Story Stones
To develop oral storytelling and narrative imagination through story stone collections.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Literacy
- Learning area: Literacy
- Level: EYFS 2-3
Objectives
- Selects stones purposefully
- Creates simple narrative from stones
- Uses story language
- Tells stories to peers
Materials
- Painted story stones (characters, settings, objects)
- Story stone basket
- Felt mat for laying out stones
- Recording device for capturing stories
Instructions
Create a collection of story stones: smooth pebbles painted with simple images (princess, dragon, tree, house, car, sun, moon, cat, dog, baby, boat). Store in an attractive basket.
Model story stone use: pick three stones randomly. 'I've got a cat, a boat, and the moon. My story is: One night, when the moon was bright, a cat found a boat. The cat sailed across the sea under the moonlight. The end!'
Invite children to pick stones and tell their own stories. Accept ALL stories — even 'The cat went home' is a complete narrative with character, action, and resolution.
Scribe children's stories as they tell them. Read back: 'Listen to your story! You said...' Children hearing their own words read back is a powerful literacy moment.
Gradually increase the number of stones: start with two (simple stories), build to three, then four. More elements create more complex narratives.
Add new stones based on children's current interests — if dinosaurs are the obsession, add dinosaur stones to the collection.