Jump to content

Menu

Do I need more art?


Recommended Posts

I'm terrible with art - the last 2 years (K and 1st) I've used coloring pages that go along with something we are studying as our "art". I am planning on SOTW 2 next year and thus will have opportunity to use coloring pages again with history, but am wondering if that's enough for art? I feel like I'm falling short in this area but it's also hard to spend money on an art curriculum when it's not a core subject... what should I do??

 

I should add that I tried drawing with children last year and it's just not going to happen, the book is too confusing to figure out an individual lesson from.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm terrible with art - the last 2 years (K and 1st) I've used coloring pages that go along with something we are studying as our "art". I am planning on SOTW 2 next year and thus will have opportunity to use coloring pages again with history, but am wondering if that's enough for art? I feel like I'm falling short in this area but it's also hard to spend money on an art curriculum when it's not a core subject... what should I do??

 

I should add that I tried drawing with children last year and it's just not going to happen, the book is too confusing to figure out an individual lesson from.

 

Art With a Purpose. No frills, but it does teach children a variety of skills and media, and each ArtPac is less than $10 (one for each child, one for you, so you can do each project ahead of time).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have found that there are a ton of free art resources available and that the best use of "art money" is simply buying a variety of art supplies.  

 

Deep Space Sparkle has some great posts about what art supplies she uses with her students.  She has a shop with some lesson plans for sale, but she also offers a lot of free information on art techniques, free lessons and art book reviews (often with art projects that you can incorporate with the book).

 

Some other online art resources:

http://www.mrsbrownart.com/index.htm

http://www.artforsmallhands.com/

http://www.arttango.com/

 

 

Wendy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don’t think that coloring pages qualify as art, especially if that is all you are doing.  But, you also don’t need an expensive program.

 

Free online resources include -

Arttango (http://www.arttango.com)

Concordia University in Chicago (https://www.cuchicago.edu/artlessons)

DLTK’s Crafts for Kids (http://www.dltk-kids.com)

Play at Power House Museum  (http://play.powerhousemuseum.com/make-and-do/the-dress-up-box)

Free Art History Resources for Kids at Liberty Hill House – (http://www.libertyhillhouse.com/2013/08/25/free-art-history-resources-for-kids/)

 

Look in your public library for other resources

What Your x Grader Needs to Know series includes sections for visual arts. 

How to art books

Books about artists and works of art – you could choose a few works or artists corresponding to the time period you are studying in SOTW2

 

If you really hate doing art, outsource it.  Your public library may have craft days.  Home Depot and Lowes offer free Kids workshops.  Michaels, JoAnn, and other craft stores often have classes.  Many art museums also offer classes.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not an artsy person either. This is what we've done for art:

 

I bought a Scott Foresman Art book on Amazon for maybe $10 including shipping. There's one for each grade (through sixth maybe?), but we used the second grade one for two years. I just now need to buy another. Anyway, because M reads well and loves all things art, I let her read the book and do the projects herself.

 

I also pick up living books from the library about famous artists.

 

Next year, as a third grader, M will be able to participate in our homeschool charter's art workshops.

 

That's it. Unless you count piano lessons with Daddy.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know we need art too. DS dislikes it, I dislike the clean up, and DD compounds things. So I multitask. We watch brainpop art movies for information, plan art museum trips, and when we do art it's straightforward: home art studio DVDs ($20 per year) or Pinterest science art experiments. I like to combine science with art projects (salt painting, oil and watercolor painting, etc). I wish DS liked art but he's frustrated when it doesn't turn out like he wants. Plus he has difficulty physically doing it. Maybe combine with SOTW topics somehow?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Colouring pages probably aren't adequate--but a huge portion of the Activity book for SOTW1 is art--I'm assuming that SOTW2 will be similar?  In SOTW1 there's cave painting, making a crown, making a sceptre, sculpture with papier mache for canopic jars, clay work for signet rings and cuneiform tablets, all kinds of stuff.

 

Also, have a look in your local area for museums that have child-friendly days.  Near us, there was one that had different stations doing cyanotype prints, block printing, chalk pastels, poetry/word art based on looking at pictures....it was A.maz.ing.  And free, or close to it, I can't remember.  Anyway, community resources can be golden.  Check around.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Evan Moor has an art book with lessons that cover lines, shapes, colors, etc. The projects are simple but my kids like them and it's more than just coloring.

 

Stanley Cesar also has collections of art by famous artists that are available on Kindle. It's just the paintings and the titles, I think 24 per artist. I managed to get several of the collections free last year, but they aren't terribly expensive. My son really enjoys looking through them and bookmarking his favorites. They aren't great for viewing on your phone but if you have a Kindle Fire or an iPad they are good. We have also found art collection books at our library.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...