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Learning Laboratory: Rocks

Making a wall out of rocks found on a walk

My kids have been collecting rocks on our neighborhood rocks lately. Everytime Johnny finds one, he exclaims in delight, “Look! They have rocks, too!”

Then they bring their rocks home and use them for all sorts of play.

measuring rocks found on a walk

Emma brought her ruler outside and measured how long all the different rocks were.

a rock and penny sculpture

All three kids worked together to build this mixed-media sculpture. Can you spot the penny? I think they found that on one of our walks, as well!

playing with rocks and small toy animals inside

One day I even let them bring their rocks inside. They formed this wall along one arm of the couch, and their little plastic animals had all sorts of adventures along it!

learning laboratory at mama smiles

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

27 thoughts on “Learning Laboratory: Rocks”

  1. Amy @ A Little Nosh

    My son loves rocks too. He sticks them in his pocket to give to me as presents. And I keep forgetting to take them out before doing laundry!

  2. My mom has a basket of rocks at her house, on the coffee table. It is the number one favorite toy for all the grandkids! Who cares about dollhouses and legos when there are ROCKS to play with??

  3. Kids love to collect rocks and my friend’s daughter collects various kinds of rocks and put it in the vase. I love the idea of measuring them.

  4. I admire how children have the ability to take something they have discovered on a walk and turn it into a special treasure which brings them so much joy.

    Rocks are prized possessions here as well as gum nuts that fall from trees.

  5. Ooh, how neat. I guess this is the power of the joint imagination. Anna has never been terribly interested in rocks, especially since we don’t let her take them inside ;)

    1. Bringing them inside makes them even neater – although my kids definitely brought some dirt in with them. Next time we’ll give the rocks a bath outside before we bring them in =)

  6. Abby loves collecting rocks! I have a glass jar in the kitchen that she puts them in to for display. Good idea to measure them!

  7. Elisa | blissfulE

    Love how excited Johnny is about his discovery … “Look! They have rocks, too!” Perhaps a future geologist! :)

  8. In school my girls recently looked for rocks and painted them green to make “turtles.” They played with those things for days. It’s amazing how much playtime they can get out of something so simple.

  9. Princess loves rocks too. She keeps bringing backpacks full of rocks upstairs to her room. I discover them with my toes, and it doesn’t feel so good.

  10. Your kids would have a ball with the rocks at our house! The previous owners filled EVERY.EMPTY.SPACE. with ROCKS!!

    They looked like they had a blast!

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