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STORY STONES VISUAL GUIDE
Simple Drawings That Pack Big Impact
Words That Bloom
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Story stones don’t need to be works of art! Simple drawings
are easier to create, faster to recognize, and just as
effective for retelling. Here’s how to make them.
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🪨 WHAT ARE STORY STONES?
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Story stones are smooth rocks (or cardboard circles) with
simple pictures representing key moments from a story.
Children use them to:
– Sequence story events in order
– Retell stories independently
– Practice beginning/middle/end structure
– Build confidence as storytellers
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🎨 MATERIALS YOU NEED
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STONES:
– 6-8 smooth rocks (craft stores, dollar stores, outdoors)
– OR cardboard circles cut from cereal boxes
– 2-3 inches in diameter works well
DRAWING SUPPLIES:
– Permanent markers (Sharpies work great)
– Acrylic paint pens (optional, for color)
– White paint or primer (for dark stones)
SEALING (optional):
– Clear acrylic sealer spray
– Mod Podge
– Clear nail polish
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✏️ DRAWING EXAMPLES: THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
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Here’s how to draw simple story moments:
STONE 1: Three Pigs at Home
┌─────────────────────┐
│ │
│ 🐷 🐷 🐷 │
│ / | \ / | \ / | \ │
│ │
│ (Three stick pigs) │
│ │
└─────────────────────┘
Simple circles for heads, lines for bodies
STONE 2: Straw House
┌─────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ╱‾‾‾‾‾╲ │
│ │ //// │ │
│ │ //// │ │
│ ╲_____╱ │
│ (Lines = straw) │
└─────────────────────┘
Basic house shape with line texture
STONE 3: Stick House
┌─────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ╱‾‾‾‾‾╲ │
│ │ ║ ║ ║ │ │
│ │ ║ ║ ║ │ │
│ ╲_____╱ │
│ (Vertical lines) │
└─────────────────────┘
Same house, vertical lines for sticks
STONE 4: Brick House
┌─────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ╱‾‾‾‾‾╲ │
│ │▯▯▯▯▯│ │
│ │▯▯▯▯▯│ │
│ ╲_____╱ │
│ (Small rectangles) │
└─────────────────────┘
Brick pattern
STONE 5: Wolf Huffing & Puffing
┌─────────────────────┐
│ │
│ 🐺 ~~~ │
│ /|\ ~~~ │
│ / \ ~~~ │
│ (Wolf + wind lines)│
└─────────────────────┘
Simple wolf figure plus wavy lines for wind
STONE 6: Wolf in Boiling Pot
┌─────────────────────┐
│ │
│ 🐺 │
│ ╔═══╗ │
│ ║🔥🔥║ │
│ ╚═══╝ │
│ (Wolf in pot/fire) │
└─────────────────────┘
Basic pot with wolf visible
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✏️ MORE DRAWING EXAMPLES: THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR
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STONE 1: Egg on Leaf
┌─────────────────────┐
│ ╱───╲ │
│ │ ○ │ │
│ ╲───╱ │
│ (Egg on leaf) │
└─────────────────────┘
STONE 2: Tiny Caterpillar
┌─────────────────────┐
│ ●○○○ │
│ (Small dots) │
└─────────────────────┘
STONE 3: Eating Fruit
┌─────────────────────┐
│ 🍎 🍐 🍊 │
│ (Simple fruits) │
└─────────────────────┘
STONE 4: Big Caterpillar
┌─────────────────────┐
│ ●○○○○○○○○○ │
│ (Many segments) │
└─────────────────────┘
STONE 5: Cocoon
┌─────────────────────┐
│ ⌇⌇⌇ │
│ (||||) │
│ ⌇⌇⌇ │
└─────────────────────┘
STONE 6: Butterfly
┌─────────────────────┐
│ ╱╲ ╱╲ │
│ ( )( ) │
│ ╲╱ ╲╱ │
│ ●● │
└─────────────────────┘
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🎨 BASIC SHAPES FOR ANY STORY
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CHARACTERS:
○ = Head
| = Body
△ = Dress/skirt
☺ = Happy face
☹ = Sad face
SETTINGS:
🏠 = House (triangle roof + square)
🌲 = Tree (triangle + rectangle trunk)
🌊 = Water (wavy lines)
☀️ = Sun (circle + lines)
🌙 = Moon (crescent)
OBJECTS:
♡ = Heart
★ = Star
◯ = Ball
□ = Box/book
△ = Hat
EMOTIONS/ACTIONS:
💤 = Sleeping (Z Z Z)
♪ = Music/singing
💭 = Thinking (cloud shape)
❤️ = Love
! = Surprise/excitement
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📝 STEP-BY-STEP: MAKING STORY STONES
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STEP 1: Choose Your Story
Pick a familiar book your child loves that has 4-8 clear
events.
STEP 2: Identify Key Moments
Ask your child: “What happened first? Then what? Then what?”
Choose 4-8 moments.
STEP 3: Prepare Stones
If stones are dark, paint white circles with acrylic paint
as a “canvas.” Let dry completely.
STEP 4: Draw Together
Let your child help! They can draw or watch you. Simple is
better—stick figures work perfectly.
STEP 5: Label (Optional)
Write 1-2 words under each image if helpful.
STEP 6: Seal (Optional)
Spray with clear sealer or brush Mod Podge on top. Let dry.
STEP 7: Play!
Mix up stones and put them in story order. Use them to
retell!
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💡 TIPS FOR SUCCESS
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✓ KEEP IT SIMPLE
Stick figures > detailed drawings. Simple = faster to
recognize.
✓ USE SYMBOLS
Don’t draw the whole scene—just a symbol that represents it.
✓ ADD COLOR (Optional)
Different colored stones or colored drawings help visual
recognition.
✓ INCLUDE YOUR CHILD
Let them draw some stones. Imperfect is perfect!
✓ START WITH FAMILIAR STORIES
First set: Choose a book you’ve read 10+ times.
✓ STORE IN A BAG
Keep each story’s stones in a labeled cloth bag or container.
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🎭 STORY IDEAS FOR STONE SETS
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GREAT STORIES FOR BEGINNERS:
✓ Goldilocks and the Three Bears (6-8 stones)
✓ The Three Little Pigs (6 stones)
✓ The Gingerbread Man (6 stones)
✓ The Very Hungry Caterpillar (6 stones)
✓ Brown Bear, Brown Bear (as many animals as you want)
STORIES FOR OLDER KIDS:
✓ Where the Wild Things Are (8 stones)
✓ The Snowy Day (6-8 stones)
✓ Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (letter stones!)
✓ The Gruffalo (8 stones)
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📦 STORAGE IDEAS
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OPTION 1: Cloth Drawstring Bags
One bag per story, label with story title
OPTION 2: Mason Jars
Clear jars with labels, display on shelf
OPTION 3: Egg Cartons
Each section holds one stone, perfect for 12-stone sets
OPTION 4: Small Boxes
Decorative tins or wooden boxes
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🌟 ADVANCED STONE IDEAS
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Once you’ve mastered story stones, try:
CHARACTER STONES
One stone per character (works for any story)
SETTING STONES
Forest, beach, house, school, castle—universal settings
EMOTION STONES
Happy, sad, scared, angry, excited (use with any story)
BLANK STONES
Leave a few blank—child creates new story moments!
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✏️ DRAWING CHEAT SHEET
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Can’t draw? Use these ultra-simple symbols:
PEOPLE: ○ (circle head)
| (line body)
/ \ (line legs)
HOUSE: △ (triangle roof)
□ (square base)
TREE: ★ (star for leaves)
| (trunk)
ANIMAL: ○○ (two circles)
○ ○ (four dots for legs)
FOOD: ○ (circle = apple, orange, etc.)
SUN: ⊙ (circle with lines)
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Remember: The goal isn’t artistic perfection. The goal is
a simple visual reminder that helps your child retell the
story.
If YOU can recognize what it is, your child definitely can!
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www.wordsthatbloom.com
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