Start this activity by reading out loud the following introduction:

“Rocks make the best pets. What’s that? You don’t agree? Well we politely disagree for the following reasons:

  • Rocks never need walking. 

  • Rocks never need feeding. 

  • You don’t need green bags to pick up their ummm … pebbles.

  • They will NEVER run away, partly because they don't have legs, but mostly because they love you.

Our pet rocks, Pooglet and Twoglet are in a band and they TOTALLY ROCK. We think you should make your own Pet Rockstar.”

What you need:

  • A rock (outside, on the ground, free)

  • Paint

  • Crafting stuff like wool, string, fluff, fabric, pipe cleaners

  • Glue

  • Paint or Posca pens, textas

  • Googly eyes (optional)

  • Cardboard or paper for an album cover

  • Toilet rolls - just in case you need it

How to do it:

A pet rock isn’t just for an afternoon, they’re for LIFE! It’s important that you find right rock for you.

  1. Find your rock. Most rocks hang out outside. Head to a park, the beach, or go on a bushwalk with your family and keep an eye out for your rock star.  (TIP if it is bigger than a car it is probably too big.)

  2. Once you have your rock, clean and dry it. Maybe make it a sandwich?

  3. Eat the sandwich because we just researched it and rocks don't eat sandwiches.

  4. Decorate your rock. Give it a colour, a hairstyle, a facial expression that says "I have been in this band for thirty years and I have seen ….things." How many eyes does it have? Two? Three? Ten? Is it wearing make-up? Go wild with paints, textas or Posca pens.

  5. Does it have hair? Find some wool, fluff or string and make a hair cut. Stick it on with double sided sticky tape or glue.

  6. Give your rock star a name. May we suggest something that really ROCKS. Examples: Pebble Rebel, Gravel-Max, Granite Janet, Sedimentary Sam or Rocky Stone. But honestly, you know your rock better than we do.

  7. Rest your rock on a big piece of paper, draw a big square around it (like a record cover — ask an old person, they'll know what you mean) and design an album cover. Add instruments. Add a microphone. Think like an artist so add, like, whatever feels right man.

NOW FORM A BAND!

Introduce your rock star to the ones your family made and make up a band name.

Basalt 'N' Pepper, Pebble B Bebble, and The Rolling Rocks are all available if you need them.

SHARE THEM WITH US!

We want to see your rock stars and their album covers. Send photos to ArtPlay@melbourne.vic.gov.au

BTW: Want know now more about rocks? You can listen to this clip from our trip to the Melbourne Museum.