Outschool
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Log In

Cavemen, Fire, Flint and Child Wizard

This class explores the origins of fire use by the earliest humans. A child tending to the fire forms a hypothesis regarding flame colors. Through experimentation this child becomes the clan's wizard. Colorful and color-filled.
Clifton Draper, PhD, Author, Inventor . Educator
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(1)
Class
Play

What's included

1 live meeting
1 in-class hours

Class Experience

US Grade 3 - 6
Beginner Level
Students will learn about primitive human usage of fire.  Many thousands of years of using fire without being able to actually make fire. Over time humans came to understand how to make fire, but in the beginning hunting and gathering clans left young children behind to collect wood and stoke the fires so that the fires would never go out. In the story I call "The World's First Hypothesis" such a child is fascinated by the different flame colors and guesses these are caused by the burning wood. He tries to carefully gather wood selectively to test his hypothesis. As is often the case in science he was wrong. BUT through persistence he discovers the actual mechanism at work. I have shared this mixture of archaeology, reasoning, speculation and story telling with young audiences in classroom in both New Jersey and Virginia. IT is an elementary school-age child favorite.
Learning Goals
Accidental discovery and curiosity drive collective understanding and learning.
learning goal

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Parents or older students interested in readable summaries on the topics of fire and stone tool making by early humans and hominids will find a RICH variety at https://www.sciencenews.org/topic/archaeology. Here is another focusing on tool and human dexterity simultaneous evoluion. https://www.britannica.com/science/human-evolution/Refinements-in-tool-design. The archaeological evidence for fire usage and fire making is extensive and unlike stone tools that have survived and lend themselves to examination and speculation the dating of fires found in early human dwellings is based on well-established dating methods. I found a great reference by accident when reading David Grann's "The Wager" (New York Time's #1 bestseller about a famous shipwreck, mutiny, murder and survival) on page 126 where it is noted that in the Kawesqar native Patagonia clans "it was the children responsible for stoking them." In reference to clan fires and long canoe-based hunting trips made by adults. The same practice I propose in my description of hominid life hundreds of thousands of years ago. Science facts surrounded by human speculation and reasoning to fill in the blanks and have creative fun along the way.
5.0
1reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Virginia Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
New Jersey Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Hands On Science, Math, Music  and Art are my specialties. I worked as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Bell Labs; the R&D arm of the once Bell Telephone System. After retiring early from Bell Labs  I pursued my interest in becoming an elementary school teacher in NJ focusing on science and math for grades K - 6. I have teaching certifications in both NJ and VA. Now retired yet again I look forward to using hands on learning with "stuff" I have accumulated over the decades to engage and entertain. I have been accused by many parents of having been a game show host in a previous life. It isn't worth doing if it isn't fun. My motto.

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
Share

$10

per class
Meets once
60 min

Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
1-4 learners per class

About
Support
SafetyPrivacyCA PrivacyLearner PrivacyManage Data PreferencesTerms
Financial Assistance
Get The App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
© 2024 Outschool