Three Little Pigs STEM Project for Kids

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Can you build a house strong enough to stop the Big Bad Wolf?

This Three Little Pigs STEM project is a hands-on engineering activity where kids design and build houses out of straws, sticks, and bricks, then test which structure is strongest. It’s the perfect combination of storytelling, creativity, and real engineering.

Fairy tale STEM activities are a wonderful way to connect literature with science. Kids already know and love the story, so they feel naturally motivated to solve the challenge.

My kids had such a blast designing, building, testing, and rebuilding their houses. They were completely engaged for hours.

Free Printable Three Little Pigs Figures

To add even more imagination and storytelling, I created a printable set of Three Little Pigs characters and the wolf. My youngest especially loved using these figures to act out the story after building her houses.

DOWNLOAD THEM HERE:

This simple addition turns the activity into both a STEM challenge and creative play experience.

What Kids Learn from This STEM Activity

This activity teaches important engineering and science concepts in a way kids can see and feel:

• Engineering design
• Structural strength and stability
• Problem solving
• Cause and effect
• Trial and error
• Creative thinking

Kids also learn that stronger structures often require more thoughtful design, not just stronger materials.

Supplies Needed

Straws (paper or plastic)
Popsicle sticks
Wooden blocks or LEGO bricks
String or twine
Masking tape
Rubber bands
Optional: hair dryer (for stronger “wolf blowing”)
Optional: printable pig and wolf figures

Step 1: Build Straw Houses

The first challenge was to build houses using only straws.

I initially provided straws, string, and rubber bands. My son quickly figured out how to connect them, but my girls requested tape, so we added that option. This actually created an interesting learning opportunity as they experimented with different building techniques.

Each child designed their house differently, which is one of the best parts of open-ended STEM challenges.

When it was time to test them, the straw houses were the easiest to blow down.

This led to great discussion about why straw structures are weaker and what design improvements might make them stronger.

Step 2: Build Stick Houses

Next, we built houses using popsicle sticks and masking tape.

You can increase the challenge by having kids collect real sticks and tie them with twine, but popsicle sticks work well and are easier for younger children.

These houses were noticeably stronger than the straw houses. Some barely moved when tested.

Kids quickly began noticing patterns and making predictions, which is exactly what engineers and scientists do.

Step 3: Build Brick Houses

Finally, we built houses using wooden blocks. LEGO bricks are another excellent option.

These were by far the strongest structures. None of them could be blown down.

Interestingly, these were also the fastest to build, which surprised my kids since the brick house took the longest to build in the original story.

This created a great opportunity to discuss how real bricks require mortar and careful placement, while blocks snap or stack easily.

Test the Houses: Can the Wolf Blow Them Down?

Now for the most exciting part: testing.

We pretended to be the Big Bad Wolf and blew on each house. You can also use a hair dryer for stronger airflow and more dramatic results.

Kids loved testing, rebuilding, and improving their designs.

This process of testing and redesigning is called the engineering design process.

Engineers rarely succeed on the first try. They learn by improving their designs.

STEM Extension Questions to Ask Kids

Why was the straw house weakest?
Why was the brick house strongest?
How could you make the straw house stronger?
Which house was fastest to build?
Which house was strongest overall?
If you could redesign your house, what would you change?

These questions help kids think like engineers.

Connect STEM with Reading

Read a version of The Three Little Pigs before or after the activity. This strengthens comprehension and makes the engineering challenge more meaningful.

We love the classic version by James Marshall.

Why Fairy Tale STEM Activities Are So Powerful

Fairy tale STEM connects imagination with real-world science. Kids become problem solvers inside the story. Instead of just hearing that the brick house was strongest, they experience it themselves. This makes the learning memorable and meaningful.

More Fairy Tale STEM Activities

Fairy Tale STEM: Build Cinderella’s Carriage

Fairy Tale STEM Project: Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Fairy Tale STEM Craft~ Rapunzel Tower 

 

Turn This Into a Full Fairy Tale STEM Unit!

Love this activity? Get the complete 61-page Fairy Tale STEM Bundle with:

✔ 5 hands-on building challenges
✔ Math games (including Jack and the Beanstalk)
✔ Mini books + storytelling props
✔ A full week (or more!) of learning

Grab the full bundle here.