Lesson Plan Title : Cave Drawings

Age Range: Grade 6 through Grade 8 (Middle School)

Overview and Purpose: Are cave drawings "So easy, even a Caveman could do it", as the popular commercial says? Students will get a chance to try their hand at making similar drawings and learn about their origin and purpose.

Objective: The student will be able to create drawings similar to those drawn by early man and found in caves.

Resources:

Powerpoint presentation showing cave drawings

Charcoal

Sidewalk

chalk

Pavers

Activities:

Explain about early man and cave drawings. There were pictures but no words. Some of the drawings were easy to understand, but others are still a mystery. Present the Powerpoint slides and talk about what students think the meanings of the drawings may be.

Afterward, divide the students into groups of three and give them some charcoal, chalk, and a paver. Explain that they should draw a message on the paver. When each group is finished, have the class try to decipher what the pictures mean.

Wrap Up:

Why did early man make cave drawings? Why did they choose to draw on cave walls instead of other places? What are the similarities between cave drawings and television, magazines, or newspapers? Students can write a newspaper advertisement using only pictures and/or symbols, then see if others can guess what is being advertised.