Puffed out - Will Hussey

This innovative approach starts by getting learners to think about a seemingly familiar story in a radically different and creative way.

Who knew the story of the three little pigs was so complicated, and so challenging? In fact, for decades adults have even been reading it to infants, as if it were a simple tale for simple kids! The essential plotline: three pigs each build a house. A wolf exposes the limitations of two of the houses through lung power, but the third house remains standing. He attempts to force an entry via the chimney and fails.

This book might seem to be about the three little pigs, but the pigs are just the focus of its real purpose, which is to challenge and encourage learners to immerse themselves in thinking between, above, below, around and beyond the tale's unexplored blind-spots. Crammed full of activities and diverse open-ended questions, there's plenty to ponder over, and if they require a nudge or two in the right direction, they'll find them although the direction they take depends on which way they're looking at it. Prompts and responses abound, although it's not always clear which is which; questions can be answered and answers should be questioned.

Learners will develop the confidence and independence to pursue their own ideas and opinions as they think creatively and cultivate original and innovative responses. Students are encouraged to respond as they see fit, developing key skills transferable to wider areas of the curriculum and life. This has the added advantage of cultivating intrinsic motivation and a love of learning in the process. The challenges will capture learners' interest and curiosity by appealing to their sense of fun and nonsense. Word play, puns and writing prompts simultaneously encourage the development of literacy skills. Extension material and helpful nudges mean the activities are self-differentiating and will appeal to all abilities across key stages 1 to 3.

Suitable for primary and lower secondary teachers.

Will Hussey is an experienced teacher and author who writes about thinking ... and spy dogs. Will has a degree in physical and adventure education and reckons that's pretty much how all education should be: sedentary and unadventurous education is not much use to anyone. He's completed three London marathons and the Snowdon marathon. He's vowed 'never again'. He is (almost) a black belt in karate and has a wife and two children who don't take him too seriously.Professor Barry Hymer is one of the country's foremost authorities on cultivating a growth mindset and a much in demand speaker who has worked closely with Carol Dweck on several UK mindset conference tours. He is interested in helping schools with practical ways to foster growth mindsets in their pupils.