We can't speak for all people of course, but we feel confident that some will certainly nod their heads in recognition of coat pockets being filled with sticks, stones, cones, leaves, feathers and much much more from walks and outdoor adventures. And whilst we always allow a few favourites to come home for a while, we are also consciously aware of encouraging these items to be left in their natural environment as much as possible. So, stones...if they are flat why not skim them, or throw them back in the water and listen to the different sounds that they make, but we know that water isn't always a present factor, so here is another way to encourage them to be left where they belong. Stone stacking sculpture play. You may well have seen some impressive images of rock balancing and the art (thought, time & effort) in those sculptural pieces is truly amazing. Well, stone stacking is at the humble beginnings of that practice. It also comes from a place of play, exploration and creation. It also takes some time, effort and a little thought but can lead to so much more if you want it to. Along with being a beautiful form of art connecting with place and nature that the whole family can take part in, it can also lead to enquiry into: factors involved in balance, gravity, shape and science; rock types- physical geography; cairn structures - their uses and historical meanings attached to them to name but a few. Why not try this out with your family and see what questions they come up with!
Items required: A selection of stones - yes it really is as simple as that. They can be large or small- rock, pebble, gravel. We too have successfully stacked gravel pieces at the ends of drives before as part of play and art. #stone #stonestacks #stonestacking #stones #balance #nature #natureconnection #rockbalancing #gravity #rocks #familytime #family #crafting #making #creating #kidsactivity #childrensactivity #wellbeing
Whilst using this resource to inspire learning, know you are helping you and your family's wellbeing by:
1) Get Active - Get yourselves out the door for a walk outdoors, consider this activity if you are heading to a beach, the river, a woodland stream, or hiking on a mountain, although it can also as easily be in any place that you can find stones!
2) Keep Learning - Although modern times may have brought stone stacking or rock balancing to your fingers with wonderful instagram images, stone stacking actually has an ancient history of marking burial grounds and being a way of honouring the dead. Cairns (stone stacks) on mountain paths are also a ways and means of identifying where you are when the weather comes in and you must be sure not to use rocks from those piles - they are there with a very certain purpose that may save lives.
3) Be Mindful- Each stone and rock is unique in it's size, weight, shape and how it feels in your hand. Take a moment with each pebble, rock or stone before you use them. How do they feel? Look closely at their surface. Consider where they have come from and how they are now in your hand. Sometimes this process naturally occurs in the process of choosing your rocks. Why have you chosen the ones that you have above others? All rocks can be stacked.
4) Practice Kindness- Stone stacking can begin with any size of rock but be sure to return or leave your materials in the place they are from. Rocks and stones provide habitat and shelter for for insects and creatures and are often placed where they are to stop erosion of the land (eg on beaches). We may be tempted to think that the beach is 'full of stones' but if every person who had ever visited that place had thought that and taken stones with them...there would be no stones left where they are needed. Remember to leave no trace with your works of art, dismantle them before you move on.
5) Think Community - Share your beautiful outcomes with your online community or print off and frame your photo for your home or to print on cards for friends!
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Awesome Sheila! This sounds like a great activity and lots of fun too! Happy Stone Stacking :)
In this virtual covid world, I've had the opportunity to use my creativity and develop a program called the Stone Station for children. Children bring their collected stones (to the zoom meeting) and we do a lot of different activities each week. One of the activities is stone stacking. We are engineers and create different structures with our stones. We then add in clay or playdough what ever families have on hand at home and see how that changes the way we can build.
Kids and Stones = a tonne of fun!!