MFW ECC Highlights: Fall Art & Nature

 

Welcome to our '’Week 10 in Review” using Exploring Countries and Cultures in My Father’s World!

 

We continued our studies in Brazil, South America this week.  I featured our Rain Forest lapbook, art and link in last week’s post.

Nature Study and Fall Art fun:

This week was full of hands-on ‘fall’ fun and artwork.  I would like to share our projects and links so you can see how to complete them at home.

Rain Forest ~ Thumb / Finger print art & watercolors:

I got this cute project from 1+1+1=1 blog. You just need watercolors, ink pads, the tree worksheet from the blog post, stamps and a little hand willing to make finger/thumb prints! 

My girls added a few animals found in the layers of the Rain Forest.

 

Watercolor Crayon Resistant Leaf

You just need some corrugated cardboard, water colors, crayons and a few leaves.  I got this project from an excellent resource – Art Projects For Kids blog.  Click here for details.

 

ECC Co-op Kids craft:

The ECC co-op Kids really enjoyed this fabric project lead by Kattie @ 2 Ladybugs and a Lizard.  Check out the details on her blog here.

My daughter asked to take her fabric craft one step further by sewing a star pillow!  We are still learning how to sew therefore simple projects work out best.

 

 

Nature Study ~ Fall Color

My girls went on a nature walk (in their pj’s) to collect leaves of all colors.

Using PrismaColor pencils, I had my girls lightly color a 1” area on the left side of their Nature Study sketch pad.  They then had to write down the specific color of the pencil lead (eg. - vermillion red or lemon yellow).  Next, they had to find a leaf similar to that color and tape it in the center of the page using double sided tape.

In the last step, I had them use Kimberly Watercolor pencils.  On the right side of the page, they were to find two watercolor pencil colors similar to the leaf colors and then color a small area with each next to each other.  They then blended the two colors with a paint brush wet with just water.  This allowed them to see how different shades can blend with ease.

I will be posting more details about our Nature Walk soon. 

Check out what we have done with our weekly Nature Walks scheduled for Wednesdays in the MFW ECC Teacher’s Manual:

1. Cobwebs and Spiders
2. Compare Pears and Apples study
3. Milkweed and the Monarch
4. Finding Colors Outdoors

Our current read alouds:

 

ECC Resources for Brazil:

 

Check out what others are doing in My Father’s World this week @ 2 Ladybugs and a Lizard blog.

Review: ARTistic Pursuits

 

I was sent book 3 of grades K-3 ARTistic Pursuits book to review.  Art is not really my ‘thing’, so I have not been one to incorporate it into our homeschool on a regular basis.  Needless to say, I was not sure I would like this. 

ARTistic Pursuits is designed with the homeschool parent in mind.  The Elementary book I reviewed combines art history with hands-on art projects (check out a few projects we did below).

My thoughts? I loved it!  I love the wide range of art mediums used and all of the options to choose from.  When I think of art, I mostly think of drawing or painting, but there is so much more.  This book looks at sculpting, painting, drawing, collage, crafting, and so much more!  It also incorporates art history. 

Another great aspect, I do not have to prepare a lesson - just gather a few arts supplies and kids.  I found that I had many of the art supplies already and what I didn’t have was easy to find.

How would I use the product? My girls loved the projects that we did.  I will be adding this to our homeschool once or twice a month.  I think it will challenge me to incorporate real art and artist into our studies.

Check out a few of Lessons! This is the biography page of the artist, Paul Gauguin, who spend some time carving wood. – Lesson 13

The student lesson involved carving soap.  It was a lot of fun!

The finished product !

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This is Lesson 21 – Art: A Reflection of Experiences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here the girls glued cotton string around a balloon.  Once it dried they really enjoyed gluing tissue paper inside it to make their own art.

 

Check out their books here!  

Would you like to see the lesson plans in more detail?  Click here

What else does ARTistic Pursuits have to offer? Their books are broken down into age ranges and topics appropriate for the skills for each age.  Check out all of their options on their website here.

Cost: For only $42.95 - your family can do 32 lessons – a year’s worth of art!  The book is non-consumable. They also offer an art supply kit to accompany each book that you can purchase, or just bargain shop around for your own supplies. 

See what others from the TOS Crew had to say about ARTistic Pursuits here!

 

Disclaimer:  This product was given to me free of charge for review purposes only.  The opinions expressed in this review are mine.

Sketch Tuesday: U is for Ugly

Join us each week as we participate in Barb’s SKETCH TUESDAY!

Each Tuesday, Barb posts a new sketch assignment on the Harmony Art Mom blog. Participate just when you and the kids want too.  No sign up is necessary.

Share your family’s sketches in Barb’s Sketch Tuesday slide show.  More details posted here.

I’m not much for doing art with my kids.  Crafts are fine but art and sketching…Not!  So S.T. helps keep me accountable by incorporating FUN in our school day!

Assignment: U is for Ugly

(*** warning – police monster had “boy parts” which mom turned into a tail)

Enjoy!