Sixth graders in Ms. Pagnotta and Ms. Parise’s humanities classes stepped back in time as they wrapped up their unit on the Old Stone Age with the exploration of cave art.

Throughout the unit, students learned about the significance of cave paintings and how these early works of art provide insight into how humans lived thousands of years ago, including the animals they hunted and the foods they ate. Students also learned about the accidental discovery of the famous Lascaux Caves in France, which were discovered by four teenagers and their dog.

Teachers transformed the classroom into a cave-like environment by darkening the room and having students create their own cave art. Using their fingers and earthy-colored paints, students recreated images similar to those found in ancient caves.

Their paintings featured large animals such as woolly mammoths, horses and bison, along with hunters, fire, weapons and symbols. The hands-on activity gave students an opportunity to experience the art form in a way that connected directly to what they had learned throughout the unit.