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![](media/image3.jpeg){width="5.220138888888889in"
height="7.227777777777778in"}***Elementary School***

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# Section 3 -- History Activities

-   **Carve a Petroglyph**

-   **Paint a Pictograph**

-   **Cave Ceiling Art**

-   **History in the Making**

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**Carve a Petroglyph**

**Pre-Visit or Post-Visit Activity**

**Primary/Elementary and Intermediate Levels**

**Social Studies** (Geography), **Art** (Visual)

**45 Minutes**

**Objective(s).** Students will design representations of petroglyphs in
much the same way as American Indians carved petroglyphs in rocks.

**Related NM Content Standards with Benchmarks.** SS11-E2, SS11-M2,
AE3-M9, AE6-E7

**Method.** Students carve *petroglyphs* on plaster of paris slabs.

**Materials.** plaster of paris, cookie sheets, brown tempera paint,
large paintbrush, *a* non-stick spray, knife, pictures of petroglyphs,
small rocks, sticks

**Key Vocabulary.** petrograph, petroglyph, pictograph

**Background.** Rock art, or petrographs are common in the Southwest.
Native Americans created rock art on cliffs, in rock shelters and other
areas.

See "Rock Art" in Section 2 -- Just the Facts.

**Suggested Procedure for Preparations of Carving Surface**

1.  Spray cookie sheets with a non-stick spray. Mix plaster of paris
    according to package directions. Pour into cookie sheets (about a
    half inch). Allow plaster to set up for the time recommended in the
    instructions (overnight, if possible).

2.  When plaster is thoroughly dry, paint a thin coat of brown tempera
    paint over the entire plaster surface. Let dry.

3.  When paint is dry, lightly score plaster sheet into pieces about 2
    ½\" X 3\".

4.  To make the *rocks* on which to carve petroglyphs, break plaster
    along the scored lines.

**Suggested Procedure for Carving Petroglyphs**

1.  Show the class the petroglyph pictures. Discuss some aspects of rock
    art such as those mentioned in "Rock Art" -- Section 2.

2.  Give one plaster carving surface to each student.

3.  Have students select a rock or a stick as a carving tool.

4.  Instruct students to carve pictures or designs into the plaster by
    gently rubbing through the painted surface and allowing the white
    plaster interior to show through. Students may carve something they
    saw in the rock art pictures, something from memory or something
    from their imagination.

5.  Display their rock art on a flat surface to prevent breakage. This
    makes a good open-house exhibit. Students may also wish to invite a
    park ranger to tour their *art gallery*.

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>
> **Paint a Pictograph**

**Pre-Visit Activity**

**Primary/Elementary and Intermediate Levels**

**Social Studies** (Geography), **Art** (Visual)

**45 Minutes**

**Objective(s).** Students will create representations of pictographs
and explain the difference between a pictograph and a petroglyph.

**Related NM Content Standards with Benchmarks.** SS11-E2, SS11-M2,
AE4-E8, AE4-M11, AE6-E7

**Method.** Students create their own pictograph on plaster of paris
slabs using native and synthetic materials. (American Indians made paint
by mixing fine soil and animal fat. This made a paste that would stick
to the rock. Berries and other plant parts were used to dye the paint.
However, in this activity, students use glue instead of animal fat.)

**Materials.** plaster of Paris, cookie sheets, a non-stick spray,
knife, yucca leaves or paint brushes, plants used for dying (prickly
pear fruit, sumac, algerita, etc.), tempera paint or food coloring,
glue, different color fine grain dirt, toothpicks or something to stir
the paint

**Key Vocabulary.** pictograph, petroglyph

**Background.** Pictographs can be seen in Southeastern New Mexico
around the area of Carlsbad Caverns. In fact, there are pictographs
painted in the mouth of Carlsbad Cavern. If your class takes the Natural
Entrance Route, look for two pictographs.

See "Rock Art" in Section 2 -- Just the Facts.

**Suggested Procedure**

1.  Show students the pictograph pictures, explaining the difference
    between pictographs and petroglyphs. Tell students that they will be
    painting pictographs. Discuss why American Indians may have drawn
    pictographs.

2.  Spray cookie sheets with a non-stick spray. Mix plaster of Paris
    according to package directions. Pour into cookie sheets (about a
    half inch). Allow plaster to set up for the time recommended in
    instructions (overnight, if possible).

3.  When plaster is thoroughly dry, lightly score plaster sheet into
    pieces about 2 ½\" X 3\".

4.  To make the *rocks* on which to paint the pictograph, break plaster
    along the scored lines.

5.  If you are using yucca leaves, they will be the *paint brushes.* To
    make brushes, use a rock or other blunt object to beat the ends
    until the fibers are exposed.

6.  If you are using natural plants for dyes and are not familiar with
    making dyes, use fruits or plants that have lots of juice such as
    prickly pear fruit.

7.  Depending on the group size, you may want to divide students into
    small groups when mixing the paint. Mix dirt, glue and water to the
    consistency of paint. Add plant dye or food coloring to get the
    desired color. When food color (or dye) is mixed with different
    color soils, the outcome is also different. Experiment with the
    different color soils to get different colors.

8.  Give one plaster painting surface and a paintbrush to each student.

9.  Instruct students to paint pictures or designs on the plaster with
    their *paintbrushes* to create a pictograph. Students may paint
    something they saw in the rock art pictures, from their memory or
    from their imagination.

10. Have students display their rock art gallery on a flat surface to
    prevent breakage. Invite other classes and/or a park ranger to view
    the exhibit.

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**Cave Ceiling Art**

**Pre-Visit or Post-Visit Activity**

**Primary/Elementary and Intermediate Levels**

**Social Studies** (Geography), **Art** (Visual)

**40 minutes**

**Objective(s).** Students will model the experience of drawing on a
cave ceiling.

**Related NM Content Standards with Benchmarks.** SS11-E2, SS11-M2,
AE6-E7

**Method.** Lying on their backs, students draw representations of
pictographs.

**Materials.** colored chalk, mural, butcher or sheets of manila paper,
tape, tables or desks

**Key Vocabulary.** pictograph, prehistoric, culture

**Background.** Prehistoric cultures painted their rock art in many
different locations. Pictographs are sometimes found in unusual places,
such as on cave ceilings. In what position would a person need to be in
order to paint on a ceiling?

See "Rock Art" in Section 2 -- Just the Facts.

**Suggested Procedure**

1.  Tape mural, butcher or sheets of Manila paper to the underside of
    desks or tables.

2.  Have students lay on their backs and draw with the chalk.

3.  Display the *cave* art on the ceiling of the classroom.

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**History in the Making**

**Pre-Visit and/or Post-Visit Activities**

**Intermediate and Secondary Levels**

**Social Studies** (Unifying Concepts, History, Geography),

**Language Arts** (Unifying Concepts)

**15 Minutes Daily for 1 Month**

**Objective(s).** Students will review and appraise recent newspaper
articles, television news stories, magazine articles, World-Wide-Web
articles, etc., in order to determine their significance to the future
of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

**Related NM Content Standards with Benchmarks.** SS3-M2, SS3-H2,
SS4-M4, SS12-M8, SS12-H8, LA2-M1, LA2-H1, LA2-M2, LA2-H2

**Materials.** publications about or relating to Carlsbad Caverns
National Park (current newspaper clippings, current video of television
news stories, current magazine articles, current articles appearing on
the internet, etc.)

**Key Vocabulary.** Vocabulary will vary depending upon current news.

**Background.** See "Carlsbad Caverns National Park Area History" in
Section 2 --Just the Facts.

**Suggested Procedure**

1.  Have each student critically read/review current newspapers and
    magazines for articles about Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
    Encourage students to surf the internet and watch the news for
    events that might have an effect on the future of Carlsbad Caverns.
    Clippings and videos should be brought to class.

2.  Have each student present and interpret one article or video to the
    class.

3.  Facilitate a class discussion after each presentation. As a class,
    decide whether or not the information in these articles might change
    the future of Carlsbad Caverns National Park and whether it will be
    remembered or simply be forgotten.

**Additional Activities**

1.  Have students research their family trees to determine if their
    families were part of Carlsbad Caverns National Park's history.

2.  Have students bring old photographs. Instruct students to write a
    story about the photographs. Students may write individually, or
    write collectively in small groups.

3.  Invite grandparents or seniors citizens to share the old days in
    Eddy County.

4.  Invite the Historian at Carlsbad Caverns to conduct a slide program
    on the history of Carlsbad Caverns. The park historian may also be
    contacted for suggestions on source materials.

**Other Suggestions.** By deriving historical meaning from people and
events in Carlsbad Caverns National Park's past, students can better
understand the relationships between people and their environment. They
can better understand human motivations and actions and the consequences
of their actions. Have students select a research topic from those
listed below and prepare a written/oral report in order that they might
better understand how different people in different situations develop
different perspectives.

1.  Jim White and his central role in the Carlsbad Caverns story

2.  Bat guano mining at Bat Cave

3.  The importance of photographer Ray V. Davis' work in the Caverns

4.  The establishment of Carlsbad Cave National Monument, October 25,
    1993

5.  Willis T. Lee and the 1924 national Geographic Society-sponsored
    tour of six months

6.  The family of Willis T. Lee -- Daughter Elizabeth, Son Dana

7.  The first boss at Carlsbad Cave National Monument--W.F. Mcllvain

8.  Colonel Tom Boles, the park's first superintendent (19 years)

9.  The Monument becomes a National Park

10. Frank Earnest Nicholson

11. Building trails and stairways at Carlsbad Cave National Monument

12. Hooking up the electricity and water at Carlsbad Cave National
    Monument

13. Past and present tours of the underground

14. Laying out the park's surface--buildings, parking lots, landscaping

15. Promoting the Caverns

16. Shafts and elevators at the Caverns

17. The Rock of Ages Ceremony, 1927 -- 1944

18. Exploring the Caverns.