Into the Caves! by 4th grade

These are samples of 4th grade cave paintings on "rock" (no, it is not traditional clay - read on to find out the crazy material we used). Students did their artwork after learning about the paintings in Lascaux and other caves painted over 15,000 years ago.

• First, we brainstormed about the possible materials that would have been used, since there was no Wal-Mart 17,000 years ago to buy art supplies! And we discussed possible reasons for prehistoric man to have created these greart works of art.
• Then, we created our own hunks of cave wall for our artwork.
• To prepare in advance of this lesson, I gathered bags of shredded paper from the school office, and poured in some hot water to soften it up. The next day, I mixed up a couple of batches of Art Paste (shown in the yellow box below), and poured a bunch into the bags of softened recycled paper. Some kids came in at lunchtime and were thrilled to be able to help squish the "dog drool" into the gloppy paper.

• When 4th grade art class time arrived, I handed each student a bundle of "glop", and as we discussed the story of Lascaux and brainstormed for ideas, each student continued to knead his lump, breaking down the paper so it became a textural claylike substance by the end of the class. Here's my hands demo-ing kneading the lump.




• Then, each student "patty-caked" their lump into a slab of rock wall. Before putting it away to dry, students inserted a paper clip into the top to serve as a hanger.
• Now for the big adventure! Students had looked at animal pictures and prepared drawings in advance of "entering the caves".
• When they arrived for art class, they found the tables either draped with fabric or blocked off with large sheets of cardboard. Their paper clay had dried out and was rock solid and virtually unbreakable.
• The lights were dimmed, a CD with the sounds of wolves, rain, and other natural sounds was turned on, and students took their needed materials into their caves (under the tables). They used pieces of vine charcoal to draw, and I provided various neutral colors of paint. Paint was brought into the caves by placing small dips of colors on sheets of scrap paper, which also became mixing palettes.

• Some students preferred the solitude of their own corner of a cave, while others chose to crowd into a cave together. Some used flashlights as torches, and others occasionally emerged from the cave to check out their color choices. The kids were thrilled. You would have thought that I gave them the best present ever, and not just the opportunity to sit on the uncomfortable floor under a table!

• After the rock was painted, the kids also had the opportunity to either stamp or stencil their hand on a sheet of brown Kraft paper, which became the backing paper on a bulletin board. The 4th graders are very proud of their "prehistoric" cave paintings.