Rocks, rocks, rocks!

Geologist: One who studies rocks, knows a lot about rocks, loves rocks, considers rocks pets, and stuffs her pockets full of rocks.

I've just described my 5-year-old daughter and soon-to-be Kindergartener.  Nothing quite entertains her and holds her attention like rocks.  So when we couldn't get in to see Monsters University at 3:30p.m. last Sunday (because it was sold out), I quickly ran through the possibilities of a plan B.  Throwing rocks! We're on vacation in Northern Minnesota, so most of the beaches here are beautifully rocky.  An even more brilliant idea then popped into my head: we'll collect a few to take home and paint them!

We had a blast painting rocks at the kitchen table...which got me to thinking about 2 things: a book and my classroom.  

 This is a neat book about the 10 rules you must consider when looking for the perfect rock.  This would be a fun beginning of the school year read and activity. Considering the rules and bringing in a rock could be the homework, painting your rock could be the schoolwork.  Kids could keep them on their desks or in a basket and use them as reading buddies (saw that idea somewhere).  I'm sure there are lots of other ideas as well.

It's a turtle...can't see the legs or head though.

Once I finished painting my rock, I started playing around with the plastic plate that was my palette and had a blast mixing the colors, making designs and writing words for my daughter to sound out.  

Then a lightbulb lit UP: this could be a fun way to practice handwriting (whole group or small group).

 

Once we both were finished I had yet another idea: we would take our painted rocks back down to the beach and leave them there for someone else to find so we could bring a smile to someone's face.  And of course if we leave rocks, we'll also have to take some more...

P.S. I wrote this post yesterday and today we went down to the beach to leave our rocks...and get more to paint! Here's mine.  Can you guess what it's supposed to be?