Ancient history teacher at Bennett Middle creates hands-on caveman simulation for students

In a world where technology has consumed our lives, children may have trouble staying focused for long periods of time. 

Technology may actually be affecting their attention span. But now teachers are stepping up to pull their students back in and make sure they stay engaged. 

Bennett Middle School's 6th grade ancient history class in Fruitland is stirring up some fun. 

Their teacher, Julia Berg tells 47 ABC, "They’re doing a simulation right now of how cavemen would make drawings on cave walls, everything from the crushing up of the minerals and mixing it with vegetable oil to them actually painting on simulated cave walls."

This simulation is a way for students to learn hands on. The theme for the year is ancient methods of communication and how they've developed over time.

Most of the cave paintings were drawn between 30,000 B.C. and 15,000 B.C. and that's the time period they are looking at. 

"I showed them a bunch of images and video clips from inside the caves at Chauvet and Lascaux and had them analyze what type of things were being depicted, what the artist could be trying to say," Berg says. 

From there, they're creating cave art, the same way early humans did such as laying upside down.

The undersides of their desks have ridges in them which simulates the texture and cave wall.

This creative activity making students feel like they can truly grasp the concept.