This week one of my kindergarten students came to school with her own story stones. She had wanted her own set and found a way to make them – stickers! I was so impressed with her creative solution of how to get an image on the stone! Her mother told me she gathered the stones from her grandmother's garden.
Story Stones made by a Kindergartener
It IS a creative solution and it means the image is clear and easy to see. I’ve tried some methods for story stones that are much harder to decipher!
What a smart idea! Let the children lead the way!!
This is such a beautiful storytelling inspiration. We incorporate storytelling each day in our pre-k classroom…I’ll have to add this to our repertoire. Thank you!
You could do this with numbers to make a math game too.
Kay Hartt
Hi Sally,
From memory I think that you can use clear nail varnish or PVA glue to protect the stickers and extend their lives! You’ve reminded me to make some more! Thanks!!
I love this idea and it is almost indestructible compared to paper !
Such a lovely idea! Thank you for sharing it!
Story stones are brilliant. We use then frequently at our Preschool in Mosgiel, New Zealand.
Recently one of our 4 yr olds told me she knew the ‘..whole story…’ about the ‘Very Hungry Caterpillar’ I invited her to tell the story to the group at mat time using the story stones. She gathered her resources and began. “By the light of the moon…’ she laid the corresponding stone in the centre of the circle. Back to the basket to find the next stone she was discovered it was missing. Not daunted at all she turned to the group saying…” Oh that stone is missing so I’ll say the sentence and we can think it’s there” and completed her story in precise order. later she came to me to say that if we couldn’t find the stone that was missing we could just make another one. (we did find our missing stone).
We also have alphabet stones, maths stones, stones with indigenous Maori symbols, stones with colours on them, stones with shapes…stones, stones, stones! We all love using them for a vast amount of curriculum activities. And they are fabulously durable for including in the outdoor environment. Thanks so much for sharing your excellent ideas. Lyn
Hi. What did you use to seal the stones please?
I am in nz too and we can’t get modge podge here.
Hi Jill, simple school glue would work if you can’t get modge podge. Let us know how it goes! – Sally
Thanks so much I love the sticker idea. Using sticker will be great that will be my next idea for my story book time
I will use this idea in my classes. What a lovely idea. Thank you.
Children can be so ingenious! I loved the idea, too!
I love the stickers on the stones! I wonder if tattos would work?
WOW! I really like this idea!
One could put photos of the children on the stones. Then they would become part of the story!
Love that idea!
Great idea!
This will be great for the many stories we use, as well as making some for them to create their own stories
Thank you for inspiring us. As an ECE trainer, I will try to use the story stone in my session. Hope teachers would love it.
This sounds like a lovely idea. You could photocopy characters from the books you read and attach and seal the paper to the stones for kids to do a retell.
I read a beautiful book each year called ‘Everybody needs a rock’ by Byrd Baylor then we go on a “Rock Walk” I provide a variety of sharpies for them to create their own designer rock. And while we are talking rocks. . . check out the book ‘If Rocks Could Sing’ by Leslie McGuirk I know this is off the original topic, but I do love rocks!
I love this so much. It is something that has little cost and can be used in so many ways. Can’t wait to introduce it to the classroom!
I love story stones. And there are so many ways to use them to support literacy.
Wow!
Thanks for all your tips and ideas!
love it so heart felt and meaningful to her.
its amazing to find out a vast variety of students imagination. how much they can teach us. we experienced this within the whole elementry school. starting from pre k to grade 6.
its pretty neat ideas also,teach them somewhat reality about the home environaments. love it.
I intend doing story stones with children faces on it so we can use it for *who is in school today* but at what other ways can i use it?