Pigs in Literature is a comprehensive literacy resource built around a wide collection of fiction and nonfiction pig‑themed books. The unit provides structured routines for reading responses, comprehension, word study, creative thinking, and independent literacy practice. Teachers are supported with background information on real pigs, vocabulary lists, pig expressions, proverbs, superstitions, and trivia, helping students connect literature to real‑world science and social studies concepts.

The resource includes reproducible worksheets, activity cards, reading record sheets, book report templates, creative writing tasks, art activities, and individualized reading activities. Students explore how pigs are portrayed in stories, fables, nursery rhymes, and novels, while developing foundational literacy skills such as sequencing, inferencing, vocabulary development, retelling, and written response. Creative extension tasks—poetry, choral speaking, drama, research, booklet creation, and art—allow students to demonstrate understanding in varied and engaging ways.

Learning Expectations: Students will:

• Develop interest and enjoyment in reading fiction and nonfiction texts.
• Build background knowledge about real pigs, their characteristics, behaviours, and roles.
• Strengthen independent work habits through structured literacy routines.
• Identify and describe story elements (character, setting, plot, problem, solution).
• Make inferences and predictions using textual and visual evidence.
• Expand vocabulary through pig‑related word study, expressions, proverbs, and terminology.
• Strengthen creative and narrative writing skills.
• Build oral communication skills through discussion, choral speaking, retelling, and drama.
• Connect literature to personal experiences and real‑world knowledge.
• Engage in cross‑curricular learning through science (animal behaviour), social studies (farming), and art.

Introduction Includes:

• Teacher Notes
• Teacher Input Suggestions
• Advance Preparation Lists
• Bulletin Board Ideas
• Discussion Topics
• Pig Vocabulary Lists
• Pig Expressions, Proverbs, Words, and Superstitions
• Pig Trivia
• Teacher Information on Pigs
• Reading Record Sheets
• Book Report Sheets
• Student Tracking Sheets
• Teacher Evaluation Sheets
• Reproducible Story Booklets
• Activity Cards (Word Study, Creative Writing, Art, Research, Brainstorming)
• Choral Speaking Poem
• Independent Reading Activities
• Research Activities
• Reproducible Pig Booklet
• Answer Keys

Common Core Standards Alignment (Grades 1–3)

Grade 1

• Skills: sequencing, retelling, vocabulary development, simple written responses, text‑to‑self connections, identifying story elements
• Standards:1.1, RL.1.2, RL.1.3, RL.1.7, RF.1.3, RF.1.4, W.1.3, W.1.8, SL.1.1, SL.1.2, L.1.4, L.1.5

Grade 2

• Skills: inferencing, comparing/contrasting, opinion writing, word study (adjectives, descriptive language), story mapping, cause/effect
• Standards:2.1, RL.2.3, RL.2.6, RL.2.7, RF.2.3, RF.2.4, W.2.1, W.2.3, W.2.8, SL.2.1, SL.2.2, L.2.4, L.2.5

Grade 3

• Skills: evaluating character motivation, point of view, comparing texts, supporting opinions with evidence, informational writing
• Standards:3.1, RL.3.3, RL.3.6, RL.3.9, RF.3.4, W.3.1, W.3.3, W.3.4, SL.3.1, L.3.4, L.3.5

Canadian Curriculum Standards Alignment (Grades 1–3)

Ontario: Reading comprehension, oral communication, vocabulary, writing responses, media literacy; Arts: visual arts

British Columbia: ELA: exploring stories, making connections, creative writing, oral storytelling; Arts Education: visual expression

Alberta: ELA: comprehension, responding to literature, vocabulary; Arts: creating and reflecting

Saskatchewan: ELA: viewing/representing, comprehending, oral language; Arts Education: visual response

Manitoba: ELA: reading strategies, responding to texts, creative writing, discussion

Quebec: Competencies: reading/listening to literary texts, writing; Arts: visual response

Atlantic Provinces: Literacy: comprehension, vocabulary, creative writing; Arts: visual arts

Yukon / NWT / Nunavut: Follow BC/AB/ON‑aligned frameworks

List of Activities

Below is a teacher‑ready list summarizing the activities included in the resource and the skills they support. Some activities are in PowerPoint and Word.

Reproducible Story Book: The Three Little Pigs

• Skills: sequencing, retelling, comprehension, illustration, creative writing
• The Three Little Pigs Reading Activity Booklet
• Skills: comprehension, phonics, word study, creative thinking

Farmyard Friends – Poetry Activity

• Skills: rhyming, fluency, choral speaking, illustration

The Sheep and the Pig – Aesop Fable

Skills: listening comprehension, moral reasoning, written response

Follow‑Up Activities for Pig Stories

• Skills: comprehension, inferencing, text‑to‑self connections
  • Chester the Worldly Pig, by Bill Peet
  • Jillian Jigs, by Phoebe Gilman
  • The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs, by Phoebe Gilman
  • Pigs, by Robert Munsch
  • More Tales of Oliver Pig, by Jean Van Leeuwen

Choral Speaking Poem: The Three Little Pigs

• Skills: oral fluency, expression, drama

Word Study Activities - Piggy Words:

Skills: vocabulary, phonics, synonyms, antonyms, word meanings.

• Swine Rhymes
• What does a pig say?
• How many parts do you hear?
• Line Up the Pig Words – Alphabetical Order
• Matching words to their Meanings
• Pig Expressions
• Swine Word Search
• A Porker’s Word Puzzle

Brainstorming Activities – Thinking About Pigs:

Skills: idea generation, categorizing, descriptive language

• Popular Pigs
• Keeping a Pig for a Pet
• My Pet Pig
• Dirty as a Pig
• The Color Pink
• Pig Products
• Visiting a “Piggery”

Creative Writing Activities – Pig Tale Creativity

Skills: narrative writing, poetry, descriptive writing, opinion writing

• Writing a Story
• Writing a Pig Tale
• Pig Limerick
• Piggy Acrostic
• Make a Pig Book
• A Pig’s Diary
• A Mother Pig’s Day
• Writing a Dialogue
• Writing a Tall Tale
• Writing a Letter
• Piggish Moments

Art Activities

Skills: visual expression, retelling through art, creativity

• Designing a Poster
• Piggy Mobile
• Plasticine Piggies
• Cartoon Piggies
• Piggy Puppets
• A Poetry Pig
• Piggy Hall of Fame
• Piggy Greeting Card
• Pass-Along Piggy Picture!
• Character Cut-outs

Individualized Reading Activities – Pig Tale Reading

Skills: independent reading, comprehension, written response

• Character Description
• Pig Characters – Comparison Chart
• My Favorite Pig Story
• Do you know the story?
• Reading Out Loud
• Pig Lover
• Character Sketch
• Story Setting
• Solve the Problem
• Rewriting a Story
• Be a Book Critic
• Pigging Out on Pig Books
• What do you know?

Art – Pig Tale Art

• Piggy Button
• I Would Like To Be….
• Pig Pictures

Research Activities – Piggy Research

Skills: nonfiction reading, information gathering, science connections

• Locating Pig Books
• Pigging Out on Truffles
• Domesticated Piggies
• Wild Piggies
• M-m-m Pineapple Pork Chops!
• Pork Survey

Reproducible Pig Booklet

Cover and lined blank worksheet to copy for each student and use to complete activities.

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