Hearth Magic History Guide

Adventures in Prehistory

Written, Illustrated and Compiled by Amber Hellewell

 Introduction

It is mind blowing trying to comprehend how many generations of humans make up

our species’ past. Even more amazing is the millions of years of planetary shifts, climate

change and flora and fauna that filled the space before humans made their first mark upon

the Earth. Prehistoric life was far from simple, at what seems like an era of slow change and

growth was really a time when humans were propelled forward leaps and bounds. Can you

imagine what it would be like to discover the first tools, create the first painting or develop

spoken language? All of these advances and more were part of our prehistory.

The study of Prehistoric times is vast and at times overwhelming. When I sat down to

plan out this unit, I didn’t want to leave ANYTHING out! After trying to cram a college level

course into my planner, I took a deep breath, simplified my plan and created something that

kids will love learning about and is right at their level. As their parent and teacher, you will

love it too. All the dirty work has been done for you. The best resources are compiled and

simple, easy to execute activities are right at your fingertips.

I hope that with this guide, the Prehistoric era leaps to life for you and that you enjoy it as

much as I enjoyed creating it!

Warmly, Amber
How to use this guide:

This guide was compiled as our family studied the origins of the Earth and the amazing
changes that took place in the millions of years prior to the appearance of modern day
humans. It is presented in the chronology that we used, beginning with some introductory
Geology, touching on Prehistoric creatures and ending with Prehistoric man.

The guide is divided into topics which include an overview of the topic, educational materials
like flash cards, artwork and project tutorials. Also included is any supplemental materials
such as YoutTube videos, library books or games.

Book Lists

When teaching any unit, I always place a collection of related books out where they are
accessible to the kids. Your children will visit the basket during the unit and I find that it
is the ideal way to add a collection of interesting facts and imaginative stories to their
learning. Each topic in this guide has a booklist. During each unit, I typically check out
over 50 library books to preview and only keep the very best. The books included are in
my opinion – THE BEST !
 Time
What is Prehistory?

Long before modern humans appeared on Earth, other forms of life existed. Many of these living
things are now extinct and some creatures look very different today than they did thousands and
millions of years ago. “Prehistoric” refers to the time before “history” or written records.

What creatures do you think of when you hear the word “Prehistoric”?

Visualizing the Past

Introduce your children to the expanse of Earth’s timeline with Gombrich’s colorful language and
some fun hands on activities. If you have studied any creation stories in the past, this would be a
good time to review them.

Isn’t it interesting how many ancient creation stories mirror what scientists
have discovered about the origins of our Earth?

Read together Chapter One from A Little History of the World, by EH.
Gombrich, or use his words to jump start your storytelling.

Attention Activity:

The author describes the experience of standing between two mirrors seemingly going on in both
directions forever and ever. See if you can experience this using two large mirrors in your home.

YouTube:

This video by Crash Course History with John Green is an entertaining visual presentation about
the Big Bang and the Timeline of Earth’s Creation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=XkD1RPDYWK8
 Create a Time Spiral
Create a spiral of human and planetary history that goes from distant /small in the center to
recent/large on the outside of the spiral. Select a few key periods to illustrate using your favorite
medium. We used pen and watercolors.
Practice Place Value
Create a 10 column table that is labeled from Billions down to Ones. Beginning with the
creation of the Earth, look up the major events that occurred during that era of time. In
the middle, draw simple illustrations that will help you remember what events took
place. For example, we chose Mammoths to represent millions of years ago and the
Pyramids to represent thousands of years ago. As the place values get smaller, you may
want to choose events that are meaningful to your family. For hundreds, we chose when
our ancestors came to the United States, for ones: when our family moved to Michigan.
You can also add the number value below your illustration.

Practice your place value skills by taking turns covering the top or the bottom of your
chart.

When you cover the top, point to a number below and see if they can figure out it’s
place value.

Or cover the bottom and ask them to write a number in the millions, thousands, etc…
Place Value Timeline
 Archaeology and Paleontology
Because we don’t have written records to study and analyze, we can utilize the research
of scientists to create a fuller picture of Prehistoric events. These are some of the types of
scientists that help us to learn more about Prehistory:

Archaeologist- a person who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites
and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

Paleontologist – a person who studies fossils; the trace remains of plants and animals. Their work
helps us understand more about the changes that have taken place on the earth before the arrival
of modern humans.

Anthropolgist – a person who studies the physical and cultural development of humans.
Anthropologists can study modern indigenous tribes to help us understand the lives of early
humans.

Geologist- a person who studies events that have changed and shaped the Earth over time.
Geologists study the rocks, minerals, fossils, landforms and the layers of the Earth's surface.

Choose one of these scientists to learn more about. Share what you find with your family
or class. Discuss together how each scientist brings a unique perspective to the process of
gathering data about our prehistoric past.
 Rock Cycle:
Rocks and Minerals

In the millions of years before humans appeared on the Earth, the rocks that are all around us
today were forming and changing. We have evidence of these processes all around us. From the
sand at the beach, to the granite we use in our homes and in the stones we find while hiking in
the woods. Learning about the rock cycle helps us understand the hidden stories that are found in
the geology of our Earth.

Formed when small pieces of rock or sediment are

cemented together. Often plants, bones and shells settle into
them and become fossils

Created when rocks are deep under the ground and are
changed by heat and pressure

Usually found deep underground. Formed when magma

cools and crystallizes. Sometimes they form as they are shot
up during volcanic activity.
Rock Flash Cards and Cycle Wheel
 Geology Kitchen

We enjoyed watching the series “Geology Kitchen”

which uses creative kitchen experiments to
demonstrate how the Earth works. The free episodes
are found here:

http://www.geologykitchen.com/episodes.html

Watch the Pilot episode: The 3 Types of Rocks and try some of the examples in your home
kitchen!

Ingredients used: chocolate bars, ice cream, rice cereal, m&ms, gummy bears, gummy worms,
marshmellows, graham crackers,

Our Favorite Books about Rocks

Projects:

• Look up the most common rocks and minerals that are found in
your local area
• Bring a rock guide with you, or print off pictures of what they
look like and see what specimens you can find.
• Print off the Rock Types Flash Cards and have your kids write
down each rock cycle process in their own words
• Tour a local quarry, mine, cave or museum that has examples of the
minerals that are abundant in your home state.
• Visit a Gem shop or show and be exposed to a greater variety of colors, shapes and
finishes.
• Explore the metaphysical and healing properties of stones.
• Create a Mineral Testing Kit: You can assemble common household items to help ID your
minerals. Here are some items to add and their hardness. Chalk (1), Penny (3), Nail (4),
Pocket Knife (5.5-6.5), Glass (5.5), Steel file (6.5)
 Fossils
Fossils are remains of living things (plants, animals, people) that have been turned into
stone or have left an impression in the stone.

Types of Fossilization

Preserved Remains - When the soft tissue of a creature is preserved

through tree sap (amber) or ice.

Premineralization - After a bone, shell or piece of wood is buried in

sediment, mineral-rich water moves through the sediment and deposits
minerals into the empty spaces. This process creates a fossil.

Molds and Casts- when bone or shell dissolves and leaves an empty space,
it is called a mold. The empty space is later filled with other sediments that
create a cast that is the same shape as the original object.

Replacement- The original shell or bone dissolves and is replaced by a

different material

Compression- when the remains of an object are compressed by high

pressure, this can leave a dark imprint. This often is the source of fossils
that have ferns and leaves on them
Fossil Flash Cards
 Books, Videos and Resources about Fossils

Bill Nye Season 4, Episode 19 – A fun and high energy video about how fossils are
created

A Day in the Life of Paleontologist Thomas Carr-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjhDV_GzTM8

Website: DK Rocks and Minerals- an interactice page with tons of images, facts and even
educational quizzes

https://www.dkfindout.com/us/earth/rocks-and-minerals/
 Prehistoric Creatures

Cut out these tiles and see if you can put them in
evolutionary order
 Mammoths vs. Elephants
There are some creatures living today that are very similar to those who were alive
during prehistoric times. The mammoth and elephant provide a good example of this.

What are the similarities and differences between Prehistoric Mammoths and Modern
Day Elephants?
 Our Favorite Books about Prehistoric Creatures

Check out one of these books and learn more about a prehistoric
creature. Pretend that you are a journalist covering the discovery
of a fossil buried in your town!

What creature was it?

Who discovered it?

Does the discovery change what we know about Prehistoric

evolution?
Read Mammoths on the Move and write your own poem inspired by the book.

I set up a template on the white board similar to a “Mad Lib” game.

Fighting Mammoths are so tough.

Running ‘round looking rough.

They’re writing their own story

That tell of their glory.

Fat and furry, angry they flurry.

Stinky and wooly mammoth.

Tripping, crushing, roaring, butting

Wild and wooly mammoth.

 Journey of Man

“Isn’t it an amazing thought that one day a prehistoric man or woman must have realized that
meat from wild animals was easier to chew if first held over a fire and roasted? And that one day
someone discovered how to make fire? Do you realize what that actually means? Can you do it?
Not with matches, because they didn’t exist. But by rubbing two sticks together until they
became so hot that in the end they catch fire. Have a go and then you’ll see how hard it is!”

E.H. Gombrich

Study the Journey of Man chart and choose one of these books below to learn more
about Early Humans. Draw a picture of a modern human and a preshitoric human.
Choose one evolutionary step to focus on. How are modern humans and Neanderthals
(for example) the same? Different? How does each group select a mate? Create a home?
Access food? Clothing? What do they do for work? How do they interact with the
world? How do they honor their dead?

This video is very thorough and would be a great primer for you and your older
children: The Humans That Lived Before Us- PBS Eons on You Tube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ANNQKKwWGk
 Daily Life

Prehistoric hunter-gatherers often lived in groups of a few

dozens of people, consisting of several family units. They
developed tools to help them survive and were dependent
on the abundance of food in the area.

What fruit, grains, nuts and seeds are abundant in your

area? What animals could you hunt if you needed to?

Create a prehistoric meal inspired by your local area

We chose barley, nuts, dried

apricots and cherries and
local honey for our
“gathered”
bowl.

Create a flint knife that could be used for cutting and

hunting
Watch this video and try to make your own flint knife or axe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=ryMJ3c1gHuw
 Shelters
Look up these common prehistoric shelters and find out: What regions they were used in,
if any modern people still live in them and what the benefits of that type of structure are.
 Create a Shelter and Prehistoric Family

After learning about each shelter, choose your favorite and create a model.
We chose caves and created our shelter by adding newspaper over
carboard, covering it with glue and then painting it to like like stone, once it
was dry.

Using wooden peg dolls and paint, create a prehistoric family to live in your
shelter.

If you have a large group, split off into different shelters and present what
you learned with each other!
 Mystical and Magnificent Structures
Megaliths are enormous prehistoric
structures, made from stone, that are
found all around the world. A famous
one is Stonehenge, found in England,
which dates back to 3000 BC!

Tombs, dolmens, standing stones and

cairns are all types of structures that are
found world wide.

A beautiful collection of images is found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalith

Print off five (or more) examples of megaliths and take them outside to an area with lots
of rocks. Hand out the cards and explain that each person should try to build their
megalith. We used a timer which made the process more fun and exciting.

Questions to Ask:

How much do you think those stones weighed? (look it up!)

What tools do you think they used?

How long do you think it took?

Why do you think they created those structures?

Do you think there was a deeper meaning behind their creation?

 Art

Have you ever wondered about the first art ever created?
How old is it?

-Historians have determined that the first art discovered were created by humans around
30,000 BC during the Paleolithic era. What does Paleolithic mean? The Greek word
paleo means old,and lithos means stone.

-Historians have found cave paintings, simple shell necklaces, human and animal forms in
ivory, clay, and stone, even relief sculptures.

-The Altamira, Lascaux, and Chauvet cave paintings in France and Spain are excellent

examples of the Paleolithic era painting and are also the largest discovered.

What is the style?

(Ask the children while showing them the Altamira/Lascaux/Chauvet cave paintings)
What are some descriptive words that describe these paintings?

Ex.: simple, primitive, red, black, large, etc.

-The scale of these animals range from small to very big! Some bulls in the Chauvet cave
are over 11 feet long! Other subjects are small like an outline of a human hand.

-(ask)What do you think these paintings feel like to the touch? Ex. rough, smooth,
jagged, etc.

What is the Subject?

What do you see in these paintings? Subject? Colors?

-The people who made these paintings put them on the ceilings and walls of the caves
and paid no attention to composition. Each animal was its own individual piece of art.

Why did they make them?

The meaning of why they painted these is unknown but is debated. Target practice for
spears? Good luck? Did they believe it had magical powers? Rituals and dances?
Decoration? (ask) Why do you think
they painted the caves? (ask) If you lived in this time period, would you paint where you
lived?

Who made it?

Humans that lived on the European continent during the Paleolithic time period.

How do you think they made paint and brushes?

They crushed minerals and pigments and mixed with water to make paint and they used
reeds and twigs or a blowpipe made from hollow bone to paint with. They even used
their hands and fingers!

Why is it significant?

These cave drawings are so fascinating because they are literally the oldest art on the
Earth!

Can you imagine never seeing art before or not knowing anything about it but making
your own

anyway? These paintings led the way for all the art that came after it up to this day.

Tour the Caves of Lascaux- http://archeologie.culture.fr/lascaux/fr#/en/00.xml

Create your own “Cave Painting”

Materials needed:
-Large rocks

-pigment powders

-mortar and pestle (optional)

-twigs, straws, bristles from grasses, etc.

-water to mix pigments

Have the children paint their rocks with only the materials provided. They can also use
their

hands. Have them paint a subject that is meaningful to them just like the Paleolithic
people

painted animals which were important in their survival and everyday life. The children
may also

choose to recreate the style and subject of the original cave paintings. Get creative and
have

fun!
 Symbols

Written language began thousands of years before fully developed writing systems. Early
geometric signs are found across caves all around the world. Are they art, magic or
writing? Learn more about these important hallmarks in Human development and decide
for yourself!

"Art presents us with a window into the minds of these people that other types of artifacts just
can't provide. It offers us glimpses into their world, their culture, and their belief systems;
intriguing hints about their level of sophistication in thinking in the abstract and manipulating
symbols; and insights into how far along they may have been in the development of graphic
communication. While all the art has this potential, the geometric imagery in particular seems to
indicate a high degree of mastery of many of these uniquely human traits. This category of
geometric signs is my passion."

Genevieve von Petzinger

To learn more, watch Genevieve von Petzinger’s Ted Talk: “Why are these 32 Symbols
found in Ancient Caves all over Europe?” search on Ted.com or YouTube.com

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23230990-700-in-search-of-the-very-first-
coded-symbols/
What do you think these symbols could mean?

Create your own prehistoric symbol

 Create a carrying pouch

1. Cut two pieces of suede to the same shape and size

2. With a needle and hammer, punch holes around the edge
3. Lace the edges together with a needle and strong thread
4. Paint your pouch with a preshistoric creature or symbol
 Chapter Books for Advanced Readers
These excellent books provide even more “meat” for ages 10 and up

Maroo of the Winter Caves by Ann

Turnbull

Old Mother sends Maroo and $imai from their caves to find herbs
and berries- Go hiking near your home and see what local herbs
you can forage. Check out a foraging book from the library so you
can identify what you find.

Several types of shelters are mentioned throughout the story.

Structures made from sticks, bones and animals skins, snow caves,
stone caves and igloos. Depending on the season and where you
live, try to create a shelter of your own. What shelter do you
believe would protect you best during a winter storm?

Boy of the Painted Caves by Justin

Denzel

Despite rules against painting, Tao chooses to create beautiful

masterpieces inspired by the animals instead of hunting him.
Have you ever felt like Tao? Write about a time when you felt
you were different than everyone else in your community. What
did you do? Did you pursue what you loved anyway?

Tao has a special relationship with a hunting dog. Learn more

about the domestication of dogs and watch the movie “Alpha”
which tells the story of a preshitoric young man who must
survive in the wild and finds a unique bond with a wolf.
 Vocabulary Words
Prehistory: a time before written history.

Artifacts: objects made or used by humans.

Archaeologist: someone who researches ancient cultures by examining their

material remains.

Anthropologist: one who studies human development, culture and

behavior.

Domesticate: to adapt wild plants or tame wild animals and to breed them
for human use

Fossil: the remains, no matter how small, of a living thing from a previous
geologic age.

Hominid: human and human-like beings.

Paleontologist: studies fossil remains.

Radiocarbon dating: method for determining the amount of radioactive

carbon left in organic remains and thereby determining its time of death.
Radioactive carbon decays at a given rate.

Australopithecus afarensis: southern ape

Bipedal: the ability to walk upright.

Neanderthal: likely the first thinking man. Named for the Neander Valley in
Germany.

Cro Magnon: earliest modern man with progressed reasoning capabilities.

They are not believed to be a separate species; the name designates the rock
shelter in France in which the fossil remains were first found.
Hunter-gatherer: humans who live off the land by hunting, fishing, and
gathering wild fruits, nuts and vegetables for food.

Ice Ages: Four extended periods of extreme cold that occurred between two
million and ten thousand years ago. Ocean levels dropped during the four
glacial periods causing land masses usually separated by water to connect.
(i.e. – land bridges between Japan and mainland Korea, Great Britain and
Ireland, Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, Asia and North America).

The Stone Age: used to describe the period of time predating writing in
which early man used stone tools.

Paleolithic: Old Stone Age, ~ 2.5 million years ago to 12,000 BCE.

Mesolithic: Middle Stone Age, ~ 12,000 BCE to 8000 BCE.

Neolithic: New Stone Age, ~8000 to 5000 BCE.

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