Try these Story Stone activities or make up your own!

Story Starters

Choose a few stones and use them to tell a story. Ask open-ended questions like, "Who do you think lives in the castle?" or "What do you think should happen next?" Encourage kids to use their imagination.

Stone Basket

Place the stones in a basket or use the provided pouch. Take turns reaching into the basket, selecting a stone, and using it to start or continue a story. For example: "Once upon a time, there was a [PULL STONE] ... that lived in a [PULL STONE] ... "

Story Building

Spread all the stone out on a table. Take turns selecting a stone to create a collaborative story. Encourage kids to use descriptive words and to add details. For example: "Once upon a time, there was a [PICK STONE] ... that lived in a [PICK STONE] ... "

Character Creation

Take turns selecting 2-3 stones and use them to create a story character. For example, a dragon that likes to swim and play the guitar. Focus on describing the character's personality and what they like to do.

Reading, Writing, & Spelling

Together, write a word or two for each story stone on a piece of paper. Talk about the letter sounds. Use the words as sight words. Ask kids to think of other words with the same beginning sound as each Story Stone - or try thinking of rhyming words.

Memory Match

Work together to write 1-2 words on slips of paper to describe each story stone. Start with 5 or 6 Story Stones and the words you've written for each of them. Mix them up and turn them upside down. Players take turns turning over a stone and a slip of paper to find matches.

Find the Stones

Without showing the stones, tell a short story using about 5 Story Stones. Then, place all the stones on the table and ask the kids to find the stones that were a part of the story. Kids can use the stones to retell the story.
Creative writing: After using Story Stones for storytelling activities, invite kids to write or draw their favorite stories in their journals.