This slideshow was created for use in a visual literacy library lesson that supports 6th grade world history curriculum by expanding on the unit The Stone Age and Early Cultures. Additional text was included on each side to represent both what I said as the instructor during this lesson, and some of the student responses. The images included in the presentation are used either under CC License or are screen captures of author work that serves as an educational example to students. Feel free to reuse any part of this presentation, or even the whole thing,--as long as you share alike!

1. Communicating Through Pictures
Hello.
My name is Mrs. Gukeisen—you
can call me Mrs. G.
I came to do a project with you
today that you will create based on
the storyboards you have already
done showing the six greatest
achievements of early humans.
The people you’ve been studying
about did not have a written
language. They had to
communicate through other means.
If they wanted to record something
for history, they had to use pictures
to convey their message.
Do you think this is an authentic
cave panting?
Nope!

2. You are going to use an
online drawing tool today to
make a Modern Day Cave
Painting that expresses what
you’ve been learning in this
class.
I suspect yours will be more
impressive than mine! 
Before we get to work, let’s
quickly look at some
pictures and how they send
us messages, so you can
consider what to include in
your own visual message.

3. Communicating Through Pictures
Do you think we still use pictures to communicate? We absolutely do!
Does anyone know who this is? That’s right, the Little Ceasars guy…”pizza pizza!”
What message is this picture sending? That eating pizza is good/to buy pizza/to eat pizza
Is this picture trying to persuade you to do something? Buy and eat pizza!
How does this picture want you to feel about buying pizza? Great/Happy/Satisfied/Relaxed/…

4. What message is this picture sending?
What message do you think this picture could be sending?
There are no right or wrong answers to these, so please just share one thing you are thinking about the
message this picture is sending, and whether it is trying to persuade you to do something or to feel a certain way.

5. Is this message trying to persuade me
to do or think something?
What do you think this picture is attempting to persuade you to do?
Drink milk?
Laugh over spilt milk?

6. Does this message
convey a certain emotion?
How do you think the creator of this picture wants you to feel?
What if he had put a picture of a boy playing in the water instead of pulling a boat? Would it change how you feel?
OR
What is one thing you would change about this picture so that it conveyed a different emotion?

7. Does this message
convey a certain emotion?
What emotion do you think the person who shared this picture is trying to convey?

8. What do
you think
now?
How is this
message
trying to
make me
feel?
Does seeing the rest of the picture and the caption change your idea about what emotional message the picture is sending?

9. What message will you convey today?
Think about the message you are going to send to day when we make our Modern Day Cave Painting.
Will you focus on meaning, persuading or feelings? All three?

10. What is early man’s
most important achievement?
• Stone age tools
• Hunter-gatherer societies
• Human migration
• Adapting to new environments
• Development of farming
• Farming changes societies
Think about which of these storyboard pictures you created that you think represents early man’s most important achievement.

11. How will you convey your message?
• Be Creative
• Use Color
• Consider the questions:
– What message am I trying to send?
– What am I trying to persuade people to believe?
– What do I want people to feel when they see my
message?

12. 1. Click Log In
2. Enter Nickname & Password

14. Draw a line,
Fill an area with color,
Capture a color,
Move your drawing,
Erase your drawing.
Pure color or blended?
Thick or thin?
Straight or squiggley?

16. • Be Creative
• Use Color