Teachers' Information for Stone

Here are some suggestions for stone related discussions and practical activities:

Activity 1: Creative Carving

Draw a simple picture as a design for a small relief sculpture. Try to imagine the object drawn from other angles, not just from the front. Which parts would stand out most from the background? Pupils could try and make their design by carving plasticine (starting with a block and removing layers bit by bits), soap (moisturising soap such as baby soap is good for this) or blocks of plaster of Paris with clay tools. Pupils could try carving a variety of materials to see which gives the best results.

Activity 2: A Rocky Cycle

Think about the rock cycle. Ask pupils to find out more about metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks. Using the internet, can pupils find more examples of works of art that are made out of the three different types of stone?

Activity 3: Rock Eating Rain

Limestone and alabaster can be badly affected by acid rain. Try to find examples of old buildings, such as cathedrals, that have been damaged in this way. Can pupils find any information about how these buildings are now being preserved?

Activity 1: Your Favourite Stone Object

Ask pupils to select their favourite object from this category. What did they pick and why? Pupils could use the gallery section of the site to find more information about their selected object and then they could create a work of art inspired by their selected object.