letter to the puppeteers telling them what you thought of the program.
6. Have students participate in role playing situations of cooperative and uncooperative acts. Have
them discuss their feelings.
7. Draw scenes from the puppet show to use in an art display.
8. Make simple hand, finger, or stick puppets.
9. Develop puppet skits using your puppets.
10. Create an alphabet diet.
Bibliography:
A Show of Hands: Using Puppets with Young Children, Creapeau and Richards. Redleaf Press 10/03
Introduction to Puppet and Puppet Making, David Currell. Book Sales, 9/96
Muppets Make Puppets, Cheryl Henson. Workman Publishing, 1994.
Puppet Mania: The World’s Most Incredible Puppet Making Ever, John E. Kennedy. North Light Books, 2/04