Once upon a time, in the lively realm of preschool education, there was a beloved fairy tale called “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” This enchanting story had a magical power to captivate even the most hesitant young learners. With its clever goats and a grumpy troll, it laid the perfect groundwork for a delightful array of literacy practice activities.
But the magic doesn’t stop there, dear preschool teachers! In this blog post, we’ll explore a treasure trove of fun ideas that you can seamlessly integrate with the story. From gross motor skills to literacy and comprehension, from STEM activities to math adventures, and even touching on social-emotional themes, we’ve got it all covered.
So, buckle up and prepare to embark on a fantastic journey alongside your little learners. As we dive into the world of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” you’ll discover a world of endless possibilities for engaging and inspiring your students. Let’s nurture their imaginations and foster their love for learning – one delightful activity at a time!
Favorite Original Three Billy Goats Gruff Books
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Stephen Carpenter
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett
- The Three Billy-Goats Gruff by Ellen Appleby
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Carol Ottolenghi
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Kate Pankhurst
Extending the Learning with the Three Billy Goats Gruff
Here are some fun ideas to use along with the story:
Gross Motor: Set up a “bridge” made of large blocks or even just tape on the ground. Encourage students to move across the “bridge” in different ways, such as skipping, hopping, tapping, crawling, and more!
Literacy and Comprehension: Find an old copy of the story at a garage sale or used library sale, and use it to make sequencing cards. Laminate for durability and have students practice putting the story in order. No sequencing cards? This unit includes printable sequencing cards!
STEM: Provide students with popsicle sticks and other materials to create bridges or rafts at the sensory table.
Math: At the math center, have a sorting activity with small, medium, and large items.
Social-Emotional: Have a discussion about bullying. In the story, who is the bully? How do the others feel about his actions?
Fractured Fairy Tales: Goats with Gumption
The Three Silly Girls Grubb by John and Ann Hassett
This story replaces the goats with girls and the troll with a truancy-prone bully. Will the girls triumph over Bobby? Or will he steal their jelly donuts? A cute twist on the original.
Extending the Learning: Bobby wanted to steal the sisters’ donuts, so open a donut shop in your classroom with this adorable dramatic play set!
The Three Billy Goats Fluff by Rachel Mortimer
Poor Mr. Troll just wants to get some decent sleep, but how can he rest when noisy goats are always crossing his bridge? Mother Goat saves the day!
Extending the Learning: Mama Goat helps everyone get what they need by knitting warm booties, blankets, and earmuffs. Get out some child looms and let them practice their fine motor skills with weaving!
Listen, My Bridge is SO COOL! by Nancy Loewen
This “As Told By” series is fantastic for providing students with a different point of view. Is Arty the Troll doomed to lose his post?
Extending the Learning: Discuss what makes us all different and unique. Start by saying something nice about each student, then pair them up and have them tell each other something special about their friend!
The Three Triceratops Tuff by Stephen Shaskan
This adorable book puts a prehistoric spin on the classic tale. The three brothers Tuff want to get to the green mountain to get some dinner…but T Rex is hungry for some dinner too!
Extending the Learning: Students can re-tell the story or become archeologists in the sensory bin using these adorable dino sand molds!
The Three Armadillies Tuff by Jackie Mims Hopkins
Three armadillo sisters are looking for a fun night out on the town. To get to the fun, they have to cross under a busy highway and use a tunnel. However, a hungry coyote lives in the tunnel…but is she hungry for an armadillo or a friend?
Extending the Learning: The sisters give the coyote Talula a makeover and a fun night out…so open up the dramatic play center with fancy clothes, cowboy boots, and this taco truck setup!
The Three Silly Billies by Margie Palatini
This clever variation is a math lesson and a lesson in creative thinking. The troll demands a toll, but the goats don’t have enough money. Thankfully, the biggest goat thinks of a surefire way to make ends meet in this story – with the help of some fairy tale cameos.
Extending the Learning: Do some hands-on re-telling with plastic coins, toy goats, and other fairytale toys at the block center. Students can build bridges and perform the story in their own words! (No fairy tale figurines? Cut out clip art ones and tape them to cylinder-shaped blocks!)
Conclusion
Learning is more than just books – it’s about using imagination and having fun while discovering new things. Just like the goats cross the bridge, students cross into a world of endless learning possibilities, and keep exploring and growing, one step at a time!