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Attention Shutterbugs! Photo submissions for Atlas

Mar12

Do you have a student who likes to take pictures? Here’s a chance to have some of their photos in a student atlas. If you are familiar with Uncle Josh’s outline maps, Trail Guides to Geography Series, or Galloping the Globe series, this is the company that would like to publish  their work. Read on to find out how to submit your student’s photographic masterpieces. I hope their picture is selected!

“GEOMATTERS NEEDS YOU!Attention budding photographers, here’s a chance to have your pictures published. We are very excited to announce that our team is putting together a beautiful, full-color United States desk atlas written by Jamie Aramini. The book will contain amazing custom illustrations, but we want to include photos taken by you, our loyal customers! Each photo selected will be printed in the atlas and will include the photographer’s name alongside the picture. We’ve created a list of photos that we need to complete the project. You can submit photos of any one (or more than one) of the subjects listed. If you have other images that you feel are representative of your state, feel free to submit them as well, but remember that we only have limited space, so we cannot include every image that we receive.

Visit our blog to read the complete guidelines and how to submit your photos. We can’t wait to hear from you!”

Boys and Co-Ed Clubs

Feb6

I featured Keepers of the Home last week as one of the girls clubs. This week I want to bring to your attention the boys program called Contenders for the Faith. “This program has a handbook for young men, ages 7 through 14, to equip them to become godly men and competent providers for their future families. The handbook is unquestionably an excellent skill-builder. The boys will learn how to handle finances, do home maintenance, and develop skills in leadership. Plus, extensive Bible reading, memory work, and Bible study are included to aid them in developing good habits in their own walk with God.” (quoted from website)  A nice feature is that it can be used by individual families or as a group. Your son can earn badges and wears a uniform that is similar in the same respect as Boy Scouts.

4-H is a club for boys and girls through young adults. “It prepares young people to step up to the challenges in their community and the world. Using research-based programming around positive youth development, 4-H youth get the hands-on real world experience they need to become leaders.”  (quoted from website)

I have had several friends whose students participated in this program and they did fantastic service projects and had interesting topics to research. The particular  club these students formed used to fix and charge a reasonable price for tacos-in-a-bag  once a month for our co-op.  The proceeds from the sale were used to fix monthly meals for the Ronald McDonald House.

If you know of any other great clubs that  are appropriate for young men and women that I have not listed feel free to leave a comment. 🙂

Girls Clubs

Jan30

Isn’t it great to have girls and be able to do girlie things? There are some clubs that I’d like to feature because I feel it is important to affirm the feminine nature that can so easily be swept aside by society. I love that there are clubs for a girl to learn how to be a young woman while  providing service opportunities and having fun activities to do.

The first club is called Keepers at Home and can be done as a club with other girls or as a curriculum with just your family. There are two separate handbooks, one called Little Keepers at Home for ages 4-6 and Keepers at Home for ages 7-14. You can organize it as you like and there is a handbook that will guide you and give you projects to complete in order to earn badges. The areas of emphasis are: life skills, home making, scripture memorization, and service. Here is the website if you are interested: Keepers of the Faith

I also found a website that helps you begin a Keepers of the Home Group. Erica has useful tips with organizing and planning your own group. click here

The other club is American Heritage Girls. This group is for a group of young ladies 5-18, and not just for individual wanting to do their own program at home. The areas of emphasis are: life skills, leadership,teamwork, character development, social development, and spiritual development. If you are interested in starting a troop or joining one, click here.

Next week: Boys Clubs and Clubs for both boys and girls

Fun Reads: Middle School and Junior High

Dec26

Here are some books that are sure to hold your middle school/ junior high student’s attention. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have a book recommendation.

Meet Addy, Connie Porter MS The American Girl Dolls series has been a great series of books for middle school aged girls. They are historical fiction books that feature various girls and the period of time in which they were created. The characters are girls, not dolls, but you can purchase the dolls if you like.

The Class Trip from the Black Lagoon, Mike Thaler  MS  These books are funny and have great lessons about making good decisions in them as well. This is a series of chapter books that originated from the picture book The Teacher from the Black Lagoon.EL

In Grandma’s Attic, Arleta Richardson MS  This is a great series for middle school students of adventure and faith.

My Life as a Torpedo Test Target, Bill Myers MS, JH  Wally has all kinds of adventures in a great series from Myers. If your student likes this book, the good news is there are quite a few in this series to read.

Picture Studies in Art

Dec19

I believe art is a valuable course of study for our children as it brings beauty and appreciation of the world to our children. (It is also a required subject for students if you are homeschooling here in Ohio.) If you think you have to be an artist in order to teach it, or that your children have to create a finished product, let me assure you that needn’t be the case. Studying paintings and artists can be done without creating anything, but I think it would be fun and children make better connections to the subject if this is incorporated into your studies.

A great series to introduce students to the concept of focusing on paintings is a series called Come Look with Me.There are 12 books in the series at present and each book has a painting that your student observes carefully, information about each artist and painting, and questions to discuss concerning each picture. There are no right or wrong answers since the purpose of the questions is to get children to go beyond glancing at a painting. The great thing is that young and old will enjoy these books!

Come Look with Me: World of Play, Gladys Blizzard

Come Look With Me: Enjoying Art with Children, Gladys Blizzard

 

 

 

 

 

I have found some amazing resources to help you if you are interested in pursuing picture and artist studies further. I have included some do-it-yourself studies as well as commercial packages that have everything ready to go for you.

The first one is a blog called Artist Study– Charlotte Mason Style with a tremendous amount of resources that will help you to learn more in detail about artist studies. There are many downloadable forms, book recommendations, and activities. Grades K-12.

Picture Study Portfolios is a portfolio of laminated cards of various artists with information and questions that accompany each work of art. It is designed for students K-12. This includes more than just paintings, which I like.

After you have studied some of these great paintings and learned about the artists, why not go to local art museums? Found below are a few that are within driving distance of the Cincinnati area. Don’t live in the area? Please leave a comment if you have a museum recommendation since some of us may get the opportunity to visit or another reader lives near you who would benefit from your recommendation.

Cincinnati Art Museum  Admission: FREE 🙂 Hours: Monday CLOSED Tues- Sun. 11:00 AM – 5:00PM Map and Directions

Taft Museum of Art FREE  SUNDAY Admission Hours: Monday CLOSED Tues- Sun. 11:00 AM – 5:00PM Map and Directions

Dayton Art Institute  Admission: FREE for students, $8.00 adults, $5.00 for groups and senior citizens Map and Directions

REGULAR MUSEUM HOURS
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m
Sunday Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Columbus Museum of Art Admission: FREE  on SUNDAY, $10.00 adults, $5.00 for students 6-17  $8.00 for senior citizens 60+ and students 18+ with ID Map and Directions Click on Visiting

Indianapolis Museum of Art  Admission: FREE Map and Directions

Tuesday – 11 am to 5 pm
Wednesday – 11 am to 5 pm
Thursday – 11 am to 9 pm
Friday – 11 am to 9 pm
Saturday – 11 am to 5 pm
Sunday – noon to 5 pm
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Speed Museum of Art, Louisville, Kentucky  Admission: $10.00 Adult, $8.00Senior (65+),  $5.00 Child 3-17,Free for Child under 3

Wednesday 10a to 5p
Thursday 10a to 5p
Friday 10a to 9p
Saturday 10a to 5p
Sunday 12p to 5p
Monday closed
Tuesday closed

Be sure to take a journal, a pencil and some colored pencils with you to draw a favorite painting. Have a great time!