Find wellness and mindfulness by connecting with one of the oldest beings within nature… rocks!

PURPOSE

In this activity, inspired by Blackfoot teachings, you will connect with nature with one of the world's oldest beings… rocks! Connection and rejuvenation await for you through this activity that combines wellness and mindfulness with time in nature, or “vitamin N.”

GRADE LEVELS

2-12

SUBJECTS

Health & Wellness
Social Studies

SKILLS DEVELOPED

Personal growth and well-being

Creativity and innovation

MATERIALS NEEDED

Small rocks found outside

TIME

20 minutes

Instructions

Some Indigenous Nations in Alberta view rocks as being not only one of the oldest natural elements, but their Elders and storytellers. This activity is based on Blackfoot teachings shared with us. Ask your kids… who are their Elders in their lives? Who do they go to when they are worried or anxious about something? Who is the first person they turn to for help?
Retrieve one rock from a nearby water body for each person, and give them some time to speak with the rock whether in their minds or out loud. Give them time to build relationship with the spirit of the rock. Our relatives in the natural world communicate with us. We can hear what they have to say if we open our senses and our hearts. It may be a word or an image. See what comes up.
This rock for the time being serves as their Elder! An Elder that they can confide in and share their worries. Again, there shouldn’t be any pressure for participants to share their worries out loud unless they would like to. Rocks are our oldest ancestors in the natural world. They are our grandmothers and grandfathers. We can give our anxieties and worries to them. They are older and stronger than us. They were here long before us and will be here long after us. They can hold our pain.
Once they have shared with the rock their worries… return the rock back to the water and let the water wash away their worries!

Discussion

Very similar to everything in nature, all things exist in cycles and as their worries get washed away by the lake or the river or the pond, their worries blend into the ecosystem and recycle into the plants, animals, insects, and all the elements within the water.
Note that it is important not to keep the rock worry but to bring it back to the water and have the worries washed away!
How did you feel when your worries were washed away?
Do you feel a change in your emotions after this activity?
How else do you think nature can help you feel better?

More Bring Nature Home for Families

Bring Nature Home is our online database of tried-and-tested CPAWS Southern Alberta activities! Here are some ways that you can bring nature home (or to the classroom) today!