Welcome to Week 3 of our Outdoor STEAM Storytime series—where each week we pair a beautiful picture book with a simple, nature-inspired STEAM activity perfect for preschoolers.
These storytime invitations are designed to help young children explore the world through curiosity, creativity, and play—all while building foundational STEAM thinking.
This week’s book invites children to notice the small treasures hiding all around them—and imagine all the things they can become.
If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian
This thoughtful and imaginative book celebrates all the ways a simple rock can become something special—a skipping rock, a resting rock, even a treasure in your pocket. With rich photos and lyrical language, it invites children to see nature through a lens of curiosity and wonder.
STEAM Focus: Observation + Classification
This story encourages children to notice textures, shapes, and patterns—making it a perfect gateway to science and math concepts like sorting, comparing, and classifying natural materials.
Tip for Teachers:
You don’t need a fancy nature trail—a sidewalk, schoolyard, or even a gravel path can be full of rock discoveries if you invite kids to slow down and look closely.
Outdoor STEAM Invitation: Rock Hunt, Sort, and Build
Materials Needed:
- A container or bag for collecting rocks
- Large tray or surface for sorting
- Optional: magnifying glasses, white paper for contrast
- Crayons or pencils for drawing
Try This:
- Go on a rock hunt. Invite children to collect a handful of rocks—look for different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures.
- Sort and classify. Back at your outdoor table or circle time spot, sort rocks by one characteristic (smooth vs. rough, round vs. jagged, small vs. big).
Create with your collection. Use the rocks to form patterns, letters, animals, or mandalas.
Extension Idea: Rock Museum
Invite children to choose their favorite rock and create a label for it. Ask: What kind of rock is it? What could it be used for? Display them together as a class “Rock Museum” on a tray or table. This encourages language, creativity, and early scientific thinking.
Questions to Spark Curiosity:
- What do rocks feel like? Are they all the same?
- Can you find a rock that fits in your hand? In your pocket?
- How many different ways can we sort these rocks?
- What kind of rock would you like to find next?
Reflect & Record:
Invite children to draw their favorite rock and describe it using color, shape, and size words. Or use a sorting chart to document their rock types.
For Toddlers (Ages 1–2):
Toddlers love collecting! Offer a small basket and help them gather rocks safely. Talk about how they feel—“This one is bumpy,” “This one is cold!” Encourage dumping, filling, and stacking. For added fun, try water play: drop rocks into a tub and listen to the splash.
🧰 Want More Book-Based STEAM?You’ll find more hands-on invitations like this inside the Preschool STEAM Vault—our complete library of 5-Star Play learning guides and themed lesson sets launching August 2025.
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