This week’s theme: The Stone Age

So this week is the first time ever we learn History for 1st grader. We start with having a discussion on how humans lived during The Stone Age and of course, why it was called The Stone Age. This was a really fun subject for both Yael and Noa, even if Noa isn’t in 1st Grade yet. We did a lot of research together on how The Stone Age people dressed, where they lived, the kinds of tools they used and animals that lived alongside them.

I guess the most fascinating part for Yael and Noa is that prehistoric people lived not in conventional homes that they know of, but in caves or tents instead. We focused our discussion on ways of living during prehistoric times and also important findings at that time; such as the mastery of fire and the way they were able to shape their tools to aid them hunting and lead everyday lives.

We incorporated this History lesson into our Art project too. Now, this is where my big book of Art History comes in handy. We looked up samples of prehistoric art, namely the cave paintings in Lascaux, France, and tried to imitate that with a bit of oil pastels, a ball of cotton and a sheet of recycled paper (for texture).

This was a fun and simple art to do, the girls got to use their fingers a lot (to get that smudged look) and it isn’t a complicated sort of drawing. You might want to do it on a slab of stone if you can!

We also did a scene of everyday life as Stone Age People with playdough. Check out the fire pit with two pieces of steaks (probably mammoth) grilling around it :) This was Yael’s idea by the way. She also fashioned their tools, check out the spears and axe.

The girls had a huge blast doing this together (frankly, so did I), they kept wanting to add more and more details (like those pebbles around the fire pit, not my idea). If I hadn't stopped them, I am pretty sure they would have still be on it now.

#thestoneage #prehistoricpeople #historylessonplan1stgrade