CREATING GARDEN STONES FOR THE SPRING!
The stones above are samples that will be shown in the "Chicago Flower and Garden Show" in March 2006 and have been made by those who have disabilities. The "Garden Stone Project" is a job skill program created by the "The New Hope Center", a service agency in the US. The agency goals are to enhance the lives of those who have developmental disabilities, and to promote community integration.
These stones are made from concrete and use hand-cut stained glass, which the individuals with disabilities place into the concrete according to patterns. Besides being an "entrepreneur" type project, or having the goal of developing work and job skills, the stone itself can also be a "memory block", containing special concrete cues collected from a trip. Also, a goal of conceptual learning can take place about the properties of concrete itself.
Concrete is a mixture of aggregate, cement and water. All these materials are mined from the earth. Aggregate is either sand and gravel or crushed rock. Cement is a binding material that glues the aggregate together and is made from crushed limestone and clay. Children can learn all about the material that they walk under everyday, as it is used in most buildings, roads, sidewalks, and houses. They can even make their own concrete, or buy the project in "ready-made" kits.
MAKING A CONCRETE GARDEN STONE
1. Make an experience book about the project, and decide together where your special stone will go in the garden
2. Use old cake pans, bottom of old bucket, plastic container from housewares
3. Pour concrete mix into water carefully together
4. Shake together to flaten the top
5. Add leaf prints, hand prints, special rocks, or items collected from a special trip. It will take many days to dry. You can also leave your stone flat like a pizza, and paint it up later using outdoor house paint.
MAKING CONCRET FROM SCRATCH
4 parts gravel
3 parts washed sand
1 part cement
1 1/3 parts water
Mix cement and water together first very carefully. Add sand and mix. Add gravel and mix.