1. How can I explain what happened in the past?

2. Fingerprints? Hand prints?
How are fingerprints unique?
Teacher notes: The sight of a handprint on a pictograph/petroglyph panel always seems to bring the observer just a little closer to the prehistoric artist who put that handprint on the rock. Handprints are personal; like the fingerprints sometimes found on ceramic pottery sherds. Handprints are unique and individual, only belonging to that one person.
Discuss with the class how our fingerprints are unique to each student; how no other person has the special designs we have on the skin of our fingers. Discuss how we can be identified by our fingerprints, and that all students have their individual fingerprints. Tie this in with a discussion on how prehistoric Indians did not have a way to sign their names to petroglyph or pictograph sites, but they could "sign" their names by placing a handprint pictograph at the site. This shows an importance of PLACE to a certain individual. 
Consider using hand lens from the science kits to further observe fingerprints and compare finger prints with peers

3. Petroglyph vs. Pictograph
Petroglyphs carved into rock
Pictographs painted on rock
Define the difference between pictograph and petroglyph
Native American petroglyphs
Native American petroglyphs of animals, people and spiritual symbols, V bar V Heritage site, near Sedona, Arizona. The Sinagua people inhabited the Arizona area between 650 and 1400 AD when these petroglyphs were probably carved. Petroglyphs differ from pictographs in that they were carved in the stone and not painted on. These petroglyphs represent the Beaver Creek Style of anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and geometric forms found in the Arizona Verde Valley.
CREDIT
Martin Shields / Photo Researchers / Universal Images Group
Rights Managed / For Education Use Only
Pictographs
Penasco Blanco, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico. A pictograph is art created by applying dye to a rock surface. These moon and star pictographs left by the Anasazi Indians are thought to be a possible record of the 1054 A.D. supernova that created the Crab Nebula in the constellation Taurus. The hand appearing in this prehistoric record may be a signature or other identifying mark of the maker.
Frank Zullo / Photo Researchers / Universal Images Group
Rights Managed / For Education Use Only

4. Discuss and write on the board other reasons why prehistoric people might have used handprints as symbols in petroglyphs or pictographs. (Hands are important for working, drawing, hunting.) Encourage the students to see the value of a pictured rock as a whole, in that it is the creation of an individual person, someone who is no longer able to create those symbols. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve and protect the pictures on the rock that are left so people today to see the "signatures" of their prehistoric ancestors. 
Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, USA
Pictographs on a rock wall.
CREDIT
Pete Ryan / National Geographic Society / Universal Images Group
Royalty Free / For Education Use Only

5. What do you think we can learn about these people from the past using this Pictograph?
Pictographs
Pictographs Newspaper Rock, Utah, Usa
CREDIT
John Shaw / NHPA / Photoshot / Universal Images Group
Rights Managed / For Education Use Only

6. What do you think we can learn about these people from the past using this Petrogylph?
Discuss the power of symbols. Even though we may have different culture, beliefs and even language, we can communicate a message to others using symbols. Some symbols are universal and can be used to communicate over time and across cultures.
Zuin Petroglyphs
Ancient rock pictographs of the Zuni ancestors of New Mexico of things like Kokopeli the flute player, animals and rivers
CREDIT
Native Stock Pictures/ Universal Images Group
Rights Managed Bundle / For Education Use Only

7. Why is it important to preserve and protect the sites where pictographs and petroglyphs are located?
Pose the question and have a class discussion.
On the click, students will see the answer appear: To learn about the past.
To learn about the past

8. It’s your turn!
Create your own pictograph to explain a story or event in your life.
Explain how your pictograph will help people in the future learn about you.
Include your handprint and name as your unique signature.
Students create their own pictograph in order explain a story or event in their life. Students write an explanation about how their pictograph might help people in the future learn about them. (This would be a summary of their pictograph)
Students include their own handprint on their pictograph as part of their signature.
(paint or washable marker can be used to create handprints, students can also trace their hand)