Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links.
This week’s topic for the Virtual Curriculum Fair is Seeking Beauty: The Arts. Our hosts areSusan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds and Lisa @ Golden Grasses. Even though I’ve participated in the Virtual Curriculum Fair for several years, I have never written on this topic. The simple reason is that I have never felt like I had much to share because our schedule is usually missing art.
I still don’t think that I have a lot to offer on this topic. It’s not that I don’t have good intentions. I’ve even purchased lots of fantastic resources for studying art.
On my shelves I have drawing books and curricula like:
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
I honestly don’t know why I keep holding on to all those books. I guess I keep hoping that I’ll make the time to use them with my younger children. Since, my oldest son was very interested in drawing when he has younger, we also collected many other drawing books at that time. We have books at various levels on drawing animals, drawing people, drawing cartoons, drawing buildings, etc. And rather than using a curriculum regularly, what my younger kids tend to do is pull out one of those specific books and see how to draw whatever they’re interested in drawing at the moment. But if one of them expresses at interest in regular drawing lessons, I guess I’m prepared.
And while I had grand ideas of studying great artists as we were studying their time in history, that has also never happened. Once again, I do have a couple of good books on famous works of art that are child appropriate. I like the concept of a book basket. (I believe it’s from My Father’s World, though I’ve never used that curriculum). I’ve never fully implemented the book basket idea, but especially for art study, I think it’s a great idea. The idea is to have a rotating collection of books (from the library or personal shelves) that are put into a specific place (like a basket) for children to choose from during a specific time.
I also think that the concept of learning centers is a great way of studying both artists and their art or actually doing art. Here’s a pinterest board with some ideas for art center activities. Space is a factor with creating centers though, and it would be important to keep the activities in different areas updated. But it is a way that we could do art in a more child-directed way. (Because I know that relying on me to get art lessons done doesn’t work!)
Music is an area that we’ve done better at studying consistently, but only because 2 of the children take music lessons. Anna has taken violin for 5 years and William takes piano. David learned the basics of piano from me when he was younger. At that time, we couldn’t afford outside lessons, so he didn’t get as far as I would like because music lessons at home were difficult for us. Music lessons are definitely something that can be hard to fit into the budget, but they are so worth it for the child that is interested in learning. There are ways to save on lessons. For example, there may be an advanced student who would be willing to teach a beginning student. Or there may be a homeschool mom you could barter with for lessons. You could tutor math in exchange for music lessons.
Music is easier than art to incorporate into the typical day. One simple way is to have classical music playing as background music. Anna, my 15 year old, has classical music playing in her room most of the time. Another easy way to add music is to listen in the car. When you’re driving you have a captive audience.
A couple of good resources for more formal music study are –
A Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers
Another option that I’m considering for Anna is the Easy Peasy Music Appreciation course for high school. I love how it’s so clearly laid out with daily lessons. I also love that it’s free!
Hopefully you’ve found some ideas for adding a small amount of beauty into your homeschool days. I’d love to hear how you teach art or music.
Don’t miss the other posts in this week’s Virtual Curriculum Fair.
The Art of OrganizationÖor How Clutter Almost Ruined My Homeschool by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
The Shadow of Divine Perfection by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
Relaxed Homeschooling: Fine Arts in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Fine Arts {Art Appreciation, Art, Composer Study Hymn Study} for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Adding Sparkle to Home Education by Sarah @ Delivering Grace
And All the Extras by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
Teaching Art Using the Bible by Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker
Art In Every Subject by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
Letting Art Just Happen in Homeschool by Amy @ One Blessed Mamma
Missing Art? by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
Do YOU Have Time for Extracurriculars? by Michele@ Family, Faith and Fridays
Fine Arts in Our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm
The Science of Beauty for a Delight-Directed Daughter by Susan @ The Every Day of Education
Seeking Beauty: How we Tackle the Arts in our Homeschool by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Learning To Appreciate Beauty With Fine Arts Resources@ As We Walk Along the Road by Leah@ As We Walk Along the Road
I’m not good at implementing art instruction either. Although I do use a Book Basket, and I try to include a variety of books centered around a common theme…books the kids might not choose on their own. Sometimes I get lucky and can get an art book in there when it fits the theme.