1. The Cool Cave of Lascaux: A Cross-Curricular Unit
Background Template: Modified by A. Tobia
Antoinette Tobia Summer 2010
Technology and Stories to Teach Curriculum presented to: Professor Moone / MSET

2. Target Audience Grades 3-5, Special Education
Subject Areas: Visual Arts, Technology, Social Studies, Language Arts Literacy, Science
Grades 3-5, Special Education
This unit may be differentiated to accommodate all learners with modified requirements, extended work time, support structures, and personnel.
Timeline: minute periods/once a week

3. Goals and Objectives
The learner will be able to:
explain why cave paintings were created-why they are significant.
draw parallels between prehistoric art and art that is made today.
identify cave paintings (subjects, style, materials).
create art based on the cave paintings.

4. Essential Questions Why did people who lived many years ago make art?
Does art tell a story?
Does art communicate ideas?
Why do people who live today make art?

5. Click here for Unit Plan
Students will be introduced to and explore the Lascaux Cave in France.
These animal paintings are considered to be the beginning of art. They were created about 17,000 years ago.
Click here for Unit Plan

6. Visit the Cave Click here to visit Lascaux Ask before viewing:
What animal images would you expect to see at Lascaux?
This Website is a virtual tour and very engaging.
Students are encouraged to make sketches of the animals to be used in the art project.

7. Interesting Cave Facts
In 1940, 4 French teenagers accidentally discovered the cave.
The cave contained more than 600 paintings and 1500 engravings that are carved into the walls.
The most popular animal is the horse, followed by the bison.
“Lascaux” is pronounced Lasco!
The flute is the earliest known instrument, click to hear a “bone” flute.

8. Storytelling First Painter by Kathryn Lasky:
Click on the book to view Storytelling Chart II:
This fictional book is set in prehistoric times and imagines what inspired Mishoo, a young girl, to go to the cave and paint. The book is based on archaeological findings and is beautifully illustrated. The paintings are symbolic and powerful.

9. Story Support Materials
“Telling a story is a way of establishing meaning” (Egan,37). First Painter Worksheet Cool Cave Vocabulary Worksheet

10. “Cave Paintings and Rock Art”
Click on picture to view this website:
This website details the cave painters and their lives.
It discusses the colors and materials used in the cave paintings.
The dangers of caves are cited.

11. Cave Painting Project
Students will create a large-scale “cave painting” based on the cave at Lascaux.
Click here for a lesson on using natural materials to create “prehistoric paint.”
Click on this picture for a cave painting lesson plan (scale may be adjusted).

12. Science and the Cave
In 1948, the Cave was open to daily tours for thousands of people.
This created a huge problem for the Cave!
The breath of the tourists created carbon dioxide that caused the paintings to deteriorate.
Another problem was carried in by the shoes of the tourists - algae - that began to grow on the walls and cover the paintings.
Calcite crystals also began to cover some of the paintings due to the high temperatures, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels caused by all of the tourists.

13. Lascaux II
In order to save Lascaux from destruction, the Cave was closed to the public in 1963.
In 1983, Lascaux II was opened to the public – technology re-created the original cave and artwork. It is nearby the original site.
Today, only a small number of scientists and researchers are allowed to visit the original Lascaux Cave.

14. “From Cave Art to Your Art”
Extension Activity: This website allows students to create their own videos – it is an exciting multimedia experience Click here for website

15. Dino Games Did cave painters live with dinosaurs?
Movies and cartoons often show early humans and dinosaurs living at the same time.
This is a myth (a popular belief that is false).
The dinosaurs were extinct, or no longer alive, before people lived. The dinosaurs lived 65 million years before humans!
Click here to play some fun dinosaur games.

16. Evaluations
Students will discuss how their earlier ideas of prehistoric people have changed after this unit.
In teams, students will complete a rubric to assess their performances throughout the unit.
The teams will share their findings with their classmates.
Click on clipboard for Rubrics
(for Teacher and Students)

17. Brainy Bits Bloom's Revised Taxonomy:
Creating: students produce a multimedia video.
Evaluating: students critique their performances and learning using a student rubric.
Analysing: Students organize information in
order to answer story worksheet discussion questions.
Applying: students execute the painting of
original cave art.
Understanding: students explain the culture of
prehistoric people and the cave from “First Painter.”
Remembering: students recall facts and details from book, websites, and discussions.

18. Brainy Bits Sense and Meaning:
“What we call imagination is also a tool of learning…” (Egan, 17).
First Painter, the story that is used in this unit, draws “on the engaging and communicative powers of the story form” (Egan, 23).
There are a number of ways that this story promotes the storage of information Click here to learn more

19. More Brainy Bits & NJCCCS
Click below to discover more Brainy Bits:
Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Gregorc's Learning Styles
NJCCCS

20. Works Cited
Click on the image for Works Cited: