Three Little Pigs Engineering Design Task

This week the kids participated in close readings of four different versions of the three little pigs story during Reading Workshop.  As the culminating activity, the students were given the following scenario during Science time:  Pretend that there was a fourth little pig.  The pig is walking down the road and comes across a man with a wagon filled with gumdrops and toothpicks. How could this pig use these materials to build a house strong enough to withstand the force of the wolf's mighty blow?  We pretended that the fan was the huff and puff from the wolf.  Each child had to test their design and explain why they thought that it worked.   The following are photos of what they designed.  Most met the challenge and the ones that did not learned from others' success and redesigned their houses.  It was sooooooo much fun!  Don't be surprised if they ask for you to buy gumdrops and toothpicks at your next grocery shopping trip!