Year 1 English: Retelling The Three Little Pigs
Part of the Year 1 English stories and fairy tales chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Retelling The Three Little Pigs
A traditional tale is a story that has been told for a long time, from one person to the next. The Three Little Pigs is a traditional tale. You can read it, or you can tell it again in your own words.
When you retell a story, you tell the main events in order. Use the words first, next, then, after that and at the end to keep the order clear.
Below is a retelling of The Three Little Pigs. Read it with a grown-up, then tell it back.
The Three Little Pigs
Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. Each pig wanted a house of his own.
The first pig made his house out of straw. It was quick to make.
The second pig made his house out of sticks. It was quick too.
The third pig worked hard. He made his house out of bricks. It took a long time, but it was strong.
One day, a hungry wolf came to the three houses. He tapped on the straw house. “Let me in!” he said.
“No!” said the first pig.
So the wolf huffed and puffed, and the straw house fell down. The first pig ran to the stick house.
The wolf huffed and puffed, and the stick house fell down too. The two pigs ran to the brick house.
The wolf huffed and puffed and puffed, but the brick house did not fall down.
The wolf had no puff left. He went away.
The three pigs were safe. They lived happily ever after.
Key ideas
- A traditional tale is an old story that people have told for a long time.
- To retell a story means to tell it again in your own words.
- Keep the main events in order: first, next, then, at the end.
- Leave out tiny details. Keep the things that matter most.
Method. Count the pigs in the first sentence.
- Read the first sentence. It tells us how many pigs there are.there were three little pigs
- Check the rest of the story. The three pigs each build a house.the first pig, the second pig, the third pig
- Write the answer. There are three pigs.three
Check. Count the pigs in the story: first, second and third. That is three. ✓
Watch out. Count the pigs by the story, not by the pictures.
Method. The strongest house is the one the wolf could not blow down.
- Look at the three houses. The houses are made of straw, sticks and bricks.straw, sticks, bricks
- Find what the wolf did. The wolf could not blow the brick house down.the brick house did not fall down
- Write the answer. The brick house was the strongest.The brick house, because the wolf could not blow it down.
Check. The wolf blew down the straw and stick houses, but not the brick house. ✓
Watch out. Explain with a clue from the story: what happened to each house.
Method. Retell means to tell it again in your own words. Keep the main idea.
- Read the first sentence. It tells us what the pigs wanted.Each pig wanted a house of his own.
- Put it in your own words. Say the same idea with different words.Three pigs each wanted their own house.
- Write the answer. Your words still tell the same idea.Three pigs each wanted their own house.
Check. Read your sentence aloud. It has the same idea in different words. ✓
Watch out. You do not have to copy the words. Keep the idea and say it your way.
Watch out
Watch out: when you retell a story, use your own words. You do not need to learn the story word for word.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use three cushions, or three toy houses, to act out the story. Let your child tell it first, and help with the order. Praise every new word your child uses.
Exercise 8E Retelling The Three Little Pigs
Method. Look back at the story and find the words that answer the question.
- Find the clue in the story. The answer is in the box, or we can work it out from it.“made his house out of straw”
- Think about what the clue tells us. The first pig used straw for his house.
- Write the answer. Answer with a short sentence or the word from the story.straw
Check. Also accept: straw only. Read your answer back to the story. It fits the clue. ✓
Watch out. The answer is in the story. Do not guess from what you think might happen.
Method. Look back at the story and find the words that answer the question.
- Find the clue in the story. The answer is in the box, or we can work it out from it.“made his house out of bricks”
- Think about what the clue tells us. The house made of bricks belongs to the third pig.
- Write the answer. Answer with a short sentence or the word from the story.the third pig
Check. Also accept: the third pig’s house; the brick house. Read your answer back to the story. It fits the clue. ✓
Watch out. The answer is in the story. Do not guess from what you think might happen.
Method. Look back at the story and find the words that answer the question.
- Find the clue in the story. The answer is in the box, or we can work it out from it.“the straw house fell down”
- Think about what the clue tells us. The wolf huffed and puffed, and the straw house fell down.
- Write the answer. Answer with a short sentence or the word from the story.It fell down.
Check. Also accept: it blew down; the wolf blew it down. Read your answer back to the story. It fits the clue. ✓
Watch out. The answer is in the story. Do not guess from what you think might happen.
Method. Look back at the story and find the words that answer the question.
- Find the clue in the story. The answer is in the box, or we can work it out from it.“but the brick house did not fall down.”
- Think about what the clue tells us. The brick house is the one that did not fall down.
- Write the answer. Answer with a short sentence or the word from the story.the brick house
Check. Also accept: the house made of bricks. Read your answer back to the story. It fits the clue. ✓
Watch out. The answer is in the story. Do not guess from what you think might happen.
Method. Put the events in the order they happen, from the start of the story to the end.
- Find the first thing that happens. Read the story from the start.a hungry wolf came to the three houses
- Find the next thing. Each part comes after the one before it.the straw house fell down
- Find the last thing. It happens after the others.the brick house did not fall down
- Write the events in order. These are the events in the order they happen in the story.a hungry wolf came to the three houses / the straw house fell down / the brick house did not fall down
Check. Read the events in your order. Does the story go the same way? ✓
Watch out. Look for the words that show time: first, next, then, after that, and at the end.
Method. Use the picture to find the answer. The words in the story can help you check it.
- Look at the picture. Find the thing the question asks about.The picture shows three houses, from left to right: straw, sticks and bricks.
- Check the words in the story. The second pig made his house out of sticks, so it is in the middle.
- Write the answer. Use the picture and the story together.the middle house
Check. Also accept: the second pig’s house; the stick house. Point at the picture as you say the answer. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole picture first. Then find the thing the question asks about.
Method. Look back at the story and find the words that answer the question.
- Find the clue in the story. The answer is in the box, or we can work it out from it.“but the brick house did not fall down.”
- Think about what the clue tells us. The wolf huffed and puffed, but the brick house was strong.
- Write the answer. Answer with a short sentence or the word from the story.The wolf could not blow it down.
Check. Also accept: bricks are strong; it was strong; the wolf could not blow it down. Read your answer back to the story. It fits the clue. ✓
Watch out. The answer is in the story. Do not guess from what you think might happen.
Method. Tell the story in three parts: the beginning, the middle and the end.
- Find the beginning. The three pigs each want a house.Each pig wanted a house of his own.
- Find the middle. The wolf blows down two houses.the straw house fell down
- Find the end. The pigs are safe in the brick house.They lived happily ever after.
- Write your retelling in three sentences. One sentence for each part.Three pigs each built a house. A wolf came and blew down two houses. The brick house was strong, so the pigs were safe.
Check. Read your three sentences in order. Each part comes after the one before it. ✓
Watch out. Keep each sentence short. Use first, next and at the end.
Method. A character is a person or an animal. A setting is a place and time. Check each choice.
- Read the two choices. One is a character and one is a setting.A: the park B: the wolf
- Check each choice. The park is a place, so it is a setting. A wolf is an animal, so it is a character.A is a setting. B is a character.
- Write the answer. The character is the wolf.the wolf
Check. Also accept: B. ✓
Watch out. Places are settings. People and animals are characters.
Method. Knock, knock is a clue. Think about who might be at the door.
- Find the clue. Someone knocks and asks who is at the door.Knock, knock! Who is at the door?
- Think about what usually follows. People who knock often want to come in or to play.a friend comes to play
- Write your prediction. It fits the clue.Answers will vary. For example: a friend has come to play, so the door opens.
Check. Your guess must use the clue. Read it aloud. ✓
Watch out. Any sensible guess that uses the knock is right.