Preschool Rocks Theme

---

I know, I know, a preschool rocks theme can bring visions of rocks being thrown and boo-boos.  Let's teach our kids to be more curious--beyond the throwing!  Let's investigate them!

Let the Preschool Rocks Theme planning begin!

You can either scroll down through this page to see all of the preschool activities for your theme or click the link below to go to specific preschool activity types you are looking for.

You'll find more themes to help you with your planning on my preschool themes page.

ROCKS Art Activities Block Area Circle Time Activities Cooking Recipes Dramatic Play Ideas Easel Ideas Gross Motor Games Library and Literacy Math And Manipulatives Activities Music and Movement Sand and Water Table Science Activities Writing Activities

---

Another theme you may want to combine with this theme:

Mud Theme Page

---

Art Activities

Preschool Rocks Theme Art

Painting With Rocks

Use rocks as you would for marble painting!

Place paper in a shallow box cover or tray.

Plop on a few colors of watered down paint.

Add a few rocks.

Shake the box left to right and and in circles.

COOL designs!

Stepping Stones

This is a two part project!

MAKE THE STONES

Materials needed:  white glue, flour, sand, water, cake/pie pans

Make enough for all the kids.  The proportions are:  1 part glue and 2 parts flour, 2 parts sand, 2 parts water

Spray the pans with Pam or other cooking spray.

Fill with the dough and let dry (takes about 3 days or so).

PAINT THE STONES

The children then paint as they like.

When dry, make an obstacle course with them to follow!

Pet Rock  Thanks again, Kimberly, for this idea!

Have the children collect a rock for a pet.  Have them paint, color it with markers, stickers and give them googly eyes.  Have them name it!

Crayon Melt Rocks  Thanks, Kimberly, for this idea!

Collect large rocks place them in the sun to warm up then use crayons to color with.  The crayons will melt as they use them from the rock being warm.

---

Return to Top

---

Block Area

Preschool Rocks Theme Block Center Ideas

Add a bucket of rocks and stones for the children to build with.  They can make roads, walls, animal pens...they have a lot of ideas!

---

Return to Top

---

Circle Time Activities

Preschool Rocks Theme Circle Time Ideas

Circle Time is such a great time for children to learn the social skills of being together as a large group AND to learn more about your theme!

Introducing Rocks

Bring a wide variety of rocks to circle..large, small, colored, geodes, etc. Discuss rocks and write down their description.

Then make a group rock!  In advance, have all the materials to make plaster of paris in a shallow round bin.  

Have the children each choose one rock from the collection after your discussion.

Mix the ingredients as directed on the package of plaster of paris.

Each child presses their rock into the mixture.

Let dry!

The Magic Rock

Remember the song "The magic ball, goes round and round, so catch it quickly..."

Play this game while passing a rock.  The person who is holding the rock at the end is not out (preschoolers are too young for this type of "competition"), but needs to say one thing about the rock such as the color, size, weight, etc.

---

Return to Top

---

Cooking Recipes

Snack Recipe Ideas to Cook Up for Your Theme!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific themed questions while making these fun snacks!

Stone Soup!  Of course!

Materials needed:  The book Stone Soup by Marcia Brown or another version; a cooking pot and vegetables

Read the story to the children and then make your own soup!

---

Return to Top

---

Dramatic Play Ideas

Preschool Rocks Theme Ideas to Transform Your Dramatic Play Area

Rock Museum

Provide tables, trays, cash register, bags and other items.

---

Return to Top

---

Easel Ideas

Preschool Rocks Theme Ideas for your Easel--

More Than Just Painting (Although that is always THE favorite in our classroom!)

Thank you do Isabella for this idea!
A  preschool rocks theme Easel Idea is to have the kids collect rocks outside, then use them for painting in your Easel Center! Have them dip the rocks in paint and press them on the paper. Encourage the children to talk about what shapes they notice!

---

Return to Top

---

Gross Motor Games

Preschool Rocks Theme Large Group Games 

that help build their muscles while they have fun together

Rock Toss

I know, I know!  But set the rules!  They are ONLY to throw into the bins and of course, this must be supervised so children don't walk in front of the "tossers"!

Provide bins, laundry baskets, boxes, etc. for the children to toss the rocks into.

I saw someone once cover the rocks with the toes of socks!  Pretty cool!

Hopscotch

Draw a hopscotch and use rocks!

---

Return to Top

---

Library and Literacy

Preschool Rocks Theme Book Suggestions for the Library

(I LOVE Amazon, and some of the links below will take you to the Amazon website.  If you do choose to purchase yours through Amazon, they do send me a few cents--which supports my coffee habit! )

Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor

If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian

It's Mine! by Leo Lionni

Milo and the Magical Stones by Marcus Pfister

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran (This is one of my favorites! All pictures, no story...the children make it up!)

Stone Soup by Marcia Brown (or another version!)

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

---

Return to Top

---

---

Math And Manipulatives Activities

Preschool Rocks Theme Activities to help your Preschoolers develop those small muscles in their hands!

How Many?

Materials needed:  5 or ten smooth stones, stickers (of the same picture)

Place a sticker on one side of each stone.  Use the same stickers (dinosaurs, a shape, etc.)

Place the stones in a bowl. 

The child shakes the bowl to mix the stones around (shake it up and down) and when done, they count how many "dinosaur" or "shape" rocks are facing up.

---

Return to Top

---

Music and Movement

Preschool Rocks Theme Music and Movement Activities and Ideas

to get your Preschoolers Movin' and Groovin'!

Thanks Kim, for this idea!

ROCK THEME Song/Movement
1 little, 2 little, 3 little pebbles
4 little, 5 little, 6 little pebbles
7 little, 8 little, 9 little pebbles
10 little pebbles...*
Add your own line/movement after each verse...
*i.e. rolling down the hill; lying in the sun

---

Return to Top

---

Sand and Water Table

Preschool Rocks Theme Activities for the Senses!

Gravel

Add pea gravel to your sand table.  Add sticks, sifters, cups, small toy cars, dump trucks, etc.  Children can "draw" roads or other designs on the gravel.

Rock Hunt

Add a few colored rocks to the pea gravel above for a rock hunt!

---

Return to Top

---

Science Activities

Preschool Rocks Theme Science Activities--

for your Preschool Scientists in Training!

What is it made of?

Materials needed:  Safety glasses, small hammers, meat tenderizers, cloth, rocks, magnifying glasses

Obviously, this is a highly supervised activity!

The children cover the rocks with cloth (to avoid rocks flying at others!) and hit with the tools.

When done, check out the insides with magnifying glasses!

---

Return to Top

---

Writing Activities

Writing Activity Ideas for Your Preschool Rocks Theme!

Rock Names

In advance, paint letters on similar sized rocks.  Have extra letters for those used a lot (Like "A", "L", etc.)

The children spell out their names or other words!

---

Return to Top

---

Go to MAIN THEMES page from this Preschool Rocks Theme Page

---

Go to Preschool Plan-It's Home Page

---