It is no secret we love combing Art with STEM to create STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math)  and come up with a new twist on kid STEM activities.

Lil B especially loves to build so I enjoyed the challenge of combining an engineering/problem solving activity along with the fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood.

Lil B (5) and M-Woww (3) had fun creating their own unique way for Little Red Riding Hood to safely travel through the woods. Check out our tutorial below to see how we solved the challenge.

Creative Challenge: Create a safe way for Little Red Riding Hood to cross through the woods to get to Grandmother’s house.

Materials

Large white banner paper

Markers or Crayons

Small Doll Figure, Grandma figure and wolf figure (We had a dinosaur substitute for the wolf)

Building Materials: cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes or other toys, whatever you have available. Let your child help find the solution

Tutorial

Step 1: Read “Little Red Riding Hood” with your child.

Step 2: Discuss alternative ways Little Red Riding Hood could have safely made it through the woods. Encourage imaginative thinking, the solution does not have to be realistic.

Step 3: On the large sheet of paper, draw Little Red Riding Hood’s house, Grandma’s house and the woods.

Step 4: Decide on a new way for Red Riding Hood to cross the woods to avoid the wolf. Build using what materials you have on hand to act out Little Red Riding Hood’s new way to cross the woods.

Lil B decided his character was Little Red Riding Hood Boy. We used red tissue paper to create a red cape.

Step 5: Act out the story with the figures.

Parent Notes: Be sure to ask open-ended questions throughout the activity to prompt your young learner’s thinking.

Me: “Tell me about this area here (pointing to drawn blue lines on the paper)”

Lil B: “That is a river so little Red Riding Hood Boy can take a boat to Grandma’s house. The wolf can’t swim so he will be safe”

Me: “Why do you think the wolf can’t swim”

Lil B: “Because he has four legs and is not a fish or duck”

Me: “That is true but how do dogs swim, they have four legs”?

Lil B: Stopping to think…. “Maybe the wolf can swim but that is why Little Red Riding Hood Boy is in the boat. The wolf can’t get in the boat”.

Preschoolers naturally use their imagination for creative play. Let them take control of their Little Red Riding Hood story even if it is silly or is not realistic. Use this opportunity to connect and ask questions to understand your child’s thinking process. Also, by asking questions your are showing that you appreciate and value their hard work. You also can use this opportunity to stretch their creative thinking skills.

Activity Extension: Document your own version of Little Red Riding Hood. Take photos of her journey and collect the photos together into a book.

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Be sure to check out more fairytale fun with our Creative Preschool Friends

 

Cinderella Carriage Craft | Artsy Momma

Fox Tale Soup Storytelling Bin| I Heart Crafty Things

Fairy Tale Mad Libs| Pink Stripey Socks

The 3 Little Pigs Activity + Printable  | A Little Pinch of Perfect

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