Halloween Story Stones: Easy DIY Preschool Activity

Halloween story stones are an easy, hands-on way to encourage storytelling and imaginative play during October. Made with clear glass gems and a permanent marker, these simple Halloween story prompts are perfect for preschool classrooms, home daycare programs, and play at home.

Children can choose a few stones, arrange the pictures, and create their own not-too-spooky Halloween adventures. Use them on a regular table, add them to a story basket, or place them on a light table for an extra invitation to play.

As a longtime home daycare provider, I love activities that are easy to prepare but can be used in many different ways. These DIY Halloween story stones encourage language development, sequencing, creative thinking, and cooperative play—all with just two basic supplies.

This post contains affiliate links. Originally published October 2014, updated October 2026.

What Are Story Stones?

Story stones are small picture pieces that children can use as characters, settings, and objects while creating stories.

Traditional story stones are often made from painted rocks. For this Halloween activity, I used clear, flat-backed glass gems instead. The clear gems make the drawings easy to see and look especially fun on a light table, but a light table is completely optional.

The Halloween pictures can be used to inspire:

Make-believe stories
Small-world play
Beginning, middle, and ending practice
Group storytelling
Halloween vocabulary
Conversations about spooky characters and feelings
There is no correct way to play. Children can move the stones, line them up, group characters together, or use one picture at a time to build a story.

Supplies for Halloween Story Stones

You only need a few materials:

Large, clear, flat-backed glass gems
Black permanent marker
Light table or light panel, optional
Paper haunted house or another simple background, optional

Look for larger glass gems that give you plenty of room to draw. They are often sold as floral gems, glass pebbles, or vase fillers at craft and dollar stores.

Safety note: Glass gems are small, breakable objects. This activity is intended for children ages three and older with direct adult supervision. Do not use glass gems with children who still put toys or materials in their mouths. Check the gems regularly and discard any that become chipped or cracked.

Large wooden discs or laminated cardstock circles can be used if you need a non-glass alternative.

How to Make Halloween Story Stones

These DIY story stones are quick and easy to prepare.

1. Clean the glass gems

Wipe the gems with a damp cloth and dry them completely. Removing dust and fingerprints will help the marker adhere better.

2. Choose your Halloween pictures

Select a mixture of characters, objects, and settings so children have plenty of ideas for their stories.

Some easy Halloween pictures include:

Ghost
Witch
Bat
Spider
Spiderweb
Jack-o’-lantern
Crescent moon
Black cat
Friendly monster
Frankenstein
Haunted house
Candy bucket

The drawings do not need to be perfect. Simple, recognizable pictures work best, and the handmade appearance gives the stones plenty of character.

3. Draw on the flat side

Use a black permanent marker to draw each Halloween picture on the flat side of a glass gem. The rounded glass will slightly magnify the drawing when the gem is turned over.

Drawing on the back also helps protect the picture while children move the stones around.

4. Let the stones dry

Place the gems with the drawings facing up and let the marker dry completely before children begin playing. This helps prevent smudging.

Older children may enjoy helping design their own stones with close adult supervision.

How to Use Halloween Story Stones

Set the finished story stones on a table, felt mat, tray, or light panel. Let children examine the pictures before inviting them to make up a story.

Some preschoolers will begin playing immediately. Others may need a simple prompt to get started.

Try asking:

Who is the main character?
Where does the story take place?
What happens first?
Is there a problem?
Who helps solve the problem?
How does the story end?
Is the character feeling excited, nervous, surprised, or scared?

You can also begin a story and let the children continue it:

“One night, a little bat flew past a haunted house…”

Invite a child to choose the next stone and add another part to the story.

Preschool Storytelling Activities

These Halloween story stones can be used in several different ways throughout the season.

Create a Beginning, Middle, and End

Ask a child to select three stones. Use the first stone to begin the story, the second to introduce a problem or event, and the third to create an ending. This is a playful way to introduce story sequencing without turning the activity into a formal lesson.

Tell a Group Story

Place the stones in a small bag or basket during circle time. Let each child choose one stone and add a sentence to the group story. The story may get wonderfully silly; that is part of the fun!

Make a Halloween Story Basket

Combine the stones with a few simple loose parts, such as black felt, small blocks, artificial leaves, or a paper haunted house. Keep the materials limited so the story stones remain the focus.

Retell a Favorite Halloween Book

After reading a Halloween picture book, invite children to use the gems to retell parts of the story. The pictures do not have to match the book exactly. Children can decide which stone represents each character or event.

Explore Halloween Feelings

Not every preschooler feels comfortable with Halloween characters. Storytelling gives children a safe way to explore ideas that may feel unfamiliar or slightly scary.

A ghost can be friendly. A witch can need help. A little bat can feel nervous about trying something new.

When I first introduced our stones, one of the children used the bats to act out a situation that had been making her nervous. The little bat was afraid to attend dance class without its mommy, but once it saw its friends and received a reassuring hug, the class did not feel so scary anymore.

Play often gives children a natural way to work through real experiences.

What Children Learn From Story Stones

Although this Halloween activity feels like simple pretend play, it supports several early-learning skills.

Children can practice:

Oral language and vocabulary
Listening and conversation skills
Story sequencing
Creative thinking
Problem-solving
Social-emotional development
Cooperative play
Fine-motor control

Picking up and arranging the glass gems also gives preschoolers meaningful practice using their hands and fingers.

Can You Use Story Stones Without a Light Table?

Absolutely. While these Halloween story stones are just as engaging on a regular table, play mat, tray, or classroom floor, my daycare kids love to use them as a light table activity.

A light table makes the clear glass shine and creates a special Halloween invitation to play, but it is not necessary. Most of our storytelling and pretend play happened away from the light table once the children began carrying the characters into other play areas.

You could also place the stones near a block center, dollhouse, sensory table, or basket of Halloween books.

Halloween Story Stone FAQs

What age are story stones appropriate for?

These glass-gem story stones are best for children ages three and older who no longer mouth toys or classroom materials. Adult supervision is required because the gems are small and made from glass.

What should I draw on Halloween story stones?

Use simple Halloween pictures that children will recognize, such as ghosts, pumpkins, bats, spiders, witches, monsters, moons, and haunted houses. Include a mixture of characters and settings to inspire more detailed stories.

Can children make their own story stones?

Older preschoolers and school-age children can help choose the pictures or create their own drawings with close supervision. Adults should handle any permanent markers or sealants when needed.

Can I use rocks instead of glass gems?

Yes. Smooth rocks, large wooden discs, or sturdy laminated picture circles can all be used to make Halloween story pieces.

How should I store the stones?

Keep the finished stones in a small lidded container or fabric bag. Store them out of reach when the activity is not being supervised.

An Easy Halloween Storytelling Activity

These DIY Halloween story stones turn a few inexpensive glass gems into an open-ended preschool activity that can be used again and again.

Set them out during free play, add them to your Halloween literacy center, use them for circle-time storytelling, or place them on a light table. However children choose to use them, the stones offer an easy way to encourage language, imagination, and playful learning throughout October.

More Halloween Activities for Preschoolers

Continue your Halloween theme with these playful learning activities:

Looking for more crafts and activities? Check out our index for 100+ kids’ activities! Find activities by theme, materials, skills, age, and much more!