Kindness Rocks!

This lesson allows upper elementary students to explore ways to be kind to others using art. Students will paint a rock with a kind quote and pattern meant to be placed out in the public for someone else to find. The idea is to be kind to strangers and help make something that might brighten up their day! Since these will be out in public, students will sign their work by painting a small self portrait on the back of their rock instead of putting their name. Students will find inspiration for their work through the children's ebook Kindness is my Superpower and through the work of artist Richard Shilling.

Kindness is my Superpower Read Aloud

This children's book allows students to explore a bunch of different ways you can be kind to others!

Inspiration

Richard Shilling is a British artist and photographer who makes sculptures from natural materials and captures them with a photograph. He explores creativity through nature. The materials he uses are found near where he plans to make the sculpture, just like how we are using rocks that can be found near where we will be painting and placing them. His work also consists of lots of different patterns as you can see in the pictures included. His patterns appear to be more natural looking, but we will incorporate patterns into our piece as well in order to keep with that mindset of patterns occuring in nature. While his artwork is only temporary and fades as nature takes its course, ours will be more permanent since we are using paint.

Materials

• One medium sized rock

• Non-toxic acrylic paint

• One medium sized paint brush

• One small sized paint brush

• Palette paper

• Pencil (optional)

• Sharpie (optional)

Making

Step 1: Think about what color you want the background of your rock to be, and pour that color of your acrylic paint onto your palette paper. Paint the entire rock that color with a medium sized paintbrush.

Step 2: Once that layer dries, find a quote to use that you think would make someone's day better if they read it. My chosen quote is "you are loved". Pick a constrasting color that would stand out from your background color, pour that color of paint onto your palette paper, and start painting the quote onto one side of your rock using a small paintbrush. Feel free to use a pencil to write out your quote first before applying the paint.

Step 3: Add your pattern around your quote. I chose to do alternating hearts and dots. Once everything is dry, add another layer of paint or any touch-ups if needed.

Step 5: On the other side of your rock, sign your piece by painting a small self portrait. Add any smaller details with either a sharpie or a small brush once the first layer is dry.

Step 6: Place your rock somewhere outside so that someone else can find it! Hopefully it will make someone's day a little better.

Demo Video

Here's a video showing my own process for this lesson!