Essential Questions:

VA.Cn11.1          How does art help us understand the lives of people on different times, places and cultures? How is art used to impact the views of society? How does art preserve aspects of life?

CAFÉ Menu:

Create:               CA:Cr1.16            Combine sources collaboratively to generate innovative                                       ideas for creating art.

VACr3.1.6               Reflect on whether personal artwork conveys the                                                   intendedd meaning and revise accordingly.

Articulate:        CA:VA 1.1            Identify all the elements of art in the cave paintings.

                              CA:VA4.1             Construct and describe plausible interpretations of what                                    they perceive in works of art.              

VA:Re7.16             Identify and interpret works of art or design that reveal            how people live around the worldand what they value.

VA:Re7.2.6           Analyze ways that visual components and cultural                     associations suggested by images influence ideas,                   emotions, and actions,

Finding Connections:                                                                                                                    CA: Cn1.6 Generate a collection of ideas reflecting current interests and concerns that could be investigated  Students generated a list of ideas as to why ancient civilizations created art in the caves and do those cave paintings have any commonalities/sameness.

CA:Cn11.1.6        Analyze how art reflects changing times, traditions, resources and cultural uses. Through investigating the commonalities of cave art, students listen to Ted Talk, “Why Are these 32 Symbols found in Caves all over Europe? “ 

                Evaluate:           VA:Re91.6   Develop and apply relevant criteria to evaluate a work of art.

The Lesson takes approximately 4, 40 minute sessions:

Need: chart paper, post its, plain paper for doodling when they are watching videos,  pencils, scissors,  brown paper grocery bags, 2 for two artists, charcoal and chalk pastel s in red, brown, black, yellow, hair spray for fixative,” Aqua net,”  shallow tubs of water, space for drying paper

Into                       Students first write one reason art is important and save it. Then in table groups of four brainstorm 7 or more reasons art is important. They use lined chart paper and then share their best ideas whole group.

Through             I ask them to watch 2 videos the first: “Top 10 Most Amazing Cave Paintings in the World.”2 And the second: Ted Talk, “Why are these 32 Symbols Found in Caves All Over Europe?”

Then I ask them what else might be the purpose of art? They revisit their first response to my question and change it if they so wish.  I ask them to choose one of the ten images from the web, and analyze the elements of art, and look to find evidence of one point or two-point perspective.

Beyond           I ask them to make plausible explanations for the cave paintings. I read aloud, “The first Painter,” by Kathryn Lasky, and illustrated by Rocco Baviera, and explain this is what this author and illustrator has done, they have created a book that explains the purpose of those ancient paintings.

Students then create their own cave drawings and decided how to exhibit them collectively as an installation piece.

Students cut out a side of a large paper sacks

 then :

• squish,
• soak in water
• squeeze,
• and dry to create a visual look of a cave wall.

 Using earth color charcoal and pastels they create their drawings using the same elements they viewed in the cave art.

 Students are asked to reflect upon their art and decide if it meets its intended purpose and revises it if needed.

In their classroom, students write artist statements about their piece and explain their interpretation of the purpose of the cave paintings.

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