Cave Painting Art with Kids

This is really a very simple activity.

First, we read about people in the Pleistocene Era and learned about their cave painting. We found out what types of animals were around at that time and the stone age peoples’ relationships with the environment.

I taped some postal paper / kraft paper from a box on the wall with painters’ tape. They also sell rolls of this brown paper if you prefer it less wrinkled or don’t have any from a package. Personally, I think the wrinkled paper help mimics the uneven texture of cave walls.

I gave the kids some red and black paint and white chalk. You can also use brown and yellow paints. We were snowed in but I would have liked to have some charcoal, as well. We talked about the pigments that would have been available to the early people.

I also let the kids try blowing paint onto the paper with straws.

At one point, I also turned off the lights. We talked about how the art was made deep in the caves by the flickering light of oil lamps and how the painted animals would have moved as if alive. The kids really liked that part.

While they painted, the kids talked about why they thought stone age peoples painted these animals in caves. Were they stories? Animistic magic? Hunting rituals? No one knows for sure!

Painting Cave Art with Kids

Educational Connections:

  • History: Create or examine a timeline showing the origins of man through modern day. This gives a perspective on the amount of time from the first modern men, through the Neolithic Revolution, through the first civilizations, through today.
  • Ecology: What animals lived during the Pleistocene? What animals became extinct? What role may have humanity or environmental factors played in their extinction?
  • Art History: The early artists used a twisted perspective to produce a composite view of the animals they painted. Why do art historians believe this is so? What materials did the cave painters use to produce their art? Why do you think these people painted? What does producing art say about these early humans?


Because I am a social studies educator and the topic seems to be getting short shrift in the current push for test scores, I am following the The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition to introduce my children to Ancient History and supplementing with outside texts and activities. My school-aged children attend school and so this is an “after-schooling” project for us.

Related Posts

31 thoughts on “Cave Painting with Kids – Prehistoric Art

  1. Wow! What a fantastic idea! My son is only 18 months old, and is crazy about drawing/art. I’ll definitely give something like this a try with him!

  2. I love this idea. My kids are a bit young for this now, but I’m pinning it for future reference. I love art-based learning like this. I also appreciate the interdisciplinary perspective.

  3. Greetings from Carolina! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your site
    on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a look
    when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, awesome blog!

  4. Hi, Neat post. There is a problem along with
    your web site in internet explorer, could check this? IE nonetheless is the market
    leader and a huge portion of folks will pass over your great writing due to this problem.

  5. Usually I don’t read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up
    very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has
    been amazed me. Thanks, quite nice post.

    Look into my blog post; sale model

  6. You could certainly see your skills in the article you write.
    The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how
    they believe. All the time follow your heart.

    Feel free to surf to my weblog … best seat covers

  7. Hi I am so delighted I found your website, I really found
    you by accident, while I was browwsing on Google for something else, Nonetheless
    I am here now aand would just like to say cheers for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also
    love the theme/design), I don’t have time
    to go through it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, soo when
    I havve time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the awesome job.

  8. In commenting on those pro athletes who make an effort to transition to pro golf,.

    “And Cheney’s company, Halliburton, the one he’s options in yet still receives deferred income from, had over $9 billion in cash and current receivables. This way ads, which portray woman in negative perspective and decrease their social position become an obstacle for future social progress an development.

  9. Today, these fastfood chains are only in different parts with the world in addition to Jollibee’s globally recognized trade name.
    Many these merchants present you with sales materials
    at no cost. 5 million cardiac arrest occur within the United States
    every year with 500,000 deaths.

  10. What i do not realize is actually how you are no longer actually a lot more smartly-favored than you might be right now.
    You’re very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly in terms of this matter, made me
    individually imagine it from a lot of various angles. Its like women and men are not involved unless
    it’s one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding.
    All the time care for it up!

  11. choose to use websites for one major reason,
    because they are convenient. Each of these alone will provide you success if you’re
    unrelenting and inspired. Be careful though since your little admiration could turn into an obsession.

  12. It is now considered that people who spend a great deal of
    time in close company with the child, such as teachers and family
    members, far outweigh the sway they have on them, as opposed with
    sport stars and film stars. Given that it is easy to
    identify Steve Jobs as Apple, and that Steve Jobs is a celebrity,
    there is one final reason it becomes easy to worry that
    as goes Jobs goes the whole of Apple: We live in a culture of celebrity worship.
    There are so many ways to use celebrity in your business.

  13. You will also empires and allies hack find the bright and bustling city of Champigny-Sur-Marne.
    These monsters are incredibly well-liked since they will be shown some ad spots.
    They have been” cracked” and the radios, are designed with incredible graphics. Both modes are usually available in such a 3DS Emulator development or iPhone and more pragmatic purpose. Although Flash is an amazing experience make, and take a better commercial than the effect of a mobile device.

  14. That will be the finish of this article. Right here youll find some internet sites that we think youll enjoy, just click the links.

  15. that could be the end of this report. Right here youll find some web-sites that we think you will enjoy, just click the links over

Comments are closed.