Archive by Author | Lisa McAfee

Art: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Aug29

unless you have skills like me, then you will need 1,000 words to explain what you created! I come from a family of artists, all of them have a career pertaining to art. In my family we have a toy designer, home designers- both interior and exterior, and a jewelry maker. All of them can paint and  draw well too. Then there’s me… let’s just say I appreciate art and those who can make it.  I am not just being modest here either!

One time my dad offered to have a painting class for me and my sisters and two older nieces in my parents’ home. All of us came with various-sized canvases. I bought a 5″x7″ and was wishing I had bought a 4″x6″ canvas as we began painting. I chose paint a bouquet of sunflowers and tried to make it realistic. I should have gone for abstract.

It took several weeks to paint it and then we had an “art show”. Various-sized canvases (all large) were displayed proudly around the room and, while I wish I could have hidden it behind my back, I timidly put my painting on a small easel as was required for the show and went to join my family. We oohed and awed, and offered impressions and remarks on each that had been done as we walked around the room. Some of the girls were talking about getting their pictures framed.

Then we came to my sunflower painting. There was a long pause as my family tried to think of kind words to say about “It”. “Oh. That’s nice, Lis!”  and ” I like the colors you chose,” was about all that they could say. I don’t blame them. I was embarrassed for them and for me. At least I tried. If you are wondering if I kept the painting, absolutely not! I sold it on ebay! (not really!) 😉

Knowing my artistic limitations I found other more capable people to help me. I asked my dad to teach my sons some art classes when they were young and my older sister did some art projects with them one year, but I primarily depended upon art classes at a local co-op to help me with this area. I know not everyone has the same opportunities that I did for my children so I am posting some websites that have lesson plans to help you. I also have some books listed that I found to be a great help in exposing my budding artists to famous works of art without going to an art gallery or museum every week.

Internet

Art Lessons and Lesson Plans This is a terrific resource since it has lessons according to grade level, medium, artists, just to name a few of the categories.

Crayola When I think of crayola, I think of coloring sheets. Not so with this website. There are lessons and background information about the projects that I found informative.There are lessons for preschool through high school.

Artsonia You are required to sign up for the website, but after you do, there are over 3,000 lesson plans to peruse.

Art Projects for Kids This website is for ages K-5th grade, but I can see it being adaptable for older students as well. You can purchase lessons, all within the comfort of your home.

Books

The Usborne Book of Art Skills, Fiona Watt This has a great variety of art lessons for elementary students.

Oxford First Book of Art, Gillian Wolfe An introduction for children to art around the world.

A Child’s Book of Art, Lucy Micklethwaite This book has over 100 paintings to study, whether it would be color, form, style, or something else, this is a great book to begin with. Look for more of Lucy’s titles. She is one of my favorite authors for art studies.

Come Look With Me:Enjoying Art with Children, Gladys Blizzard I love her books and have recommended these to home school families over the years. These are a wonderful way to discuss art and give children the opportunity to study a picture rather than just hurriedly glance at it. She has more books to enjoy, so don’t stop there!

How to Draw What You See, Rudy De Reyna This looks like a great book to help an older student begin drawing. The important point is to practice, practice, practice!

Have fun, get messy, and do a project or two yourself. The main thing is to expose your artists to the world of art. Who knows? Maybe you have a famous artist in the making. 🙂

You’re a Star: Blessing our Children with Praise

Aug25

I was riding my bike through an adjoining neighborhood and saw a car that I had to take a picture of; I am sure the lady who was staring at me from the next house thought I was from google maps or just a creepy person.

My immediate thought was,” They must think they are a star.” –smile, smile. My next thought was, “They must have a wonderful mama in their lives that told them that.” And my next thought was, “I bet they were home schooled!”  Now, my assumptions could all be wrong here, but I think that it is a definite possibility for each of those thoughts.

I believe home schooling affords us the opportunities to speak words of encouragement and praise into the lives of our children and let them know they are stars. Not only stars, but Super Stars! It doesn’t always mean academics either, although that is the reason why we are in school. It is about being a star shining in areas of love toward, and service to, each other.

I also want to tell you that you are a Super Star! You may not wear the skin-tight Super Woman outfit (I certainly won’t, too scary-looking!) and the cape, but you are shining brilliantly for your family. Keep up the great work and know you have me cheering you on. You know your child(ren) better than anyone else and therefore know what will ignite their passion and encourage them when things get tough. (like verbs, writing papers, tacking hard math problems) You can do it!

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Lord.” Matthew 5:16

Nature Journals

Aug22

Living here in Ohio is wonderful because we have four seasons and we can take advantage of the days by observing how plants, animals, and weather changes as the seasons pass. I think it is important for children to be outside as often as possible, for as long as possible.

One idea for your children to do something outside is to keep a nature journal. These journals are a way to not only observe, but also to write, take notes, draw, and respond to the world around them.  This can be done seasonally, weather permitting. I found some great resources to help you get started with this and explain it in more detail.

Keeping a Nature Journal, Clare Walker Leslie

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Here is a blog post that describes what a nature journal is and how-to steps by Rhythms of Play

If you don’t have the time or inclination to make a journal, you can also purchase one. This is a nice journal to get you started. My Nature Journal: A Personal Nature Guide for Young People, Adrienne Olmstead

Nature journals can be for ALL ages, including you! You think you’d like to try it? Here are some ideas and tips that will come in handy! click here

One thing you will need in addition to a journal and items to sketch with and perhaps color are some pocket guides to have on hand or take along if you go somewhere. I have a variety of them ranging from wildflowers to rocks and minerals to animal tracks. In this electronic age, you can even get Ipod/smart phone apps such as bird or leaf identification. I love it! When I went out west my husband I took ibird with us and were able to identify scrub jays and ospreys. There were some small birds we were unsure of so we played the call of a warbler and you should have seen all the birds come near the feeder where we were for a closer look to see what strange bird was making that sound!

Here are some various paperback guides that are compact and lightweight. Golden Guides are easy and will help you get started with nature journaling. I only listed a few since there are many to choose from and it will depend upon what you want to study.

Mammals

Reptiles and Amphibians

Insects

And here are resources to use when you get further along on your nature observations and identifications.

Handbook of Nature Study, Anna Comstock This book has been in use for a long time and has recently been reprinted. It has fantastic descriptions of the plants as well as observations that can be modeled for younger children by reading it aloud. This can be used independently by older students. Look at the Handbook of Nature Study blog that uses this book for its newsletters and ideas.

The Nature Handbook: A Guide to Observing the Great Outdoors, Ernest H. Williams- actual photographs and ecosystems where you would find them

Are your children unsure about how to draw something? Here are some books that will help get you started.

I Can Draw Animals, Ray Gibson (for beginning artists)

I Can Draw Animals, Tony Tallarico (for experienced artists)

Enjoy the nice days and feel to post a journal entry of what your naturalists (and you) chose to draw and study.

A Fork in the Road

Aug22

A funny thing happened to me while my husband and I went on a walk through our neighborhood last week. I saw a fork in the road, a table fork! The crazy thing is that it was within 5 feet of an intersection and a stop sign. Now, if that wasn’t a sign from God, I don’t know what would be. It’s funny how this post has a road theme- like my post about street names earlier. I really am not preoccupied with roads or streets!

Well, after receiving that “sign” 🙂  I have been looking at this school year and trying to be cautious and not committing to anything more than what I already have planned this year. I am also trying to see when I come to a decision, which fork in the  road I am to take, not just leaping into things and then stopping to ask the Lord if that’s okay or whining after I have made the decision. You probably do a much better job than I do about the decision-making process, but if you are like me, why not join me in carefully considering what to add to the school year before committing to doing something?

I rode my bike back to where I saw the fork, but alas, it was no longer there. But…. I DID take a picture of the intersection. 

Book Report Ideas

Aug18

Sometimes it is difficult to think of interesting ways to do book reports. Here are some ideas that I have done with my own children, with classes I have taught and ways to implement them.

  • Create your own book cover design and/or jacket with a summary and review of the book inside. Use actual library books as examples for this as it might be difficult for children to grasp this without seeing several examples.
  • Have famous people write a review of the book. For instance, if you were going to write a report on Cinderella you could have the wicked step mother say, “Don’t read this book! It is an inaccurate and unfair telling of the story from a spoiled girl’s viewpoint.” One of the mice that was changed into a horse to drive the coach might say, “This was the best day of my life! I was transformed into a magnificent beast and ran as fast as the wind!”
  • Describe the book’s main characters- who you liked/disliked and tell why. How could their character be changed in order for you to like them if you disliked them?
  • Design a wanted poster of the antagonist of the book. Add the following to the poster: Title, character, what is the crime or injustice, and plot.
  • Dramatize your favorite part of the book. Write it as a play, record and send your masterpiece to someone to watch.
  • Create a model or diorama of one of the important parts of the book. Invite a friend over to see it or take a picture and send it to a friend or relative.
  • Illustrate or paint the story depicting important parts of the book.
  • Rewrite the story’s ending.
  • Draw a map with all the places in the book where the story took place. If there are too many places, choose a favorite scene from the book.
  • Write a letter to one of the characters in the book asking pertinent questions in regards to the book.
  • Make a food dish from that time period. What would some of the characters choose to eat and why? For instance, you could make hard tack for Jim Hawkins, the narrator of Treasure Island or you could make your own version of Stone Soup and have it for dinner.

Here are some resources for you that can be found on the internet.