After discussing the 1970’s “pet rock” phenomenon, this activity begins with a shared reading of Byrd Baylor’s book Everybody Needs a Rock. A journey of exploration comes next when everyone tries to find their own perfect rock. When the group reconvenes, they receive a short lesson in descriptive writing, including the use of sensory description and metaphor. The activity that follows involves writing, reading and a bit of detective work, and functions as an informal writing assessment. 1-2 hours.