Cave Paintings and Petroglyphs, Thematic Unit

Using this integrated, thematic unit, students will explore ancient rock art sites around the world, and create their own petroglyph by carving on a plaster rock. They will examine art prints to identify characteristics of early human art, and play a game to classify the designs, just like the paleoarchaeologists. Activities and materials include

*Travel Tour Guide, a student reader in two versions (grades 3-4, and grades 5-6). Both levels can be used in the same class.

*Vocabulary Bookmarks (2 reading levels) and Study Cards (24), which highlight unit specific words

*Reading & Writing worksheets

*Point of Interest Cards (10), written in the travel genre, that describe important rock art sites throughout the world

*Art Prints (19)

*Classification Game and game board

*Art Project Directions (3), which walk the students through making, painting, and carving designs on a plaster rock

*Science Projects (2) that explore and experiment with rock porosity, and the creation and removal of a patina

*Math Projects (2) compare the relationship of metric to standard units of linear measure, and walk students through creating a life sized model from a scale sized drawing

*Map Study Cards (10), to provide practice with identification of landmasses, countries, and continents

Students will research rock art sites, choose one of interest to them, and write an article in the travel genre to include in a class made Tour Guide.

The unit will take 3-5 days to complete, depending on how many activities you choose to do. Materials can be prepared for you by classroom volunteers using the included directions. There are a lot of materials to prepare, but they will last for a long time if printed on cover stock and laminated.

This unit works well on its own, but is also a great supplement to a unit on native people, or earth science studies of rocks and minerals.

These materials contain public domain images and information researched from copyrighted publications which are referenced, for fair use, in the materials.