Art and Design · Year 1

Active learning ideas

Ancient Art: Cave Paintings

Active learning works for this topic because young children learn best when they can touch, move, and create. Sitting still while listening about cave art won’t stick like crawling through a dark space or mixing berry juice into paint. These hands-on activities let students feel the challenges prehistoric artists faced, making the past real and memorable.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: Art and Design - Knowledge of Artists and Designers
• KS1: Art and Design - Painting

• 15–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Simulation Game
• 40 min · Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Dark Cave

Tape large sheets of brown paper under the classroom tables. Students crawl 'into the cave' with torches and use charcoal or earthy-coloured pastels to draw animals and handprints on the 'walls' while lying on their backs.

Hypothesize what materials early humans used to create cave paintings.

Facilitation Tip

During The Dark Cave, turn off the lights and give each child a small torch so they experience the limited visibility early artists worked under.

What to look for

Gather students in a circle. Show them an image of a cave painting and a modern animal painting. Ask: 'What materials do you think the cave artist used? What materials did the modern artist use? Why do you think the cave artist drew animals?' Record student ideas on a chart.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Inquiry Circle
• 30 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Natural Paint Lab

In small groups, students try to make 'paint' by crushing berries, mixing soil with water, or using charcoal sticks. They test their creations on scraps of paper to see which natural material makes the strongest mark.

Explain the possible reasons why ancient people drew animals on cave walls.

Facilitation Tip

In the Natural Paint Lab, ask students to describe the texture and smell of their pigments to deepen sensory engagement with the materials.

What to look for

Provide students with a simple worksheet. On one side, they draw a line from a cave painting to a potential natural material (e.g., charcoal stick, berry juice). On the other side, they circle the tools a modern painter might use (e.g., paintbrush, palette).

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Why Draw?

Show an image of the Lascaux cave paintings. Students tell a partner why they think the people drew these animals (e.g., 'to say thank you' or 'to tell a story'). They then share their theories with the class.

Compare a cave painting to a contemporary painting in terms of subject matter and tools.

Facilitation Tip

For Why Draw?, pause after pair time to call on quiet students first, giving them space to share ideas without pressure.

What to look for

Give each student a small piece of paper. Ask them to draw one animal they might see in a cave painting and write one word describing why they think ancient people made art.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this unit with a focus on process over product. Avoid showing polished cave art images at the start; instead, let students form their own questions after experiencing the darkness and rough surfaces. Research shows that young children grasp historical concepts better when they connect emotionally to the challenges faced by artists long ago. Keep explanations brief and let the activities drive understanding.

By the end of this unit, students will understand that early humans were skilled artists who adapted to their environment. They will recognize that art is a form of storytelling and technology, and they will compare ancient methods with modern tools with confidence. Their work samples, discussions, and reflections will show growing respect for early creativity.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Simulation: The Dark Cave, watch for children saying cave art is 'bad' because it looks simple.

  After the simulation, bring the class back together and ask them to describe how hard it was to draw on bumpy surfaces in low light. Point out how prehistoric artists captured movement with just a few lines, showing they were highly skilled observers.

• During Collaborative Investigation: Natural Paint Lab, listen for students assuming paint has always come pre-made.

  While students share their paint recipes, ask them to compare the effort it took to make pigments with the ease of buying paint today. Highlight how early humans solved a problem with limited resources, turning nature into tools.

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Methods used in this brief

• Simulation Game
• Inquiry Circle
• Think-Pair-Share