Look at this talented first grade work! The Lascaux cave paintings are awesome, and I love teaching this in first grade! I'm so excited to let them know that the caves were discovered by kids! (ok, they were teenagers, but that counts, right?) Here is some background information from a travel site in case you are not familiar with the story.
I also found this book, The Secret of the Forest of Lascaux at the Field Museum in Chicago a few years ago. The exhibit was really awesome, and I wanted to shoot a video for my students, but of course NO PHOTOS WERE ALLOWED. I can't express how miffed I was! Anyway, that book is written in comic book style, so it is not something you would read to little ones, but I learned a lot from it and showed them some of the historical photos. There is also this story that I read, usually during the second day of the lesson (there is a DVD too, about 8 minutes.)
We start by viewing some of the Lascaux art and visiting the caves via virtual tour (my students don't like the music, they think it is creepy, so I turn it off.) We list the different animals in the caves, and students draw at least four different animals- any animals they like, the ones in the famous caves, or their favorites!
After sketching, the real fun begins. Each student put their name on their paper. The next step gets them very excited because I tell them that their papers are way too flat to be like a cave wall. So, you will all have to crumple up your paper! And I do this, very dramatically to my own paper. WHAT??? When was the last time a teacher told you to do that to your paper? Their reactions are hysterical, as you can imagine!
Well, not only do I tell them to crumple the paper... but then they have to verrrrry slowwwwly open the paper up and iron it out flat with their hands. Gently. Slowly. Yes.
Then I tell them they have to crumple it again. WHAT??? Yes, first graders love this. Again? So cute. And you must open it verrrrry slowwwwly and iron it out.
I'll cut to the chase and tell you they must do this a total of three times. (And yes, I actually demo it all three times. The demo table is my stage.) Yup, three. Cave walls are not flat, ya know!
I also found this book, The Secret of the Forest of Lascaux at the Field Museum in Chicago a few years ago. The exhibit was really awesome, and I wanted to shoot a video for my students, but of course NO PHOTOS WERE ALLOWED. I can't express how miffed I was! Anyway, that book is written in comic book style, so it is not something you would read to little ones, but I learned a lot from it and showed them some of the historical photos. There is also this story that I read, usually during the second day of the lesson (there is a DVD too, about 8 minutes.)
We start by viewing some of the Lascaux art and visiting the caves via virtual tour (my students don't like the music, they think it is creepy, so I turn it off.) We list the different animals in the caves, and students draw at least four different animals- any animals they like, the ones in the famous caves, or their favorites!
After sketching, the real fun begins. Each student put their name on their paper. The next step gets them very excited because I tell them that their papers are way too flat to be like a cave wall. So, you will all have to crumple up your paper! And I do this, very dramatically to my own paper. WHAT??? When was the last time a teacher told you to do that to your paper? Their reactions are hysterical, as you can imagine!
Well, not only do I tell them to crumple the paper... but then they have to verrrrry slowwwwly open the paper up and iron it out flat with their hands. Gently. Slowly. Yes.
Then I tell them they have to crumple it again. WHAT??? Yes, first graders love this. Again? So cute. And you must open it verrrrry slowwwwly and iron it out.
I'll cut to the chase and tell you they must do this a total of three times. (And yes, I actually demo it all three times. The demo table is my stage.) Yup, three. Cave walls are not flat, ya know!
The next step is adding earth toned chalk (or Nu-Pastels) to the rough paper and blending it in with your hands, yes, it is messy and they love it!
Day two is a bit of review, then they get their animal sketches back and need to decide which ones they will paint. Will they paint a few small ones, or one big one? Up to them- they are the artists!
I almost forgot: we do discuss how long ago the paintings in the Lascaux caves were created. Where did these people get their paints? What about their paintbrushes? There is always a lively discussion of what they must have used 17,000 years ago.
After that, I let them paint... with twigs. Yeah, I collect sticks, sometimes pieces of pine tree for them to try out with their tempera paint. I do give them brushes, eventually, but everyone has to try the natural materials! Some use them the whole time, others can't wait for the brushes.
I'd love to hear how you teach cave art, let me know!
Day two is a bit of review, then they get their animal sketches back and need to decide which ones they will paint. Will they paint a few small ones, or one big one? Up to them- they are the artists!
I almost forgot: we do discuss how long ago the paintings in the Lascaux caves were created. Where did these people get their paints? What about their paintbrushes? There is always a lively discussion of what they must have used 17,000 years ago.
After that, I let them paint... with twigs. Yeah, I collect sticks, sometimes pieces of pine tree for them to try out with their tempera paint. I do give them brushes, eventually, but everyone has to try the natural materials! Some use them the whole time, others can't wait for the brushes.
I'd love to hear how you teach cave art, let me know!
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