- Definition
Petroglyphs are pictures or symbols carved into rocks, often by Indigenous peoples, to share stories, lessons, or important information. These carvings are considered sacred and hold deep cultural meaning.
A petroglyph showing a person in a canoe could be telling a story about a journey or teaching how to travel on water.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Petroglyphs are like special stories carved into rocks, almost like a forever-lasting drawing.
Ask your child: If you carved a picture on a rock, what story would it tell?
Common mix-up: Kids may think petroglyphs are just old drawings on rocks. These are sacred carvings made by Indigenous peoples to share important stories and knowledge.
Examples
- A carving of an animal might represent a clan or a story about that animal.
- A series of symbols carved in a row could be telling a story or marking an important event.
petroglyphs is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
