Millions of years ago, our ancestors survived in a very different environment than we have today. They encountered large, terrifying mammals and had to work each day to ensure food and shelter for their survival. By investigating the past, we can gain greater insight into our relationship to the earth and each other.
Introduce students to writing, digital storytelling, and 21st century skills through project-based learning. Storyboard That has created resources and lessons to help busy teachers add something new and versatile to the classroom.
Students can research important events in archeological history and write about them in the format of newspaper for a fun and engaging project! This example is the front page story of the discovery of the Lascaux caves in France in 1940.
Storyboard Text
PREHISTORIC CAVE PAINTINGS DISCOVERED BY TEEN BOYS!
NEWS OF THE WORLD
CHILDREN BECOME LOCAL HEROES!
September, 1940
The entrance to a complex of Paleolithic painted caves was inadvertently discovered on September 12, 1940 by 18-year-old Marcel Ravidat when his dog, Robot, fell in a hole! Called the Lascaux Caves, they are located in southwestern France near the village of Montignac. Ravidat and three friends, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel, and Simon Coencas entered the cave through a 49-foot-deep hole attempting to rescue the Robot. Inside, the teenagers discovered that the cave walls were covered with ancient paintings of animals.
The boys returned with Abbé Henri Breuil, the famous French priest and archeologist to help interpret the cave art. Breuil made many sketches of the art for later study.
Scientists estimate the paintings to be up to 20,000 years old! They depict hundreds of figures and large animals such as aurochs, bison, deer, horses, and ibex. What an incredible discovery!