Playing With Stones: 5 Steps to Meaningful Engagement

“Stones are a kinesthetic medium — never fixed in place or meaning: the ground is an endless canvas, and the hands that arrange the stones are the brushes that move them.”

What is Stonework Play?

Stonework Play is an open invitation to work with stones…

Stonework Play is a medium which promotes interaction with nature, harnessing nature’s power to enrich the imagination.

Stonework Play provides a distinctive opportunity for teachers and parents to engage with children in authentic, creative, natural activity.

The History of Stonework Play

Several years ago, I was invited to HEMS School in Kathmandu, Nepal, as an early childhood consultant. With limited resources (the children had only a pencil and paper to copy lessons), I was asked to craft developmentally appropriate, hands-on activities. One day, I found myself gazing at stones on the ground. I realized that, as movable, natural objects stones would be a perfect medium to inspire children’s creativity. Making use of a ready and free natural resource, I was able to provide HEMS children and staff with a much-needed opportunity for self-expression. Stonework Play was born!

Stonework Play encourages self-directed learning, teaches critical thinking skills, provides sustained involvement and purposeful effort, and allows meaningful engagement with nature (all aptitudes that have been promoted in recent educational journals as well as in popular media).

Teachers can enjoy Stonework Play with their students; parents with their children. Additionally, adults can participate with colleagues in Stonework Play as a team-building experience. You will be amazed at the power of stones. Start collecting your stones before the first snowfall, and experiment with them through the holidays and all winter long!

Step 1: Gathering

First, you need stones!

• Collect your own stones, alone or with your family and friends
• Select stones that interest you
• Sort them
• Find a flat surface to work on

Please take your time; there is no hurry…

Step 2: Constructing

From an endless variety of stones, there is an infinite source of stories to create!     

• Use the various shapes, weights and colors of stones to create your unique story
• Work independently at your own pace

Please be quiet inside yourself…

Step 3: Rendering

When you are happy with your stone construction, it is time to render.

• Use a pencil to draw a representation of your stone construction
• Pretend you are a camera and copy exactly what you see
• (The technique of shading may be used to enhance your image)

Please remember to take your time…

Step 4: Narrating

When finished rendering, it is time to narrate…

• Write or dictate a story about your stone creation
• Give your work a title
• Taking your time is “Tarry Time”

Tarry Time is a term I coined to refer to the amount of silence between interactions. This silent space is fertile ground for creativity, and Stonework Play facilitates it. Further, silence is well known to be inspired by nature.

Step 5: Sharing

When you are happy with your narration, it is time to share…

• This part is called Museum Walk-and-Talk
• Walk around the setting of Stonework Play silently
• You will probably be surprised and touched by the dramatic differences
• Personal sharing may be cathartic and encourage empathy

As a group gathers at one participant’s work, we listen silently as s/he shares his/her story. For serenity, we show appreciation by waving our hands in the air rather than clapping. The participant may also share his/her process, or how it made him/her feel.