In this lesson, children explored prehistoric handprint art inspired by the Chauvet cave paintings. After viewing examples of positive and negative handprints, they learned how to create their own versions using natural colours from previous lessons. Working in groups on large sheets of paper, pupils experimented with both techniques — pressing painted hands onto the paper and painting carefully around their hands to create outlines. Through this activity, they discovered how ancient artists expressed themselves.

In this lesson, children painted their Stone Age animal drawings onto the textured “cave wall” backgrounds they created previously. 

In this unit, the children explored the world of prehistoric art by recreating the techniques of early cave painters. They began with a “Natural Colours Walk” to collect materials like leaves, mud, and petals, which they used to experiment with mark-making and to create their own natural paint using spices. Using these handmade pigments, the children made textured “cave wall” surfaces from materials such as oats and lentils. In the next lesson, they will sketch and paint Stone Age animal designs onto these surfaces, mixing natural-inspired colours and applying the techniques learned earlier to bring their prehistoric artwork to life.

By looking closely and thinking carefully, we learned that artefacts are pieces of evidence that help us build a picture of the past.

The children were asked questions such as: 

• 🏺 What do you think this artefact was used for?

• 🧍‍♀️ Who might have used this object in the Bronze Age?

• 🔨 What is it made of, and how do you think it was made?

• 💭 What does this artefact tell us about life long ago?

• ❓ Why do you think this artefact was important to the person who owned it?

In this lesson, children learned how charcoal was made from willow branches and used it to create prehistoric-style animal drawings. 

Using biscuits, icing, and a whole lot of imagination, we designed and constructed our very own mini Stonehenges. Just like the real builders, we worked carefully, problem-solved, and celebrated our creations!

On Tuesday 23^rd September, the children blasted off into science and creativity in a session led by Science Oxford! They explored air power by designing and decorating plastic bottle rockets, which they safely launched using water and compressed air. Working in pairs or small groups, they practised key scientific skills - asking questions, observing, and drawing conclusions, while experimenting with nose cones, fins, and streamers. They tested whether a water rocket would soar higher with less or more water inside. They concluded that the less water the rocket had, the higher it flew into the air. The workshop combined teamwork, creativity, and real-world science fun. The children had a blast!

Our Stone Age Day was a huge success! Children arrived in fantastic costumes and explored prehistoric Britain through timelines, artefacts, and hands-on activities. They became hunter-gatherers, “hunted” animals with beanbags, and created cave paintings to tell stories - bringing history to life in the most fun and creative way. We’re now looking forward to seeing real Stone Age artefacts on our upcoming trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum!