This investigation was based on the story The Three Little Pigs and helped the children learn about materials and their properties. The pupils worked in groups to build three houses, one made from straw, one from sticks and one from bricks using Lego. After building the houses, we tested them to see which was the strongest by blowing on them in the Big Bad Wolf test. We also tested how waterproof they were by pouring water over them.
The children observed that the straw house was the weakest and let water through very quickly. They also observed that the straw house easily blew away. The stick house was slightly stronger, some houses collapsed, and it was not very waterproof. The brick house was the strongest and stayed standing for the longest, keeping most of the water out. This led to lots of discussion about how real houses are built. The children noticed that real brick houses have cement between the bricks, unlike their Lego models. They also discussed that straw would not be used to build a real house but could be used on a roof, and that real log houses would be made using tightly packed sticks and logs like the ones they had seen at the American Folk Park.
At the end of the investigation, the pupils decided that bricks are the best material for building a house because they are strong and more waterproof. One child commented, “We are like architects,” showing how engaged and confident the children felt during the activity. The investigation encouraged teamwork, discussion and learning through play, and the children had a lot of fun throughout.
