Prehistoric Cave Art Project Elk Art Lesson Ancient History Animal Art Activity

In this Prehistoric Cave Art Elk Art Project, students create a bold elk artwork inspired by prehistoric cave art using watercolor paint and colored pencil. The finished piece has a cave-painting feel, with earthy tones, bold outlines, antlers, abstract marks and rock-like textures in the background.

It is made for teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers who want an animal art lesson with a real history connection. Students link their artwork to prehistoric cave art, early human storytelling and the history of visual expression. It fits prehistoric art units, history and art integration, elementary and upper elementary art, homeschool art and sub plans.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “This is really nice and the kids seemed to enjoy it. Thank you!” Gloria M.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• 1 Cover Page
• 1 About the Resource Page
• 1 Critical Thinking Questions Page
• 3 Lesson Plan Pages
• 1 Warm-Up Art Challenge Page
• 1 Student Reading Page about Prehistoric Cave Art
• 1 Color Poster Sample Page
• 1 Rubric Page
• 1 KWL Chart Page
• Reflection Pages: The Message, Analyze: Elements & Principles, Compare and Contrast, Questions and Wonders, Goal Setting, and 2 Artwork Reflection pages
• 1 Peer Feedback Page
• Artist’s Statement Pages
• 1 Full-Page Example Artwork Page
• 1 How to Draw an Elk Page
• PDF Step-by-Step Tutorial with visual and text directions that guide students through drawing, shading, texture and painting

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

The student reading page, Prehistoric Cave Art: A Journey into Ancient Times, introduces cave art in a clear, age-appropriate way. Students learn where prehistoric cave art was found, what early humans painted, how they made their art, and why cave paintings still matter today.

The Warm-Up Art Challenge invites students to draw a scene on their own cave wall, with animals and symbols that might tell a story, just as ancient artists did. It gets students curious before they move into the main elk project.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers who want a creative prehistoric cave art lesson with strong history connections.

Is it editable?

No. It is non-editable.

Does it include information about prehistoric cave art?

Yes. It includes a student reading page about prehistoric cave art and a themed Warm-Up Art Challenge.

What materials are used?

Colored pencils or pencil crayons, permanent marker or black colored pencil, watercolor paint and thick white paper.

Does it include reflection or assessment pages?

Yes. It includes a rubric, KWL chart, reflections, peer feedback, goal setting and artist statement pages.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She was the featured cover educator in OCO Magazine for October 2025. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

This resource is for single educator use only.

YOU MAY: use it in your own teaching. Please purchase additional licenses if more than one teacher will be using it.

YOU MAY NOT: share, copy, upload, post online, distribute or resell it in any form.

Thank you for respecting the time, creativity and care that go into creating original art lessons and resources.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic