Here is a fun and engaging art history lesson for kids. They will create a self-portrait that is inspired by the Pointillism artist Georges Seurat. Using dots and contrasting colors, children will paint a portrait of themselves. This is a great art activity to hang on your walls!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

Who was Georges Seurat?

Georges Seurat was born in 1859 in the Paris, France. His family was wealthy and lived a very comfortable lifestyle. Georges Seurat was an artist early on in his life. He went to art school, but got frustrated with the strict rules that the teachers taught. He dropped out of art school and started to study art on his own. When he saw Monet’s artwork, he was amazed with his use of color, light, and line. He was highly influenced by Monet’s style.

What Art History Movement Was Georges Seurat a Part of?

The Larger movement Georges Seurat was a part of was the Post-Impressionist movement, however more specifically he was the creator of Pointillism. Georges Seurat and Paul Signac are considered the founders of the Pointillism movement.

Artists at the time of Post-Impressionism were looking for new ways to paint “impressions” of what they saw around them. While impressionists were creating art with small brush strokes, Seurat and Signac took that a step further and used dots instead. The other difference was that they did not blend colors on their palettes, rather they placed dots of specific colors next to each other on the canvas and created the illusion of blending to the viewer.

What is the Pointillism Technique?

Pointillism comes from the French word for point or dot. Pointillism is a painting technique where dots of contrasting color are arranged in a way as to appear as a blended color when admiring the work from afar. It is sort of like pixels today. You get the full effect of Pointillism by standing a distance away from the art work.

In reality, the human eye is tricked by the precision of the dots location and by their color selection. Seurat was fascinated by the science of color and he sought to create beautiful artwork based on this science.

He and other Pointillists did not mix the colors on a palette before painting, rather they placed vibrant complementary paints directly on the canvas, side-by-side. The effect was brilliant! The viewers eyes “mixed” the colors when viewing the art from far away. That is one reason why Seurat’s art pieces were so large; over six feet in most cases

Georges Seurat preferred the term “divisionism” for his newly developed style, but it didn’t stick.

Why Did Georges Seurat Use Pointillism?

Georges Seurat wanted to create something new as an artist. He felt that he was being taught art in a way that was rigid and lacked freedom. He desired to create a new style of art after he studied the impressionist painters.

He loved the science behind art and color as well, so he mixed the two. He focused on the power of line and form as well as perception. He brought his love of color theory to the front and center of his art. He spent much of his time studying the science behind it.

While the Impressionists were using complementary colors and mixing them on a palette, Georges Seurat skipped the mixing step and applied color in dots directly on the canvas. He did NOT mix the colors, but rather allowed them to “blend” when we glanced at his art from afar.

What is Color Theory?

Color theory is the study of how colors are mixed and how they are seen with the human eye.

The Scientist Michel Chevreul had devised a theory of color and Georges Seurat was fascinated by that theory. When Chevreul was studying color he saw that when two colors were placed side-by-side and viewed from far away, they appeared to be mixed. Georges Seurat studied this concept and applied it to his art. Rather than mixing colors before applying them to his canvas, Seurat placed colors side-by-side and let the viewers brain mix them for him.

For more information on color theory see Designwizard.com.

What Other Artists Use Pointillism?

Paul Signac was another famous Pointillism artist. He is credited to have created this new style of art with Seurat, however, he is less famous.

Today, many artists are influenced by Pointillism. It can be seen in digital art, embroidery, and tattoos.

See this great article by MyModernMet.com for more information on Pointillism’s influence today.

What Was Going on in History During Georges Seurat’s Life?

The Franco-prussian was was going on during his young life, so his family relocated to Fontainebleau.

Scientific discoveries and artistic innovation occurred during the 19th century. The telephone was invented in 1876, the combustion engine was invented in the 1880s, and so many more technological inventions during the industrial revolution. Artists were constantly trying new techniques as well.

How to Teach About Georges Seurat in Art History for Kids

Start with the bigger picture (no pun intended) when teaching about Georges Seurat. Seurat came into the art world eager to make a big impression and he did just that. At a time when the impressionism style was in the forefront and gaining appreciation Seurat took it a step further with his innovative ideas.

What Are Georges Seurat’s Most Famous Pointillism Art Pieces?

The most famous piece of artwork, in my opinion, is “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte”. I can still remember learning about it in high school (many years ago :-)). It is so massive, it takes up most of the wall in the museum where it is located. “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Bathers at Asnieres”, and “Le Chahut” are other famous pieces by Georges Seurat.

A Timeline Perspective of Art History

It is important to give your children perspective when it comes to art history and history in general. Never teach out of context! Timelines are a great way to show your kids the purpose of what they are learning and the context. What was happening elsewhere around the world? What was going on culturally where the artist was from. Were any wars going on? Strife? Political issues? The art of the time usually represents a much larger cultural and historical picture; make sure to include this when you are teaching.

Try making your own Timeline and adding to it as you learn about different artists. Below is a FREE for subscribers printable timeline book that you can download if you would like.

Check out this ART HISTORY Timeline. It covers every continent in the world and all of history. Bookmark it and use it as a reference when needed.

For more information on the life of Georges Seurat see this great website TheArtStory.org

Georges Seurat Art History For Kids Lesson Plan:

Note: I taught this lesson for a group of 10 mixed aged homeschoolers from pre-k through 8th grade. When doing the lesson, I catered to the higher levels because I believe young children will glean from this type of education.

Grades: Kindergarten through 8th Grade (Modify based on your own children/students)

Learning Objectives/ Big Ideas: The 19th century was a time of great innovation in the arts and the sciences. Pointillism was a part of the post-impressionist movement and was invented by Georges Seurat. Students will apply his technique and become familiar with how to create an art piece using Pointillism.

Vocabulary: art history, pointillism, primary colors, color mixing, Georges Seurat, impressionism, innovation, color theory

About Georges Seurat:

A fun way to remember this artist: “Seurat Dot” (pronounced “SIR-ROT DOT”) while I am pretty sure that this is an incorrect pronunciation- the fact that it rhymes really helps children to remember what Seurat was famous for… DOTS!

Georges Seurat was born in 1859 in Paris France. He was the youngest of 3 children and born into a wealthy home. He lived a comfortable life and was encouraged to study art. He was sent to art school where his formal study began. However, he dropped out due to the strict rules and lack of artistic freedom. Georges Seurat continued to study art on his own. When he found Claude Monet’s Impressionists works, he was in awe. Monet’s use of color and lines inspired Seurat to create his own artistic style, which became known as Pointillism.

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

— Georges Seurat

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Materials Needed:

art work prints by Seurat (Check out this website for free public domain art work- The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Book about Seurat (Optional)

picture of your child/student (5×7 or larger)

white cardstock paper

vellum paper (for tracing)

printer

black sharpie marker

acrylic paints in bright colors (or for younger kids-tempura paints)

Q-tips (lots)

newspaper for messes

paper plates

Map

Timeline

trash can or small brown paper bags

2 pieces of rope or string: one that is 7 feet long and the other 10 feet long- these will be used to demonstrate how large Georges Seurat’s art pieces were.

Optional: magnifying glass

Optional: Hardback blank book to keep your child’s art- if you are making them an Art History Introduction book.

Optional: I like to get into character when I teach. I find that the kids really enjoy it. For Art History I wear a beret and talk in an accent.

Prior to beginning the lesson:

You will need to create outlines of your child/students. This doesn’t take long, just a couple of steps and you can make the outlines for the self-portrait. See this lesson for instructions: Andy Warhol Pop Art Instructions.

I created a self-portrait template of myself so that I could have an example to do with my students. So, you may want to take the time to create a self-portrait of yourself

IF you do not want the Self-portrait portion of the lesson, please use any other picture or this template/coloring page of “A Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte”.

Another great website with lots of famous art coloring pages is Supercoloring.com.

You can also give freedom to your students to sketch out whatever they would like and then paint using the pointillism technique.

The Lesson

Hook/Interest Grabber

1. Dress up and put on your Beret! Grab that accent and introduce yourself as the Artist/Instructor get into character and have fun!
2. Display a piece of Seurat’s artwork. You can locate free art on the website Metropolitan Museum of Art and print it up. Tell your students that they are going to be inspecting some famous art pieces and you need their expert input. I like to pass around a variety of art pieces and allow the children to really inspect it, they can use magnifying glasses as well. This is a great activity to get your children interested in the lesson.
3. Spend a couple of minutes allowing the children to describe what they see. Write notes on the board or on a piece of paper. Encourage discussion about colors used, perspective, and where else you may find this type of art (think of pixels on a TV or digital art).
4. Bring out your map and your art history timeline and show student that today’s artist is from Paris, France and lived during the 19th century. His name is Georges Seurat!

Lesson:

1. If you purchased the book “Joining the Dots: The Art Of Seurat” By In-Sook Kim, then read that book and discuss who Seurat was and his style of art. Pay attention to how Seurat uses the science of color to create illusions of color mixing in his famous art works. This book does a good job of showing that.
2. Discuss who Georges Seurat was and how he developed the Pointillism method which is a part of the larger impressionist movement.

Activity:

Children will create a self-portrait using the Pointillism method:

Step 1. Line the table with a protective covering such as newspaper.

Step 2. Pass out the supplies: Paper plate with which ever paint colors you are using, Q-tips (lots), trash can nearby, self-portrait template. (see Andy Warhol lesson for directions in how to create the self-portrait template)

Step 3. Using a blank sheet of paper, first demonstrate how when complementary colors are used next to each other in dots, when you stand back, the color appears to blend a bit.

Step 4. Model how to paint your own self-portrait using Q-tips and complementary colors.

Optional Activities:

1. Create your own art piece using pointillism. Sketch the ouline on a piece of white construction paper and paint it using dots of complementary color. Try not to leave any white left on the page.
2. Use Coloring page as a base for your art. Use Q-tips and paint to add the dots of color.

Closure

Many of the children will take quite a long time to finish with their art. This is great because it really shows how long pointillism took.

Georges Seurat was only able to complete seven large paintings in his lifetime because his style, pointillism, required such an intense amount of work and time.

Students can share their artwork with the class or put their art into their own art book. See how to make books for learning here.

Applying What We Learn: Ways to extend Art History Learning

Play a game (Go Fish Impressionists is a great game *NOTE: 2 cards have nudes, I removed them)

Make your own board game or card game.

Visit a Museum (virtual or in person)

Hold an Art Exposition and invite friends after you complete your art

Make food from the time period and host a luncheon- discuss art

Recreate famous pieces of art from the time period you are studying and take pictures

Dress up in attire from the time period you are studying

Complete the worksheet about art history.

Add Artists to a History Timeline Book

End Note: This Lesson was completed in one day over about 2 hours. It is a part of a 12 week mini-course titled “Art History for Kids”. All lesson activities are placed into the child’s own Art History Introduction book. I have made all of the information pages for each of the artists. These are available for purchase as are the other lessons (coming soon).

Best Books to Teach Art History to Children

One More Art History Tip for Teachers/Parents

Sometimes art prints can be expensive… However, I have been able to find lots of old art books at yard sales, thrift stores, and library sales. I often cut out pictures for the artists that I want to teach about to my kiddos.

Because the quality of the art is amazing when it is from a book (a bit better than when I print in myself), I often display the art around my house and do Charlotte Mason style “Art Picture Studies” with them.

SO… Always be on the lookout for those 50 cent old art books that you can cut up and use for art prints!!!

Which Artist Comes Next in Art History?

Vincent Van Gogh! He was another Post-Impressionist, and quite unpopular in his time. He shows us how the use of color and brush stroke can convey emotion and feeling. Come explore this innovative artist in the next lesson where we recreate, step-by-step, Starry Night (coming soon).

Make your own Art History display board.

Prior to each class, I would arrange my art history board with various art pieces as well as the artists self-portrait. I would include art from other artists of that time period so the children could see the similarities and differences.

How Did Your Georges Seurat Inspired Self-Portrait Turn Out?

Let me know in the comments below.

Sharing is caring! Be sure to share this Pointillism lesson with others that you know

The post Pointillism for Kids- A Georges Seurat Art History Lesson appeared first on .

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

What is nature journaling?

Nature journaling is the practice of writing or drawing the observations that are made when outside. These observations can be plants, rock forms, animals, weather, or anything else that happens in nature.

In the early 1800s, they led the exploration of the west. This included the newly purchased Louisiana Territory and all the way to the Pacific Coast. All along the way, they kept very detailed journals so that they could share with President Jefferson of the animals, plants, and landscapes they had seen.

Today Nature Journaling has gained a lot of popularity in homeschooling. It is something that I do regularly with my children and I know a lot of other families do it as well.

For more information on Lewis and Clark, check out the website AmericanHistoryforKids.com.

Check out some more of the original images of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Journals on Yale’s Website.

So, let’s make learning more memorable and add creativity to our day by creating our own vintage style journal and filling it with the things we discover on our journey through history (or life in general).

Creating your own vintage style journal is the perfect way to record and document your observations of the world and in any lesson that you are learning about. Moms, you can make your own as well.

Here are the Directions (simple and easy) to make your own Vintage style Nature Journal

Side Note: This activity is particularly delightful if you are a coffee lover like me. Your house, fingers, and paper will smell like delicious coffee

What you will need to make your own Vintage Nature Journal:

For the Journal:

brown paper bag

computer paper 8.5 x 11 inch

string or rope

8.5 x 11 inch piece of thin cardboard (this could be optional-depending if you want a hard back cover or not)

cold coffee (preferably strong)

towel (an old one that you do not care about)

paper towels or cotton balls

scissors or hole punch.

For the “ink”:

black paint

water

small container

feathers for writing (optional)

Karhood Quill Pen and Ink Set – Feather Calligraphy Dip Pen with Wax Seal Stamp Kit and 5 Nibs (Red)

TommoT 100 Pcs 6-8 Inch Natural Large White Goose Feathers for Dream Catcher Crafts and Clothing Decoration

Winsor & Newton Calligraphy Ink, 30ml (1-oz) Bottle, Black

HP Printer Paper | 8.5 x 11 Paper | Copy &Print 20 Lb | 1 Bulk Pack – 750 Sheets | 92 Bright | Made in USA – FSC Certified | 200030R

Amazon Basics Multipurpose, Comfort Grip, PVD Coated, Stainless Steel Office Scissors, 3-Pack, Purple, Green & Gray

Instructions:

If your kids are anything like mine, they love to get into the mess of making crafts. So let them get messy. Clear off your kitchen table (or any area where you don’t mind there being a mess). Cover it with towels (towels that you DO NOT care about because coffee will stain) or you can cover it with a newspaper.

Let’s Get Started Making Our Journal!

1. Rip the edges off of your paper to give an old look.

2. Lay out several white sheets of paper on the towels.

3. Get your cup of cold coffee and dip cotton balls or paper towels into it. Rub the coffee all over one side of the paper. Be sure to put extra coffee on the torn edges. It will make them darker.

4. Liberally apply coffee to the other side of the white paper

5. Allow about an hour to dry. Depending on humid the air is where you live.

6. While the paper is drying, cut a piece of brown paper bag that is approximately 9.5 inches by 12 inches.

7. Wrinkle the brown paper bag by crumbling it into a ball, opening it up, crumbling it into a ball, over and over and over. You want the texture of the brown paper bag to be like a worn leather.

8. Check your “stained paper” to see if it is dry. If it is, stack it up and fold it in half (hamburger style).

9. Either cut holes along the fold of the paper or use a hole punch

10a. Cut corresponding holes along the fold of the brown paper bag

10b. If you want to have a hard cover book, you will glue the brown paper bag around the piece of thing cardboard and fold in half. Cut holes along the fold.

11. Using the string, bind your pages and cover together. Tie a knot to finish it off.

Use Your Lovely vintage journal and have fun!

My kids not only wanted the Journal inspired by the journals of Meriwether Lewis, they wanted more journals so that they could write stories, and draw their own pictures (nothing connected to what we were learning, so we made more (LOTS more). I found that I was going through making lots of rounds of stained paper.

Mapmaking skills

These journals are a great way to practice mapmaking skills. We have purchased a couple of books on mapmaking that have inspired us to create interesting and unique maps.

Go outside and really explore.

Books we use for inspiration:

Map Art Lab: 52 Exciting Art Explorations in Mapmaking, Imagination, and Travel (Lab Series)

Fantasy Mapmaker: How to Draw RPG Cities for Gamers and Fans

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling

Merriam-Webster’s Student Atlas – Features full-color physical, political, & thematic maps

Nature Journaling

You can create a journal specifically for nature journaling or field trips to record findings and things learned. These little vintage journals are so fun to nature journal in. It does not matter the age of the child. They are small enough and light enough to travel with.

Check out this Nature Journal resource: Law’s Guide to Teaching Nature Journaling

You can even use thicker art paper instead of computer paper that way your child (or you) can water color or draw in them with markers.

The most important thing to remember is to make this fun and create wonderful memories with your kids

Once my kids finish filling in their vintage nature journals, I will update this post with additional pictures!

Side Note for Moms.

You can always create one of these for yourself so that you can journal and get creative! My good friend makes journals from junk and they are just marvelous and inspiring. You can get inspired or buy one by clicking here.

Sooooo…. Did your children enjoy creating their own vintage journal? Will you make your own? Do you like to journal? Let me know, let’s chat!

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A Creative Teaching Series

When I started teaching my kids at home, there was nothing better than watching them light up and get excited when they were learning. History was not always easy to get them excited about until I took the approach of making it come alive. One way that we did that was through dressing up for the time period or historical event we were learning about… or Costumeschooling.

Reading about history, especially through a dry textbook, is anything but engaging. “Mom, why do I have to learn about these people that lived hundreds/thousands of years ago???” is a question that sometimes is asked by children. (I know I asked that question of my teachers).

But when we make history come alive and show them the importance of understanding our past, the desire to learn increases in children. The imagination of children is amazing, so including this into history lessons by dressing up is a way to help them get excited about history.

Another way to make history come alive is through living books (you can read this article here)

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

As homeschool parents, it is important to engage all the senses when teaching and learning. That is why I encourage costume wearing when we are learning. It creates lasting memories. And boy, is it fun!

Most kids enjoy dressing up and living in a world of make-believe, that is why integrating dress-up into homeschooling lessons is so essential and beneficial. Emotionally and physically connecting to moments in history through costumes and dress up can help children appreciate and remember those events. The best part is that it involves their imagination and intellect and you can’t go wrong there!

What is Costumeschooling?

Well, it is a word that I made up to encompass a style of homeschooling where the children dress up for whatever time period they are learning about. Kids feel like they are a part of the history they are learning about.

We even dress up in character with literature that we are reading. Think about it…What is more fun then wearing attire of Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe while we do a unit study on Anne of Green Gables??? Throw in some linament cake and raspberry cordial while you read L.M. Montgomery’s classic and you have for yourself a deep rooted memory of what you are learning. Not to mention fun family memory building time as well.

You can add to the excitement by getting other homeschoolers involved from your community. Host a dress up Civil war era party and invite others to dress up in the time period clothing. Have kids give speeches as different people in history. AND don’t forget to take lots of pictures.

Costumeschooling for History

The possibilities are endless here. You can dress up as often as you would like (or as little) based on whatever history you are learning about. You can attend museums or historical sites in costume and take lots of pictures.

Recite famous speeches in costume.

Memorizing good content has long been popular in homeschool circles. Memory work is often found during morning time (that is when my family does it). After you memorize and amazing speech such as Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” Speech,  Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”, or Elizabeth I “Tilbury Speech.” Have your child dress up in character and recite it. Invite a group of people over to witness this momentous time in history or record it on video to watch as a family. I guarantee that your child will never forget the time they gave a speech as Elizabeth I!!!

Costumeschooling for Language arts

Like I mentioned earlier, your children can dress up in character as someone from a book that you are reading. The costumes don’t have to be anything expensive. Simply google or look up on Pinterest for ideas for diy simple costumes that you are trying to create. Go to thrift stores and look for after Halloween deals on constumes.

Constumeschooling for Science

My kids dressed up as important figures in science, Marie Curie and Benjamin Franklin. Each learned important facts from their lives and then we did a short documentary style video of them being interviewed as that person. Because they were so young, it was the cutest thing ever. We laughed till our stomachs hurt as we watched them act on video and answer questions as if they were that important historical figure. Years later, we watch that video and let me tell you, they will never forget who Marie Curie or Benjamin Franklin were or what they accomplished.

Again, this is an opportunity to invite others over and allow the historical figure to present who they are to the others. You can encourage acting and getting into character if the child is comfortable. Try getting involved as a parent. Dress up as your favorite scientist and present who you are to your children

As a teacher, I often dress up as well for the co-op classes that I teach. The children love it. Add in a fun accent and make their learning come alive.

Costumeschooling in Art History

Dressing up and recreating famous art

We did this activity during a covid-19 quarantine challenge. My kids and I (and dad too) really got into this fun idea. We perused through art books and thought about the costumes and clothes that we already had and were able to recreate some pretty famous art. Now, I could have extended the learning, but my kids are young, so we really just had fun with it. In the future I plan to spend more time studying the artist before we re-create it.

Search the internet for ideas from other families.

Here are some of our recreations:

Tips for Creating an Amazing Costumeschooling Environment

Here are a few tips to add dress up to your curriculum:

List out all the major historical periods that you will be covering. If your children are older, have them work out this part with you. Talk about what was worn and start brainstorming possible costumes you can create. You can search online or go to the library for books that have LOTS of pictures.

Visit Living Museums in time period attire

Depending on where you live, there are living museums that you can attend in costume. We have a field trip planned to a colonial farm where we will make butter and do other time period activities. Since we have been learning about early American History, adding the costumeschooling component will add to the richness of this learning field trip. We will take lots of pictures and most likely turn our adventures into our own book. The book will become a fun keepsake that we will reference over and over as we enjoy it through the years.

Don’t Forget the Food!

What is better than eating time period food while dressed up in costume? This is great for both young and older children. Getting them involved in the planning and baking of the food. Allow them to be creative in the presentation of the food. I have collected inexpensive dishes along the way at yard sales and thrift stores that way I can give my children the opportunity to use them without the fear of them breaking great grandma’s wedding china…

Costumeschooling doesn’t have to be expensive

While it is fun to purchase new costumes online or go to a costume store, it isn’t necessary.

I have found some of the best costume attire at thrift stores and yard sales! It is important to have a rough sketch or list of items that you are on the lookout for. I keep a tub and a clothes rack available for all of our costumes readily available so that my children can dress up whenever they would like.

If I am looking for a particular historical era of clothing, I search for authentic pictures and then screen clip them on my phone. I reference them when I go out.

I have found that the Goodwill and Salvation Army are reasonably priced during the Halloween season, so go around that time for good deals.

Make thrift store and yard sale rounds and do some searching often. Get a babysitter or take your kiddos along for the search. Pack your cup of coffee and a snack and have fun. You can even plan a friend date and have some down time while you search for costume treasures :-). Don’t forget to be hunting for used books as well!!!

If you DO have the funding to buy or make costumes (or you want to splurge on a couple), here are my suggestions:

How Do We Store Our Costumes?

I have a smaller house, so we don’t have a ton of space to store things in the house. I keep a rolling clothes rack in the garage of all of our costumes. Some costume accessories are stored in clear plastic tubs and labeled for ease of locating.

DON’T FORGET YOUR CAMERA!!!

Take lots of pictures of your children dressing up. You will not regret it! Even taking videos of them reenacting scenes from history is a fabulous idea.

Some of my fondest memories of school (I went to public school) was when we had dress up days. I remember it like it was yesterday… We had just learned about the California Gold Rush, and my teacher planned an entire week of festivities to celebrate. We planned and organized events, food, songs, plays, and so much more. We dressed up in attire from that time period and had such a wonderful time recreating history. I think of all the reasons why I remember that week like it was yesterday. There are so many reasons but dressing up made the emotional connection for me very real and memorable.

One More Thing…

You can extend your child’s learning by creating books about the historical event or scientist that you are dressed up as. See my post about making books to extend learning.

Chat with me:

Let me know if costumeschooling is a part of your homeschooling routine? Could you add it if not?

The post Costumeschooling: What it is and Why you Need to Add it to your Homeschooling appeared first on .

With everything being virtual right now because of Covid-19, putting together ways for your child to display their art creations needs to be creative. That is why I started using YouTube for my creative and artistic child. This allows my child to share their art with their family, friends, and other artistic kiddos!

Want to know how to create a virtual art expo for your artistic child on YouTube? I will give you step by step information on how to do just that.

Important YouTube note:

This is just my preference and how I view YouTube: I do not like showing my child’s face on YouTube, so I never showcase my child, just their art.

Also, I do not allow my child to be the one to check comments or view anything without me first doing so. I have had inappropriate comments made on my child’s art videos, which is sad.

I NEVER allow my child on YouTube without me first checking and then sitting by their side. YouTube can be used for good, however, sadly there is a lot of bad uses as well. PLEASE take caution. You can even set your videos to PRIVATE (which I sometimes do as well) and share them only with your specified audience.

What you need to make a YouTube Art Video:

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

iPhone or iPad (you can use any camera, however I will be using iMovie to edit the video, so you will need to use a different editing tool if you use something other than apple products.

a stand (I got mine from the 99cents store!!)

Paper

Art supplies

Your child’s creative and artistic mind

a YouTube channel (super simple to set up if you have an email account

Decide whether your videos will be private or public—A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION!!!

Steps to Make Your Virtual Art Show Using YouTube

Step 1. Allow your child to choose what they will draw. They need to be in the mood for this. (Never make your child to draw when they are not in the creative mood.)

Step 2. Once they have decided on what they will draw, set up their station. Pick a nice quiet place in your home with lots of natural lighting.

Step 3. Gather all their supplies: Art tools, art paper, etc.

Step 4. Set up the stand on a table and attach your iPhone to the stand.

Step 5. Make sure that the camera is turned around and that the drawing space is centered on the art paper.

Step 6. I put the camera on time-lapse, but you don’t have to.

Step 7. Record your child (only their hands) drawing their art piece.

Step 8. Periodically check the phone to make sure it is still recording and that the art is still centered. Sometimes our kids move the paper around, so check this often.

Step 9. When they are finished, stop recording, and take a picture of their finished art. You will use this final picture as their YouTube thumbnail.

Step 10. Upload your video into iMovie.

Step 11. Allow your child to choose from the free music available on iMovie and add it to their art video.

Step 12. Save video and upload it to your YouTube channel.

Step 12b. I do not have YouTube loaded on my phone, so I email the final video product to myself and do the YouTube work on my PC. Or I share it with dropbox.

Step 13. Add a fun title and decide whether you want your child’s video to be PUBLIC or PRIVATE. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!

Step 13b. Choose that the video is for kids for added safety.

Step 14. Share with Friends and Family!

Here is another example of my child’s art process videos:

Creating a Virtual Art Expo on YouTube Final Thoughts

YouTube is an easy platform to share your child’s art with friends and family (even the whole world). However, it is a platform that needs to be carefully monitored. We have successfully been able to share our child’s fun and creative art with others, inspiring other kids to be artists. We never allow our child to go on YouTube without one of us parents sitting by their side and we never allow our child to view comments made by others without us first seeing those comments.

I would recommend you set your video to “PRIVATE” and “Just for kids”

There have been times where we have only allowed her videos to be private, and other times where we have allowed them to be public. Again, we have decided to never show our child’s face. This is a decision you must carefully make for you and your family.

We have had a lot of fun watching the videos ourselves as a family, being proud of the gift of art that God has given to our child. Grandma and Grandpa also love being able to see videos that are sometimes too long to share via text or email.

Have you made any videos of your child’s art process?

What types of art have you posted on YouTube?

Can you share any tips on making videos?

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You Can Design a Science Curriculum Tailored to your Elementary School Age Child

Keep in mind that science in the younger years should be focused on exploration and excitement. This is an essential component of the Charlotte Mason philosophy. Children are naturally curious about the world so you need to provide abundant learning opportunities for them. A great way to do that is to have access to beautiful living science books that cover a variety of topics. Also, be willing to go outside and explore. This will allow your children to fall in love with the natural world around them!

How do I Design My Own Science Curriculum Based on My Child’s Interests?

If you are anything like me, you struggle to fit your kids into a box of pre-packaged science curriculum. I have decided to be the creator of my children’s science education. Now I know that not everyone wants to take the time to do this, but for those of you homeschool moms who are able, you first need to be open minded and flexible. You can put together a fun science curriculum that works with your child’s interests.

You can put together a FUN science curriculum that works with your child’s interests.

What Made Me Change My Mind-from textbook to Living Picture Books:

When I started homeschooling my kids, I was a firm believer in the need to use textbooks to teach science to my kids (I was coming from a career as a public School educator). It didn’t go so well, though. Trying to get my young children to sit still while I read from the science textbook was nearly impossible.

Thankfully, I had the opportunity to start teaching classes once a week at a learning center. The purpose of these classes was to provide enriching learning opportunities-not what I was used to as a public school teacher. Using my background in curriculum instruction, I designed a buffet-style class around unique and rare animals as well as mysterious places. I called it “Mysteries and Marvels in Our World.”

The class introduced newly discovered creatures, unique creatures, and mysterious places to the children. For example, we learned about the Crooked Forest in Poland, the Cone Snail, Bombardier Beetle, and so many other amazing places and animals. The kids (and me too) were in awe of what we were learning about. It quickly became super popular and I was able to teach it 3 semesters in a row and each semester it was full. I loved that class for so many reasons. One of the main reasons I loved it was because it taught me that I could teach about so many subjects and content areas using these fun creatures and interesting places. Kids learn best when they fall in love with what they are learning. Who doesn’t love the adorable Blobfish?

The Blobfish was one of the first unique animals that we learned about. I had never even heard about this animal until I did the research for the class curriculum. It quickly fascinated me. Using this creature as a “learning base” we covered habitat, density, depth, geography (where it lives using maps), food chain, art (we had to draw it :-), classification, and so much more.

So I figured I could plan out my science curriculum for my own children in that same way. And that is just what I did and you can too.

Now I organize and plan out my own children’s science curriculum (as well as history- but that is another post and I integrate other subjects that they are learning. I even enjoy occasionally creating worksheets and activities that better suit my children’s interests. I am working on a tutorial that teaches other moms how to do that and will update a link to this post once I finish it (this will be especially for my fellow creative mamas!)

What is great about this strategy is that it also saves time in my homeschooling day. I don’t have to teach each subject separately. I can integrate reading, phonics, writing and so much more with core subjects like science and history. It also works for multiple ages.

Children LOVE Animals- Especially Unique and Interesting Ones- You Can Use that as a Hook!

This is a coloring book that I put together for my kids to go with the unique creatures we were learning about.

Creative Science- Learning about unusual creatures to cover a variety of science standards as well as other content areas.

Like I mentioned earlier, rather than teaching about animal habitats and adaptations as their own separate lessons. You can use content your child will be interested in and build their learning around that. First, go over the science topics and standards you want to teach over the year or semester for your child, then choose something that your child is super interested in. For example, you can choose an animal that your kids love. Use this animal as the “learning base” and make their education connected to what they enjoy.

Here are a couple of books that I used to teach about unique and creative creatures

Planning Out Your Year

When I plan for science for the year, I choose a couple of topics. I first talk to my kids and get an idea of what they are interested in. I take that into account, but I also know that there are some topics I will choose for them and I know that once they are exposed to the new topics and we learn about them in a creative and fun way, that they will fall in love with them. I use this planner to help guide what I teach my kids and make all the subjects connect as best as I can. It also helps me to focus on why I teach the way I teach.

You can also use this book by Rebecca Rupp called “Home Learning Year by Year”. It is a fantastic resource to help you organize and plan out your years of homeschooling.

Connected and Cohesive Learning

While what I am about to cover is often more work for the parent or teacher, it is important that your child’s learning be connected and cohesive. Connected and cohesive learning is when cross-curriculum learning goes on. Allowing subjects to cross in your child’s learning such as history, science, reading, phonics, and even math. When learning is disjointed, it not only takes longer to complete your school day, your child is left with thinking that each subject is separate. This is unfortunate because in learning science, you can teach writing, phonics, grammar, history, etc.

I have created a Homeschool Unit Study Planner where you can plan your own unit studies based on your kids interest. See the post and access your Planner by clicking here.

But Shouldn’t I use a textbook?

I do not use textbooks to teach my kids science. I will leave that for Middle School and High School. However, I do purchase science textbooks to help guide me when necessary, such as a when we are learning about human anatomy. I believe it is important to use beautifully illustrated living picture books to teach science to young children, however. Either going to the local library or investing in new and used books online or at the thrift store is essential to exposing amazing content to your kids. Here is a youtube video where I explain the five ways to build your homeschool library on a budget.

Textbooks in my opinion shouldn’t be used as your primary teaching tool. They are often dull and dry and lack beautiful engaging content (not always, but usually that is the case). Quality picture books and other living books that teach science content are much more appropriate for younger children.

Here are just a couple of science picture book that I like, however you can check out a more complete list here or scroll down to see picture book lists by subject area.

I am a BIOLOGY NUT!!!! I could study biology every year with my kids. Last year I designed a biology curriculum for my kindergartner and second grader. While I used the textbook personally, how I taught each topic to my children was through living picture books. I followed a set of topics that I wanted to cover over the year, however I tried to engage my child’s interests whenever possible. And we slowed down when they came to a topic they were fascinated by.

We purchased a high powered microscope and began to learn about the microscopic world. We went on field trips that connected our learning even further. Opportunities for digging deeper into subjects will come often. For us it came when we arrived at the Kingdom Protista during our learning about the classification of living things. We purchased amoebas, paramecium, and euglena. We watched them move around under our microscope. Then we sketched them into our nature journals. Now that was memorable learning!

I created this printable for my kids to record their microscope observations. It is available on TeachersPayTeachers.com

Side note: Nature journaling can be done with the microscopic world too. Things unseen are fascinating!!!

If you are able and interested, investing in a high quality microscope is a great way to get your children interested in the microscopic world around them. I use an Amscope microscope, which is an amazing brand.

Some Microscope Essentials if you are interested:

Quality Living Picture Books are a GREAT Way to Teach Science Content to Your Child

This year we are continuing our life science learning. My kids who are now first and third will be delving into anatomy and physiology. I have a textbook for my own reference. A textbook allows me to have a better understanding of what I want to basically cover even some of the technical words we may come across. The textbook is NOT for my kids, however. The goal of my science instruction is to provide a buffet style education. I offer the content and we slow down and explore when their is a high interest. We checkout or purchase books that correlate to the topics we are covering and then do hands-on activities and labs.

We are also going to do a brief overview of Chemistry this year (my daughter asked for this because to her chemistry means experiments). I have planned it into our school year, but I may be a bit over zealous. I was able to find a basic chemistry textbook to guide me as I plan out my children’s lessons, however, we will be using living science picture books to learn the concepts as well as LOTS of hands-on learning. I will let you know how it goes

Use Real and Technical Words When you Teach or Talk About Science

It is always tempting to simplify the vocabulary from science. I admit, some words are tough. We wonder if our child can even understand them. While at first your child may look at you puzzled when you say a difficult science word. With repetition in context, your child will begin to pick these more difficult words up. I have been using the scientific technical words since the beginning.

I have a funny memory of being in the hospital after having my son and my daughter, who was two at the time pointing at the doctor and saying “stethoscope”. It left the doctor shocked and he even asked her to repeat what she had said. I just thought it was so cute to hear her cute little voice saying it.

From the beginning I used real technical words to interact with my children about our surroundings. I don’t do it so they sound smart (remember Charlotte Mason encourages a humility in learning :-). Rather, I firmly believe that they are capable of using the real words that we all use daily.

Here Are Some of My Favorite Homeschool Planning Books

Get Creative

When teaching science get creative! Make lapbooks or fun books so that your child can document their learning. Check out this list of ways to get creative with science:

• dioramas
• stories
• newspapers
• news report for TV
• lapbook
• book
• art piece
• stop motion video
• song
• making their own board game or card game
• blog

You will notice that with each of these activities you can integrate your writing standards, reading standards, art, History, and so much more. At the end you will have an amazing contribution to your child’s learning portfolio. Let your child help pick out the best way to show their learning and allow some time for creativity.

SLOW DOWN and Let Children Take Their Time

Often textbooks chunk subjects into separate time blocks: 6 weeks for plants, 6 weeks for weather, etc. This is not how children’s minds learn. They need to be given their own time to explore and dive deeper into subjects that they find interesting. The goal is to make them fall in love with learning!

Where Do I Find Activities and Labs That Go With My Science Curriculum?

I like to research activities that I think my kids will enjoy. Pinterest is a great resource for homeschool science activities. It can be overwhelming however. Check out my Pinterest Board.

I am currently putting my Mysteries and Marvels Curriculum together so that I can share it with the world- well at least for those who love animals:-). Once that is ready I will post it.

Great Websites With More Fun and Creative Science Ideas

Creative Educator This site is full of fun ideas that you can integrate into your science teaching.

Home Science Tools is a fantastic resource for science activities. They are all about hands-on learning.

Check out these tips to build your homeschooling library on a budget:

How do you teach your children Science?

Have you found a curriculum that fits your kids? Have you found a textbook that your kids enjoy or that is useful to you as the educator?

Do you design your own science curriculum? What tips can you offer a homeschooling mom to help with teaching science to her children?

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

The post Homeschool Science Curriculum- How do I Teach Elementary Science at Home and Make it Fun? appeared first on .

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

When you have a super creative child or when you want to encourage your child to be creative, making your own card game or board game is a fun way to learn while having fun. It reinforces whatever concept you are learning.

What Subject Will Your Card Game Review/Teach?

We had just finished learning about the classification of living things in science. We Talked about the 5 kingdoms and decided to focus on the Kingdom Animalia. Animals are just about every kids favorite thing to learn about. Here is what you can do to incorporate making board games:

First, we learned about our subject. For this card game we read the book Animalium: Welcome to the Museum by Jenny Broom and “A Class of their Own: Animals” by Shar Levine and discussed the different classifications of animals. We checked out books from the library and watched a couple of Youtube videos as well.

Second, we brainstormed ways that we could make a game out of what we have learned. Because my daughter had been playing a variety of Go Fish games lately, inspiration for her was easy. We decided to make different card categories in sets of six. She picked the following classes of animals: Reptiles, insects, mammals, birds, and fish; then for each class of animal, she gave six different examples and drew a picture of the creature. The concept of animal classification was learned and reinforced using this fun activity.

What will you need?

Finally, you will need to purchase either a set of blank playing cards, a blank board game set, and sharpies so that your markers don’t smear on the cards.

We have played her game several times now and it is actually quite fun. It is nice to see my daughter’s smile as we play her game. I think we will try making a board game next.

So, will you try to encourage your child to create their own card game or board game? If so, which one and how will you create it? What subject will you reinforce with a card game?

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Recently, I had a friend ask me about my daughter’s card making “business”. My daughter is 8 and she has become known as a pretty good greeting card maker. She is artistic, so when the opportunity for an entrepreneur fair came up, we signed her up. “Cutesy Cards” is her business name (she came up with that one on her own :-)). This got me thinking that I could integrate writing instruction into greeting cards.

Writing hasn’t always been the easiest subject for me to teach. The use of workbooks and writing lessons that were out of context has often made writing my daughter’s least favorite subject in school. I knew I had to approach writing in a more creative way if I was going to get my younger children to enjoy learning how to write. That is why we started to incorporate writing with a purpose. I take age appropriate writing standards and integrate them into simple writing lessons. Making greeting cards is one of the creative ways that I teach writing.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

Making greeting cards is a great way for your child to learn creatively and maybe even make some money.

Most recently my daughter made a “Lord of the Rings” inspired birthday card. It featured the beloved Gollum holding his ring saying: “My Precious wishes you a happy birthday.” My friend commented that the card was her favorite part of the gift.

Making greeting cards not only teaches my daughter about being an entrepreneur, it allows her to write with purpose. It also teaches her that it is important to bless and encourage others using our talents and gifts.

Why Should Your Children Make Their Own Greeting Cards?

Making greeting cards with a purpose allows you to hit certain teaching standards in a way that is authentic and organic. Your children are learning with out using a “curriculum”. Standards such as penmanship, brainstorming, writing a draft, captitalization, spelling, creating greetings, doing research, etc. are covered using this technique. You can even focus on a read aloud that you are going through. My children had been listening to “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien on CD. That is what inspired many of my daughter’s cards at first.

More inspiration:

For her good friends birthday she decided to go with a rabbit theme. In this “writing with a purpose lesson” we covered the difference between hopping and hoping, adding ‘ing, spacing, writing a greeting, and penmanship. The greatest part was that my daughter had so much fun and was filled with joy at her final product.

You can even make funny greeting cards using science or history concepts. For example, if you are learning about the cell in anatomy, you can draw a picture of different cells found in your body and then write: “Have fun CELL-abrating your birthday!” This is a fun way to encourage your kids to think out of the box, come up with ways to use concepts they are learning to make a greeting card or birthday card. You can always search for inspiration online as well.

What if my child is not that great at art?

Online drawing tutorials are another option if your child’s strength is not art. We love Art Hub for Kids and Draw so Cute for inspiration or drawing lessons in general! You can use these websites for guidance with fun art ideas!

What to do With Your Child’s Greeting Cards?

I now shop at my daughter’s card shop whenever I need a birthday card or greeting card and she gives me a pretty good deal. I can’t beat $1.00 a card (that is mom’s special price); and the reactions I get from our friends and family are priceless.

You can also encourage your child to sell their cards at fairs or online. There are so many platforms where your child can try to sell what they make. It is so rewarding when your child sees a true purpose for their work. And what a great way to start teaching about financial principals in business. See my daughter’s greeting cards in my Etsy store here (coming soon). You can purchase one, or just look for fun ideas.

SO, what do you need to create your own greeting cards? Here is my essential list of items that your child needs:

1. Blank greeting cards. We like the ones below because they are thick enough to use markers and you can also throw them into your printer to copy onto them. They are also the best priced per card that we have found.
2. Markers to illustrate. My daughter likes having the option of fine tip for precise coloring and a broader tip for filling in larger areas.
3. Nice black marker to trace and write with. We use Prismacolor pens, they are amazing!
4. Creative slogans. I like to search whatever topic that I am using for creative slogans. The sillier, the better.

This is a Great Time to Send Some Encouragement

Even though things are getting a bit more normal due to Covid restrictions being let up, there are still many people who are stuck in their homes or in hospitals. You can create cards to encourage some of the people that you know who are lonely. What a great idea and purpose to make our writing about something that matters.

Steps to Follow When Making Cards

Following these simple steps will ensure a positive card making experience.

First, brainstorm the type of card you want to make.

Second, write a draft on a separate sheet of paper of what your child wants to write on their card.

Third, always start with a pencil tracing of your idea on your card. Encourage your child to draw and write lightly that way you can erase and mistakes on your final product.

Finally, trace your work with a black pen. If you want to make multiple copies of your cards, don’t color it quite yet. Make sure you photocopy your card design onto multiple cards, then color them after using your good quality markers or colored pencils.

Pass out or mail your cards to friends and family. If your child wants to sell them, look for free entrepeneur events or create one yourself and invite friends and family. Also, look at different online platforms such as Ebay.com and Etsy.com to help your child sell their creations.

Let me know how your child’s cards turned out. Did your child enjoy creating their cards? Did they pass some out, did they sell them? I am so excited to hear about your Creative Learner!

Check out theses other creative Homeschooling ideas!

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Do you encourage creativity in your children? Do you focus only on the core subjects but leave out time for your children to be creative, artistic, and passionate about what they are learning? Follow these 5 simple tips to add creativity to your homeschooling day.

• After I started homeschooling my daughter, I quickly realized that she was naturally so imaginative and full of wonder. She had so much excitement and passion about learning, but the way I was homeschooling her wasn’t reflecting this knowledge of my child. I was following my curriculum manuals, we were completing the worksheets, she was learning appropriately, but much of our homeschooling day was dull and lacking the passion that I knew could be there.
• As I continued homeschooling, I knew that I needed to do more than worksheets and textbooks. I needed to provide my child with the opportunity to get excited with what we were learning and do what she loved best…Create.

5 Simple Tips to Add Creativity to your Homeschooling Day

• Tip 1: Listen to your Child When they are sharing With You

  When children are creating and using their imagination, it is essential that they have an audience. As parents, we have a great responsibility and privilege to be the number one fan of our children. By truly listening, we reinforce our child’s value. In today’s society, there are so many distractions, so actively listening takes real work. Taking the time to actively listen to your child encourages them to be creative with complete acceptance from you.

• Tip 2: Allow Art Time

  While art isn’t the only way to be creative, children love to create using a variety of art mediums. Have a ready supply of materials that your child can try out and create with. For example, high quality colored pencils like Prismacolor Pencils, water colors, high quality papers, markers such as Ohuhu markers, and don’t forget a variety of books for inspiration.

• Tip 3: Encourage Your Child

  Remember to encourage your child and their creations. Don’t always focus on the end product, yet encourage their persistence, their hard work, their creative process, and their imagination. Praising your child for their hard work will encourage them to keep going and not give up.

• Tip 4: Provide Time to be Creative

  Give Your Child Freedom to Be Creative by giving them large chunks of time. By giving them ample time, you allow your child to complete the creative process. When your child is doing something creative, don’t put a time limit on them. “Okay, you have 15 minutes to finish your art project” This does not support their creative growth. Yes, teaching math and reading are essential and you need to take the appropriate amount of time to teach your children those subjects. But make sure to also set aside time for your child to be creative. Children need to be given time to create. Scheduling a creative time period for your child might be necessary if you are a busy family on the go.

Tip 5: Go Outside Together

Encourage your child to go outside and go out with them. Being in nature often awakens a child’s imagination. They feel freedom and joy being in the outdoors. I know that my kids love to act out the things that we are learning about outside. It is funny to hear them pretending to be eagles flying through the sky and watching them build their nests and sit on their eggs. They are making what we have learned earlier in the day a part of their creative play. When you go outside with them, you are enjoying their creativity with them.

You can even give your child an art notebook and allow them to draw what they see in nature.

The Last Thing You Need to Know about Encouraging Creativity in Your Child…

While not every subject of every day can be an amazing creative adventure, you can take little steps to encourage creativity in your child throughout your homeschooling. Creative time is fun and exciting and should be apart of every child’s schooling. See this fun and creative art project. You will see your sweet child light up when they have created something. Don’t forget to tell them how much you love their creativity.

What do you do to add creativity to your Homeschooling day? Share below in the comments.

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

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Pop ART and Andy Warhol

When we were learning about different art history movements, we were so excited when we arrived at Pop Art. Andy Warhol was the inventor of Pop Art, so we did some research and then recreated his art. I completed this activity both with my children and in an art class that I teach. The kids loved using their own pictures to capture the style of POP Art!

A little Background Knowledge of Andy Warhol

Prior to recreating an Andy Warhol style of art, we did a little bit of learning first. We read the book: “Andy Warhol: Getting to know the world’s Greatest Artists” by Mike Venezia then had a discussion of his contributions to the art world. Then we got to the fun part…. The art itself. We looked at a variety of his art pieces and got inspired as we began our own versions.

Andy Warhol (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists: Previous Editions)

Andy Warhol What Colors Do You See? Board Book

Who Was Andy Warhol?

Andy Warhol (Volume 60) (Little People, BIG DREAMS, 60)

A Child’s Introduction to Art: The World’s Greatest Paintings and Sculptures (A Child’s Introduction Series)

Simple Steps to Create Your Own Pop Art Self-Portrait

Follow these simple steps to recreate “Pop Art” and have so much fun!!! Then don’t forget to add it to your child’s own personal art history book.

What you will need…

• A 5×7 photo of your child
• Vellum paper
• a black sharpie
• Vibrant markers
• copy machine, I use the Epson Ecotank- It is an amazing printer that has cut my printing costs tremendously!
• cardstock paper

8.5×11 Tracing Paper for Drawing-Goefun 100 Sheets Vellum Paper 8.5 x 11 Translucent Printable for Card Overlays, Invitations, Belly Bands

Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point, Black, Pack of 5

Crayola Washable Marker Set, School Supplies, Gel, Window, Broad Line Markers, 64ct

Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Wireless All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, ADF and Ethernet – Ideal-for Your Home Office, White

Canon EOS 4000D / Rebel T100 DSLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm Zoom Lens + SanDisk 128GB Memory Card + Tripod + Case + Wideangle Lenses + Rtech Digital Cloth (20pc Bundle), Black (Renewed)

Simple steps to make your own Andy Warhol inspired art.

1. Place a piece of vellum paper over your child’s photo.
2. Trace the outline of your child’s face on the vellum paper. My son always likes to make silly faces, so I allowed it, however when he decided to make his face green, he resembled the hulk

3. Once the sharpie ink is dry, place the velum paper into your photo copier, make two copies.

4. Once you have the two copies, copy them onto cardstock.

5. Using the color wheel, try to have your children color using complementary colors. Have them use bright markers and color in all the white spaces.

You can check out this website for Complementary color information and activities: KitchenTableclassroom.com

Variations: You can also use smaller pictures to create a set of four images, just as Andy Warhol did with Marilyn Monroe. I wanted to make sure that our photos fit into our art history books. The most important thing is that your child feels ownership of their art and their learning. Let them have fun recreating Pop Art!

Let me know how your Pop Art turned out. Did your kids enjoy it? Do you have any art history projects that your kids have enjoyed?

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I began this website as a tool for those of you who have creative children

My daughter, from the moment she was able, has been a creator. Homeschooling her has been an amazing journey because I have seen the amazing talent she has been born with. If she has a free moment, she will choose something artistic or creative. Whether she is sketching a peregrine falcon or a sperm whale, or trying to invent a robot with a cardboard box, creating is essential to who she is. I wanted to make sure that I encouraged those important imaginative and creative skills while homeschooling her. Hence, A Creative Learner was born.

My son, although not as naturally artistic as my daughter, benefits as I seek to encourage his creative skills as well. Every child needs the opportunity to be creative. Our world is an ever changing place and in order to succeed, our children have to be creative in their problem solving skills.

My Homeschooling Philosophy Inspiration

I knew that education my children as I had when I was a classroom teacher, just wouldn’t work! I had to start thinking out of the box. I could not rely on worksheets, direct instruction, and other teacher-led instruction that I had been so accustomed too in my 8 years in the public school classroom. I began researching and reading everything I could get my hands-on about how to teach my children at home. I asked questions (lots and lots of questions), I listened to criticism, and I started to be willing to change my mind about what education meant for my family. This website is the formation of that change.

Homeschooling Your Children is a Precious Gift

I hope that as you are reading this, that you know how important you are and that the steps you have taken to homeschool your precious children will be the most amazing gift to you and your family. Homeschooling your children is a huge responsibility, but know that you are capable and equipped to do this special task. And remember you have an entire community of people that are willing to help and encourage you through the process.

Lessons, Tips, and Tricks for the Homeschool Mom

Let me share with you the lessons and ideas that have helped me to teach my children passionately and creatively. If you are like me, then you chose to homeschool because you knew that it was the route that would allow you to do what you believed was best for your children. With each passing year, I realize more and more how thankful I am to have the privilege to meet my children where they are at academically and prepare them for a bright and successful future. Each year I also continue to grow as an educator and refine my teaching skills. I am always learning with my children.

Lessons, Tips, and Tricks for the Educator Who Wants to be More Creative

While my primary focus is teaching my children through homeschooling, I continue to educate other children through enrichment classes and co-ops. I design these classes in the same way I have been homeschooling. I want to cultivate a creative way of teaching and allow my students to learn in a fun and engaging way. While my site is still new, I plan to integrate lesson plans and strategies for the educator and parent who teaches classes or co-ops, so stay tuned!

Grab a cup of coffee and come Along for this exciting journey!!

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