When planning a fairy tale unit, "The Three Little Pigs" can do double duty as a language arts and math lesson. Choose at least three versions of the story, reading them to the class over several days. Then, take a vote on which one the children liked, and represent the vote in a bar graph on the board. Children can make their own version of the graph or even take the lead in polling their classmates. Sequencing activities, using five or so scenes the children have to put in order---on laminated cards or sheets they can combine into a books---also reinforce math concepts.
"The Three Little Pigs" is a delightful story when told with finger puppets or, as suggested at CoreKnowledge.org, by students wearing masks they've made. Finger puppets can be made out of paper or fabric, and paper plates are reversible---students can paint or draw the face of a wolf on one side and a pig on the other.
Props in your classroom allow for spontaneous retelling of the story. Pieces of pink and black or gray wool on a tray with toothpicks, some straw and plastic building bricks gives students everything they need to tell the story in their own way. Felt characters are another option, as are paper cutouts attached to Popsicle sticks; they can last for many years. Photograph or record the children's storytelling, turn it into a book or class movie, or put on a class play.
With dozens of versions of the story to choose from, it's hard to pick just a few. The true standouts, however, are "The Three Little Pigs" by Patricia Seibert, which is a classic telling of the tale, and Jon Scieszka's "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs," a revisionist defense by a "misunderstood" wolf.
Two stories with a flavor all their own are "Three Little Hawaiian Pigs and the Magic Shark" by Donivee Laird and "Three Little Cajun Pigs" by Mike Artell, which could work well with other units, such as the ocean or a cultural theme. If your class includes older preschoolers, "Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes," by the beloved author of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," presents a twisted rhyme with an irresistibly cynical ending.