I'll Huff! Piggies Run From House to House
Using the Three Little Pigs story, children take shelter in straw houses (hoops), stick houses (cone squares) and brick houses (mats), while the wolf huffs and chases so they keep moving house until everyone gathers in the brick one. It practices running to a safe spot, choosing where to go, and acting out the story with the body.
How to play
- The teacher tells the story in two minutes and shows the three kinds of houses around the playground: straw hoops, stick cones and brick mats (2 min).
- The piggies stroll in the forest; the wolf (the teacher) appears shouting “I'll huff and I'll puff!” and everyone runs into a straw house (2 min).
- The wolf blows on the straw houses, “Whooo!”: the piggies run to the stick houses and the wolf tries to tag them on the way; tagged piggies get a tummy tickle and are let go (3 min).
- The wolf blows down the stick houses and everyone runs into the brick house; the wolf huffs and puffs but can't knock it down and falls on his bottom (2 min).
- Replay the story with two children joining the teacher as wolves, then with new wolves (4 min).
- The piggies, safe in the brick house, sit together and breathe out very gently like a tired wolf (1 min).
Rules
- I run to the house the wolf calls when he huffs.
- Inside a house nobody can tag me.
- If the wolf catches me, I get tickled and keep running.
- Everyone fits in the brick house.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only the teacher is the wolf, walking instead of running, and the houses are close together.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, all three houses, the wolf jogs gently, and two child wolves join in.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the wolf may skip a house (straw straight to brick), so the piggies have to listen for which house is called.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child's wheelchair is a fixed brick house and piggies touching it are safe; they can also be the huffing wolf.
- Autism: picture cards of the three houses in story order so the child knows where to go next.
- Visual impairment: a piggy buddy holds their hand, and each house has a sound (a hand drum at the brick house).
Learning goals
- Run to a safe spot while changing direction.
- Decide quickly which house to go to.
- Act out a traditional tale with the body.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Hoops: 8
- Cones: 8
- Mats: 2
Teacher tip
Set the houses in a wide triangle so there's real running between them. The wolf's scare is the fun part: always warn with “I'll huff!” before chasing and never truly chase a child who is frightened.
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