Aboriginal-Inspired Story Stones

Here is an easy-to-make resource which encourages engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures (a cross-curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum).

Ever since I completed a teaching practicum on the APY Lands in central Australia I've been fascinated by the Anangu art symbols and by the Pitjantjatjara language.

My interest prompted me to make some clay story stones using Aboriginal symbols (see the list of symbols and their meanings here).  This is something you should get permission from the local community to do if you’re planning on making your own!

So far, we haven't used the stones to tell stories, but we have been testing our recall of what the different symbols mean and trying to identify the symbols in Aboriginal art.

There are some fantastic animations of Dreamtime stories on YouTube.

The stones were easy to create out of white handbuilding clay.  I fired them, used an underglaze pencil to draw on the symbols, then fired them again.  If you don't have access to a kiln, you could make them using real rocks and a Sharpie (I've done that before, too, and it worked just fine).  Or you could have your children make them.

Have you ever made or used story stones?  What was on them?  Please share in the comments.

As always, thanks for reading!  If you liked this idea, you might also like our Aboriginal-Inspired Shell Necklaces or our Clay Creation Station.