top of page

Caveman Decor Ideas

​

(We didn't think to take pictures of the decor for a single one of the shows! So, here's your chance to be a Championeers! Star. Send in your decor photos, with your name and permission to use your photo and help us add to this resource!)

Easy, Cheap, Versatile Palm Trees

CavemanRock_Jungle_Tree_web.png
CavemanRock_Jungle_Tree_web.png

Palm trees are the cheapest, easiest way to instantly transform your school. This DIY allows plenty of alternatives to give you a variety of heights. Create your trees in double and triple clusters to create depth. If you can use fabric, I'll show you how to easily store it until your next unit where we'll repurpose it for cost-effective, easily storable decor.

​

Needed: 

  • PVC Pipe

  • PVC Joint (Make sure it fits the PVC pipe)

  • Cinder Block

  • Instant Cement Mix

  • Brown Lunch Bags (or brown fabric)

  • Green Foam Sheets or Construction Paper, or Felt

  • Bendable Wire, (gauge is dependent on palm material)

​

Instructions:

Base

  • Place PVC joint in the cinder block holes at an angle.

  • Prepare cement mix according to package, and gently pour around the outside of the PVC joint to fill cinder block holes and secure the joint piece. Let harden.

​

Tree Trunk

  • Once the cement has cured, place PVC pipe into the joint and position for palm tree base.

  • Open lunch bags and place over PVC pipe. Push all the way down to the bottom of the tree base. The bag will be squished.

  • Add bags up the tree trunk until you reach the top.

  • Repeat on second trunk.

​

Palm Branches

  • Using materials of choice cut out 5-7 palms for each tree.

  • Maintain enough wire and leaf material at the end to stuff into the empty PVC trunk top.

  • Cover the base with green extra green fabric and position palm branches.

​

Note: You can use brown fabric sewn into a tube and squished down to form the tree trunk. You can also add paper mache to fabrics to create a neat, stiffer look. I personally create everything in fabrics that I can easily fold up and store and repurpose for the next unit. Your tree trunks can be removed from the base for easy storage.

​

Rocks

You can use paper mache' but... that's hard to store. Try this adaptation for an easy rock solution. These are cheap and add great depth with your palm trees. 

​

Rocks

​

Needed: 

  • Blow up peach balls of all sizes

  • Gray fabric

  • Paper Mache'

  • Bucket or large container

  • Spray paint 

​

Instructions:

Rock

  • Place blow-up beach balls in clusters of varying sizes

  • Cut fabric large enough to fully drape over the balls, plus at least 30%

  • Mix paper mache' in the bucket and submerge fabric fully into it.

  • Wring out fabric and drape over the balls again, this time squish up the fabric to create rock-like scrunching. Let dry in this position.

  • Spray various colors of grays and browns to create rock shading. They even have granite spray paint for additional texture.

​

When you are done with these rocks you can fold up the fabric and store in a tote bin. It'll be stiff but it still folds. Let the air out of the blow-up balls and add to your storage tote until your next show.

​

Caves and Rock Walls

  • Once the cement has cured, place PVC pipe into the joint and position for palm tree base.

  • Open lunch bags and place over PVC pipe. Push all the way down to the bottom of the tree base. The bag will be squished.

  • Add bags up the tree trunk until you reach the top.

  • ​

  • Repeat on second trunk.

​

Palm Branches

  • Using materials of choice cut out 5-7 palms for each tree.

  • Maintain enough wire and leaf material at the end to stuff into the empty PVC trunk top.

  • Cover the base with green extra green fabric and position palm branches.

​

Note: You can use brown fabric sewn into a tube and squished down to form the tree trunk. You can also add paper mache to fabrics to create a neat, stiffer look. I personally create everything in fabrics that I can easily fold up and store and repurpose for the next unit. Your tree trunks can be removed from the base for easy storage.

​

Shag_SittingRock.png

Caves

Needed:

  • Same materials as for rocks

  • PVC frame

​

These instructions are purposefully void until we can provide step by step pictures and instructions.  The PVC frame allows you to build any shape wall or cave you desire. Rock walls need adequate anchor bases which can be achieved through the same cinder block method used for palm trees. Your design needs adequate cross bracing which again is a simple method of attaching PVC pipe with joints. Two walls can be connected with curved PVC to create a canopy top.

​

Add paper of fabric or paper-mache fabric crunched up to resemble rocks. attach with wire pocked through the front of the fabric and tied to the PVC frame. Add a touch of spray paint to highlight and shadow for interest. Hide wires by using tuffs of green tissue tucked into them to resemble plants. Drape a few vines. Frame with your palm trees and Walla. You've got yourself a cave that can be easily stored and re-assembled.

 

For additional fun consider these options: Create a cave large enough to be the entrance to your classroom, the gym, the theater, do an entire hallway!!! Add tiny Christmas lights. The greater your school transformation, the greater instant impact it will have on your students. Let your imagination go crazy. PVC and discounted fabric are pretty cheap ways to get a really big effect. Do you have a lobby that can be turned into Dino-land? Fake-Rock the walls, hang a giant tridactyl. Invest in a dino costume and stuff it to resemble the real thing.

Simple Vines

Needed:

  • Brown Roll Craft Paper

  • Green Tissue Paper or Roll Craft Paper

​

Instructions:

  • Tear paper off the roll the length of the desired vine.

  • Cut the paper in half or thirds.

  • Take each strip and twist the entire length of the paper.

  • Tada! Vines.

​

Use green tissue to tuff small green patches where the vines are tacked up. You can also twist periodically with paper to add color and visual interest. Use larger tuffs of tissue to form small bushes at the base of rocks and palm trees.

Easy Caveman Clothes

Caveman clothes are super easy.

 

  • Have your students wear basic black and accessorize with animal print belts, armbands, bows, and headbands. 

​

  • Cut fabric into a giant scarf and wear tied across one shoulder.

​

  • Sew fabric into a tunic.

​

  • Big ratted hair.

Shag_Pointing_BottomLeft web.png
greenscreancavemanrock.jpg

Dino Tracks

Needed:

  • Large Construction Paper

  • Floor Safe Clear Contact Paper

​

Instructions:

  • Cut out large dino footprints. 

  • Place strategically on the floor to create a path to somewhere (maybe to your hallway cave!)

  • Cover with clear (floor-tested) contact paper.

​

Option:

  • You can use just contact paper alone if you can find it in desired colors.

dino print_2_web.png
dino print_2_web.png
dino print_2_web.png

Caveman Bulletin Board

Needed:

  • 2" PVC Pipe cut to the Length of Bulletin Board

  • 6" Styrofoam Ball

  • Paper mache

  • White spray paint

​

Instructions:

  • Carefully carve styrofoam ball to look like the end of a bone joint.

  • Place on each end of the PVC pipe.

  • Paper mache and let dry

  • Spray paint white

  • Frame Bulletin Board

​

Easy Alternative:

  • Cut bones out of white construction paper and frame bulletin board. Now that's easy!

​

Use this option if you are short on time and money. Use the fancier option as a craft project for your leadership kids... because it's fun... and it's cool... and adds a real authentic feel. Both work great.

Caveman_Teacher_3dalia_canstockphoto1943

I'll be me,

and you be you,

that's what makes
us rock!

BE A 
ROCK STAR!

 

​

​

Send your ideas and pictures to:

deanna@championeers.com

Hairy_ThumbsUp_Web.png
bottom of page