Painters of the Caves - Hampton

Collection C, Unit 1
Personal Expression
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Painters of the Caves
The Color of My Words
Painters of the Caves
by Patricia Lauber
T
he limestone hills near Avignon,
France, was the site of an incredible
discovery by three French explorers in
1994—hundreds of Stone Age wall
paintings. Across the rock walls in the
Chauvet cave, rhinos, horses, bears,
and mammoths came to life; all painted
by the people of the Ice Age. With the
help of sharp photographs, this book
gives readers a fascinating glimpse into
the lives of early humans and their
artists, whose skillful and purposeful
works fill the cave walls.
Reading Level (Lexile) 860L
Format/Length Photo essay, 48 pages
Picture Support Substantial
Language Register Technical, but not difficult
Selected Awards
Content Load Social Studies
ALA Editors’ Choice
Related Skills
• Comprehension and Critical Thinking
Main Idea and Details
• Reading and Learning Strategies:
Confirm Word Meaning
Maine Lupine Award Honor Book
White Ravens Award Winner
About the Author
Patricia Lauber has a unique way of making complicated topics accessible
to children. She is a Newbery Honor Book winner for Volcano: The
Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helens and has written many other
children’s books about scientific topics. Lauber lives with her husband in
Weston, Connecticut.
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Painters of the Caves
Think About What You Know
Artifacts Early humans left behind artifacts and paintings which
give us clues to the past. To support this understanding:
• Ask students how people of the future could find out what
our lives are like today. Suggest that we could leave them
artifacts, or objects like tools or artwork, that would tell
them something about the way we live.
• Next, have students brainstorm what artifacts they would
leave behind for people of the future. Categorize responses
under headings such as Books, Music, Art, Tools, Clothing,
Games, and so on. Encourage students to tell why those
objects would be good artifacts.
• Then students can use Student Journal, page 3 to describe
two of the most important things they’d leave behind for
people of the future.
Preview and Predict
Have students look at the front cover, read the title, and then
read the summary on the back cover. Say:
• Why are the paintings such an amazing discovery? Why do
you think there are so many paintings of animals?
Then point out The Exchange question on the title page:
Why do people create and enjoy art? Explain that when
they finish reading, they’ll share their ideas about this
and other questions with a group.
Student Journal, page 3
Prepare to Read
Think About What You Know
What would you leave behind for people of the future? Describe two
artifacts, or objects, you think would best show what life is like today.
Next, have students complete Student Journal, page 3
to preview the book and make predictions about the
paintings and how they got there.
Preview and Predict
As students page through the book, point out the
Appendix, Bibliography, and Index, and explain how each
can be used.
• Look at the front cover.
• Read the book summary on the back cover.
• Read The Exchange question on the title page.
1. Is this book fiction or nonfiction? How do you know?
2. Page through the book. What do the photographs show? Where are the
paintings and how did they get there?
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Painters of the Caves
Use a Reading Strategy
Main Idea and Details Chart Preview the graphic organizer on
Student Journal, page 4 with students. Explain that as they read Painters
of the Caves, they can complete the Chart to show details that support
the provided main idea. Have students add to their Charts after they finish
reading each section.
Student Journal, page 4
Use a Reading Strategy
Use a Main Idea and Details Chart
As you read each part of Painters of the Caves, use a Main Idea and Details
Chart to show what cave art can teach us about people from the past.
Main Idea:
Cave discoveries can help us learn about the lives of early humans.
Details in Chapters 1–2:
People painted animals and human handprints in caves. They made
art in many places in Ice Age Europe.
Details in Chapters 3–4:
People made tools, jewelry, and other decorations. They made lamps
for the caves.
Details in Chapters 5–6:
Paintings show which animals people thought about. They show
shamans wearing animal masks and skins.
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Painters of the Caves
Read the Book
Form the group that will read Painters of the Caves. Plan how the
group will read and respond. Some options are:
• Read with a Group Group members read an agreed-upon
number of pages, complete the corresponding Student Journal
page(s), and meet to discuss. When they finish the book, they
meet again for The Exchange. The group can use the planner
on Student Journal, page 2 to establish meeting times.
• Read Independently Group members read the book on
their own and then meet for The Exchange. The group can
use the planner on Student Journal, page 2 to establish the
meeting time.
• Guided Reading Read aloud the summary at the beginning
of each chapter to give students an overview of the chapter.
Use the Before You Move On questions to check comprehension
as students read. Use Look Ahead to set a focus for reading
the next set of pages. At the end of each section, assign the
appropriate Student Journal page. Discuss the page before
starting the next section. Establish a date for The Exchange and
record it on the planner.
Whichever option you choose, use pages 5–6 for an
at-a-glance view of Student Journal pages, as well as
answers to the Before You Move On questions.
Student Journal, page 2
Plan Your Schedule
My group members are:
___________________________________________________________________________________
We plan to read Painters of the Caves and meet on these dates:
Chapters
Date We Will Finish Reading
Date We Will Discuss
1–2
3–4
5–6
Our Exchange meeting will be on this date:
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Painters of the Caves
Pages 4–15
Student Journal, page 5
Chapters 1–2
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Respond
to Chapters 1–2
ANSWERS TO “BEFORE YOU MOVE ON”
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on Journal page 4.
PAGE 9
1. Main Idea and Details List details that support this main idea:
The Chauvet cave paintings were a very important discovery.
It was one of the largest caves with over 300 paintings; it was in
excellent condition; it has much information about the painters.
2. Cause and Effect Reread page 9. Why don’t we know the
names of the cave artists?
They lived before writing was invented.
PAGE 15
1. Conclusions Reread page 15. Early modern humans became
inventors. How did this help them?
Inventing new tools helped them hunt more effectively.
2. Viewing Look at the map on page 13. How does it help you
understand the Ice Age better?
It shows where the ice was, that the continents were larger, and
where the people lived.
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studying what they left in caves. What could people learn about your
class by studying the things in your classroom?
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2. Confi
rm Word Meaning Find the word gorges on page 5. Predict what
the word means by looking at other words in the paragraph. Write
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prediction below. Then look up gorge in a dictionary. Write the
definition.
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Gorge: a deep, narrow passage through land.
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3. Cause and Effect Reread page 11. During the Ice Age, the climate
changed
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times. What were the effects of the changes in climate?
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Pages 16–29
Chapters 3– 4
ANSWERS TO “BEFORE YOU MOVE ON”
Student Journal, page 6
PAGE 21
Pages 16–29
1. Main Idea and Details Find details to support this main
idea: With their new way of life, modern humans were
highly successful.
They lived well. They did not have to spend all their time looking for
food. They had leisure.
2. Comparisons How were the fires made by Neanderthals and
modern humans different? How were they the same?
They both used fire for cooking and warmth, but the moderns made
better hearths and hotter fires.
Respond to Chapters 3– 4
Main Idea and Details Chart
Review what happened in Chapters 3–4. Fill in the Main Idea and Details
Chart on Journal page 4.
Think It Over
Think about what you read and answer these questions.
1. Personal Response Early modern humans painted pictures of what was
important to them. What would you paint? Why?
2. Opinion Reread page 21. What do you think happened to the
Neanderthals? Why do you think that?
PAGE 29
1. Main Idea and Details List details to support this main idea:
Artists used materials from nature to make cave paintings.
They used minerals and cave water for paints, their hands, animal
fur, and twigs for brushes.
2. Categorizing What kinds of art objects did the modern
humans make?
They made jewelry (necklaces, rings, bracelets), weapon
decorations, and paintings inside and outside of caves.
3. Inference Reread page 25. Why is there “no way to tell” what the
modern humans did with their art?
There was no writing left behind to tell what happened.
Scientists can’t find any evidence to show what they did
with the art.
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Painters of the Caves
Pages 30–43
Student Journal, page 7
Chapters 5– 6
Pages 30–43
Respond to Chapters 5–6
ANSWERS TO “BEFORE YOU MOVE ON”
Main Idea and Details Chart
Review what happened in Chapters 5–6. Fill in the Main Idea and Details
Chart on Journal page 4.
PAGE 37
1. Viewing Some scientists think the modern humans believed
their art gave them power. Look at pages 32–33. How do the
picture and caption help you understand this theory?
The picture shows a shaman attacking a painting of a lion. This
shows that they might have drawn the animals in order to help with
killing them.
2. Paraphrase Reread page 33. In your own words, tell what
this means: “To keep memories alive, people must pass
them down.”
We must tell future generations about our beliefs and traditions so
they will remember them.
Think It Over
Think about what you read and answer these questions.
1. Personal Response These cave paintings are from prehistoric times. If you
could travel back in history, what time would you like to visit? Why?
2. Opinion Reread page 33. Which theory about why cave art was created
do you think makes the most sense? Why?
3. Judgments The Chauvet caves are closed to the public. Do you think this
is a good decision? Why or why not?
PAGE 43
1. Conclusions Reread page 39. Why are the animal paintings in
Chauvet cave so important?
The paintings show what animals the people thought about, not just
what they ate; the cave is full of animal paintings.
2. Cause and Effect What happened when visitors came to
Lascaux cave? How did this affect Chauvet cave?
Because of the visitors, the Lascaux paintings were damaged.
Visitors are not allowed in Chauvet now.
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Painters of the Caves
Allow time for groups to meet for The Exchange. If you plan to participate, use
these tips for guiding students in discussing the big question:
Why do people create and enjoy art?
How would the cave artists have answered this question? Why?
To pass down history, teach, for decoration; because it is pretty, informative, exciting.
We can’t be exactly sure because they made the art before writing was invented.
Some scientists think that the cave painters used art to teach young people
about their history. What pictures have helped you to learn about your
history, culture, or religion?
The cave painters were creative. What makes someone creative? How do you
show your own creativity?
Extend the Reading
Write a Story
Tour the Caves
Scientific Experts
Invite students to choose
one of the cave paintings as
an idea for a story. Suggest
they use an early human as
their main character, make
the setting the Ice Age, and
include a beginning, middle,
and end.
Have students use the images
in Chapters 4–5 to give their
group a tour of the Stone
Age artifacts and paintings.
Encourage them to review
the chapters first and use
the captions to help them
describe each image.
Form four expert groups
to study each aspect of the
book: location of the caves,
the early humans, the artists’
medium, and the meanings of
the paintings. Then regroup
students so each new group
has one expert to share the
information.
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