Whistle for Willie Read Aloud Pre-K STEM Lesson Work Hard Activity

Kick off the year with this Whistle for Willie back-to-school STEM lesson for Pre-K that teaches the classroom rule “Work Hard” through hands-on building.

Inspired by Ezra Jack Keats’ Whistle for Willie, this Pre-K STEM activity has students stack cups, blocks, and cubes to build the tallest tower they can—then try again when it falls.

It’s a simple, powerful way to introduce growth mindset, perseverance, and fine motor STEM skills during those important first weeks of school.

What Students Do:

• Listen to or review Whistle for Willie and connect Peter’s persistence to the classroom rule “Work Hard.”
• Use plastic cups, wooden blocks, and snap cubes to build the tallest tower they can.
• Practice taking a breath, checking balance, and trying again when their tower falls.
• Follow simple visual direction cards: think, pick, place for the tower build and write, cut, glue, place for the literacy extension.
• Re-enact and sequence three key story events using cut-and-glue picture cards to show beginning, middle, and end.

What’s Included:

• Teacher instructions with suggested materials, sample teacher language, and tips for helping young students during STEM time.
• A classroom “Work Hard” rule poster to anchor expectations visually.
• Student-friendly challenge letter connecting Peter’s practice in Whistle for Willie to students working hard on their towers.
• Visual direction cards for the building challenge and story-sequencing activity, perfect for non-readers.
• “Draw what you discovered” reflection page to capture student thinking and tower designs.
• Full-color and blackline sequencing mats and picture cards for retelling the story in order.
• Suggestions for an optional movement break (like “Move it to the Sounds” by Jack Hartmann) to keep little learners engaged.

Why Teachers Love It:

• Perfect first-week-of-school STEM lesson that reinforces classroom rules in a concrete, kid-friendly way.
• Uses simple, easy-to-find materials and takes very little prep time.
• Builds fine motor skills, language, and social-emotional learning while students have fun building towers.
• Flexible for whole-group, small-group, or center-style rotations and pairs beautifully with a Whistle for Willie read-aloud.

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