Animals in Concert: Discovering Animal Families & Sound through STEAM Centers
Inspired by STARLIGHT SYMPHONY by Buffy Silverman, this sensory-rich, animal-themed unit is perfect for PreK–1st.
Children are naturally drawn to animals. But what happens when we provide hands-on experiences for children to explore these creatures through STEAM? Experiences that are accessible, educational, and ready-to-implement for busy educators and homeschools with limited budgets and instruction time?
Inspired by themes and concepts in the beautifully written STARLIGHT SYMPHONY by Buffy Silverman (Millbrook Press), I’ve created five immersive centers that invite children to explore key traits of animal families, how they communicate, move, build homes, and care for their young.
Featured Title: Starlight Symphony
Written by Buffy Silverman
I had the pleasure of reading this book for consideration in the Cybils Awards last year. This stunning story blends lyrical rhymes, vibrant photos, and the magical sounds of the night that play with your senses. Young readers will love the onomatopoeia and musical rhythm as they explore how nocturnal animals come together like an orchestra. With rich back matter on animals and instruments, it’s a perfect pick for STEAM, bedtime, or a nocturnal animal unit. I highly recommend grabbing a copy for yourself!
Read my full review here.
Want to add this book to your library?
Check out the Animal Families + Sounds collection in KidLit Grove’s Bookshop! This curated list includes all the read-alouds recommended throughout the lesson.
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Inside this edition, you’ll find:
CENTERS-BASED STEAM UNIT OVERVIEW
Animals in Concert: An Exploration of Animal Families & Sound
COMING UP NEXT
A sneak peek at our next unit - launching September 1st!
CUSTOM SUPPORT
How to reach out if you need product support, or simply need a brainstorm session.
PRINTABLE LESSON PLAN
Paid subscribers receive the full lesson guide, including detailed STEAM center instructions, book pairings, printables, and teacher prep support.
Prefer not to subscribe? You can purchase the full unit (Animal Family STEAM Centers) in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Centers-Based STEAM Unit
Children’s books are powerful springboards for meaningful exploration. KidLit Grove’s early childhood resources are designed to transform read-aloud experiences into rich, play-based discoveries.
This Animal Families unit invites students to investigate the traits and behaviors of nocturnal animals through interactive, center-based learning. Each center offers early learners the opportunity to explore skills in science, music, movement, math, and fine motor development — all grounded in curiosity and sensory exploration.
These centers allow children to dwell in a single theme over time, fostering deeper understanding through repetition, play, and wondering. Children will build nests like birds, hop like frogs, and make handmade instruments inspired by nighttime animal sounds all while developing foundational science knowledge, early math and creative problem-solving skills.
Flexible Implementation Options
These centers are designed with flexibility in mind! Educators can choose the format that best fits their schedule and students’ needs:
Try rotating through all centers in a single day—perfect for after-school programs or special events.
For deeper engagement, introduce one center per day over the course of a week, or even one per week throughout a month.
Here’s a peek at what’s inside:
This 37-page resource is packed with engaging, print-and-go materials! You can view a video preview on my Teachers Pay Teachers listing, where you’ll see that every colorful printable is also available in black-and-white for easy printing and accessibility. I’ve even included sample scripts for introducing the centers to your students.
The lesson focuses on the animal families featured in the book—mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians—with optional extensions that explore reptiles and fish for even more learning opportunities.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will…
explore how animals communicate through sound and movement.
identify and compare mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians using key traits.
use fine motor skills to manipulate materials (cutting, lacing, sorting, etc.).
participate in sensory-rich explorations to deepen understanding of animal environments.
practice early math skills (sorting, counting, measuring) through hands-on play.
create instruments to explore rhythm and sound as a form of communication.
Grade Level:
PreK-K (with built-in supports for 1st grade differentiation)
Subject/Focus:
Science: Animal families, behavior, and communication
Math: numbers, counting, patterns
Music and Movement
Sensory exploration (great for special education classrooms)
Time Required:
Each center takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. Implement all five centers in a single session (up to 75 minutes total) or spread them out to allow for deeper exploration and engagement.
Play-Based Exploration
STEAM Connections at a Glance
SCIENCE
Explore traits and classifications of animal families featured in the book: mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians (reptiles and fish stations included in extensions).
Investigate life cycles and habitats (frog metamorphosis, bird nests, insect anatomy).
Conduct hands-on, sensory-based discovery through animal-themed bins and tools.
TECHNOLOGY
Use magnifying glasses for observation and identification.
Create simple “sound machines” to mimic animal communication.
Integrate music and movement tools (instruments, audio cues) to explore how animals “talk.”
ENGINEERING
Design and build nests, burrows, and ponds using natural and sensory materials.
Construct animal-inspired instruments from recyclable items.
Problem-solve to improve sound machines or nesting structures.
ART
Decorate feathers and create insect models.
Engage in creative expression through movement (slither like a snake, hop like a frog).
Contribute to group displays (feather collage, animal homes).
Explore textures and patterns.
MATH
Sort animals by traits and patterns (color, number, texture, type).
Count “warts” on frogs, legs on insects, or eggs in nests.
Measure frog jumps using unit cubes or blocks.
Sequence life cycles using cut-and-paste cards.
Coming Up Next
Educator newsletters featuring STEAM curriculum are published every month! Here’s a sneak peak at what’s around the corner:
September 1: Students will soar into aerodynamics and culture with Kai Po Che: Mini’s Perfect Kite by Suhasini Gupta with a full curriculum package, including a Project-Based Learning unit, early childhood STEAM centers, mentor text study, book club guide, and some exciting GIVEAWAYS! More information coming soon!
October: Inspired by Stuck! The Story of the La Brea Tar Pits by Joyce Uglow and Valerya Milovanova, we’ll explore fossils and engineering with a full curriculum package. (Really looking forward to tap into my earth science experience with this one!)
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