Native Americans drew pictures or pictographs on caves walls. This was their way to tell a story or to record their history. They used simple stick figures and geometric shapes as symbols for people, animals, places, and things. These drawings were very simple but effective. However, since these artists are not around today, we have to rely on our own imagination to see what they were trying to say. Make your own cave drawings and see if your friends can read your story.

What you'll need:

STEP 1
Use the the symbols in Van Toad's Sketchypad™ or create your own Sketchypad of symbols. Think of the story you want to tell in symbols. A simple sentence or two will do. USE YOUR IMAGINATION.

STEP 2
Crumple the paper bag piece.

STEP 3
Glue the paper bag to the cardboard. NOTE: If your paper bag has printing on it, be sure to use the blank side.

You can even tear the brown paper into strips to make it easier to glue. Be sure to let the paper hang over the edges so that you can wrap the edges of your cardboard. Don't worry about the wrinkles, that's what's going to make your piece of cardboard look like stone. Let it dry.

STEP 5
Using the markers, practice on your story on the piece of paper. Remember, you can only use symbols or drawings.

STEP 6
Copy the story onto your cardboard.

STEP 7
If you are doing this in class, have your classmates read your story. If you are doing this at home, have your parents read your story.

There is no wrong way to read someone else's story. Since we do not know what the Navtive Americans were thinking when they drew their pictographs, how we INTERPRET their stories cannot be wrong.

Van Toad's
Sketchypad™
Click it to print it