Trade book STEM

Three Little Pigs STEM

"The Three Little Pigs" is a popular text and can be used in conjunction with almost any comprehension skill, such as:

Problem and Solution
Sequencing
Retelling
Analyzing Character (character traits)
Compare and Contrast (different versions of the book)
Make Connections (text to self, text to text, text to world)

After a unit teaching one of these comprehension skills (I did analyzing character this year and problem/solution last year), wrap up the unit with a Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge! Available here.

Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge

Gingerbread STEM Challenge

Gingerbread STEM

There are so many variations of the original gingerbread story out there. Like The Three Little Pigs, you can attach almost any reading comprehension strategy you want to these books. I usually use compare and contrast with gingerbread stories and end the unit by inviting families to build gingerbread houses before winter break. We compare and contrast the character, the chant, and the "trick" among other things.

I would recommend the following comprehension strategies for The Gingerbread Man (or other variations):

Analyze character
Story elements (character, setting, problem/solution, plot)
Compare and contrast
Make inferences and drawing conclusions (infer the trick)
Sequencing
Predictions
Summarizing and retelling

Since I build gingerbread houses at the end of my gingerbread unit, I like to do our Gingerbread STEM challenge about halfway through. In this STEM challenge, students have to build a trap for the pesky gingerbread man who keeps getting away! The best thing about this STEM challenge is that you really only need supplies around your classroom. I use things like:

plastic bins or boxes
rulers
Legos and other building tools
hardcover books
popsicle sticks
cardboard, paper, paper towel tubes
yarn, tape, & glue

Did I convince you yet? Check out this link for more ideas and recording sheets.

Trade book STEM

Three Little Pigs STEM

Gingerbread STEM

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