Materials Needed:
-Acrylic Paint (best if suitable for outdoors)
-Jar of water to rinse brush
-Paper Towel
-Small paint brushes
-Pencils
​-Black Sharpie Marker
-Many Rocks! Ideally smooth surface round rocks...ideally 2-3 per student
-Varnish (manipulated by adults only) or mod podge for kids to manipulate

Classroom Set-up

Drawing Table

Painting Table

         The ideal set-up would be to have one table for drawing and the other for painting. The drawing table would have paper, pencils, and coloring pencils so that students can trace their rocks on the paper and draw a dessin for them. The table can also contain reference books with images of painted rocks to inspire the students. The painting table  would have all the painting supplies such as aprons, jars of water, brushes and acrylic paints. I had a 3rd table so I also created a material table for the paints, so there would be more room on my painting table. 

Step 1: Draw on the paper an outline of your rock (tracing rock)

• After you have chosen your rock, place your rock directly on the white paper. Using a pencil trace 1 or 2 outlines of the rock. Then using colored pencils and and pencil, draw the image you wish for your rock. In this case we were inspired to draw bugs, which is easier for young children. Older children could attempt more complex images. 

Student Age 5 drawing a rock dessin

Student Age 5 drawing a rock dessin

Step 2: Using a black Sharpie, draw the image you want on your rock

• Using the drawing you have made, recreate the image on the rock. It helps to also write down the colors you will be needing. 

My quick Prototype

Student Age 5

Student Age 11

Student Age 7

Step 3: Paint your Rock

Step 4: Let Rocks Dry

Step 5: Apply  Outdoor Varnish (applied by adult) or Mod Podge (safer for kids), and let dry

Student Artworks

Student Age 7

Student Age 11

Student Age 5

Student Age 5

Finished Student Rocks

The Students and their Rocks

My Examples of Painted Rocks