Outdoor STEAM Storytime: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Welcome to Week 1 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 is one of my all-time spring and summer favorites: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

A vibrant and poetic look at the butterfly life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and—finally—wings! The rich illustrations and rhythmic language make it perfect for young learners to explore transformation in nature.

STEAM Focus: Science + Observation

This story invites children to look closely at the natural world around them—especially the pollinators they might see fluttering through a garden or schoolyard.

Tip for Teachers:

You don’t need a big garden or fancy supplies. A few flower pots or a nearby patch of grass is enough to spark observation and wonder.

Outdoor STEAM Invitation: Butterfly Spotting + Flower Observations

Materials Needed:

• Access to a garden, flowers, or green space
• Printable observation chart or blank notebook paper
• Crayons or pencils
• Optional: Magnifying glass

Try This:

1. Go outside to a space with flowers or blooming plants like zinnias or coneflowers.
2. Pause and observe—ask, “What do you notice? Who’s visiting the flowers?”

Track what you see. Look for butterflies, bees, or beetles. Let children draw what they observe: colors, movement, wings.

Extension Idea: Create a Simple Butterfly Garden

Invite children to help create a small butterfly-friendly space. This could be as simple as planting one or two pots with nectar-rich flowers like marigolds or zinnias. Even placing a shallow dish of water with rocks for landing can help. Let children scoop soil, water the plants, and choose flower colors. This makes science feel hands-on, real, and full of wonder.

 Questions to Spark Curiosity:

• What do butterflies need to survive?
• Why do they visit flowers?
• Can you find something that might be a caterpillar’s food?
• What colors are most popular with the butterflies?

Reflect & Record:

Invite children to draw their favorite part of what they saw today, or create a “My Butterfly Garden” picture to take home. You can also use this printable observation chart to guide their reflections.

🐣STEAM  For Toddlers (Ages 1–2):

If you’re exploring with toddlers, keep it simple and sensory. Bring them outside to watch butterflies or bees flutter by. Talk about what you see together: “Look! A butterfly!” or “The wings are yellow!” Offer a simple prompt like, “Can you flap your wings like a butterfly?” Let them scribble or color a butterfly shape—there’s no right or wrong, just joy in noticing.

🧰 Want More Book-Based STEAM?This is just the beginning! You’ll find more story-inspired lessons and 5-Star Play Guides inside the Preschool STEAM Vault—our all-in-one resource library launching August 2025.