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12 Delightful Farm Art Activities for Kids

These 12 delightful farm art activities for kids include fluffy baby chicks, a tractor, a barn, ducklings, a lamb, a cow, a piglet and even the chicken life cycle. Such fun learning for your homeschool!

These 12 delightful farm art activities for kids include fluffy baby chicks, a tractor, a barn, ducklings, a lamb, a cow, a piglet and even the chicken life cycle. Such fun learning for your homeschool!
Photo by Elizabeth Peluso

While you can do a farm study anytime, spring is an extra special time on the farm. Spring is when new plants grow, and baby animals are born. My children love watching the baby chicks grow into big fluffy chickens.

Planting seeds and then watching with wonder each day to see if they have sprouted. Then seeing them get a little bigger each day is magical for children (and adults).

“Encourage your child to have muddy, grassy or sandy feet by the end of each day, that’s the childhood they deserve.”

~Penny Whitehouse
Farm, farm animals and curious kids - homeschool ideas for fun farm learning!
Photo by Elizabeth Peluso

Farms, Farm Animals, And Curious Kids

Children learn so much about science, life cycles, empathy, caretaking, and the intricacy and wonder of God’s design through studying farm animals and life on the farm.

 It is a topic that is rich with education but so much fun that it doesn’t even feel like school. It gets them outside and involved in real life and awakens the wonder of new life and discovery that has them observing with all of their senses.

barnyard art lessons
The simple shapes of Nana’s Preschool Barnyard lessons make ‘painting’ fun!

If you can’t have a farm in your backyard, you can visit a local farm or even stop by your local farm store to see the baby chicks and rabbits.

12 Delightful Farm Art Activities For Kids 

Even if you live in the city and can’t take a field trip to the farm, your children can experience the joy and wonder of farm life and animals through these incredible art lessons and fun farm-themed literature.

Charlotte's Web Homeschool Art Lessons

Barnyard Preschool Course

The Barnyard Preschool Course is one of my very favorite courses. This course contains several simple but adorable farm lessons, including:

  • a tractor
  • several different barnyard animals
  • a chick
  • a barn and silo painting.

They can be done separately or combined to make a big farm scene. Once my son had tried the lessons, he had a wonderful time putting the different components together to make new farm scenes.

These 12 delightful farm art activities for kids include fluffy baby chicks, a tractor, a barn, ducklings, a lamb, a cow, a piglet and even the chicken life cycle. Such fun learning for your homeschool!

Baby Animals Art Lessons

The Baby Animals continuing series is an excellent option with lessons for painting baby animals, including:

  • a lamb
  • a cow
  • a piglet
ducklings art lesson

These lessons are still simple and easy to follow but have more detail than the preschool course. 

In addition to the other farm animals, the Baby Animals course in You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse membership includes an adorable baby ducklings lesson that includes three baby ducks splashing in the water.

These 12 delightful farm art activities for kids include fluffy baby chicks, a tractor, a barn, ducklings and even the chicken life cycle.
Artwork by Erin Vincent using Nana’s Earthworm art lesson

Earthworm and a Chicken Art Lesson

Learn more about how insects can benefit the farm and garden, and then enjoy the earthworm lesson from the Backyard Nature course. The earthworm lesson includes some adorable earthworms crawling around in the dirt and a chicken hunting for the worms to include in your farm study. 

These 12 delightful farm art activities for kids include fluffy baby chicks, a tractor, a barn, ducklings and even the chicken life cycle.

Fun Three Little Chicks Homeschool Art

The A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels course includes a Three Little Chicks lesson, an adorable painting of three very simple baby chicks. This is perfect for a spring farm study, easy enough for your preschoolers, and fun for the whole family. 

Chicken Life Cycle for Your Farm Art Activities

If you want to get even more scientific with your art study, Nana has a new lesson that shows the life cycle of a chicken from egg to hatchling to chick. It also shows the rooster and the hen and how the process starts all over again when the hen lays a new egg. These are more detailed than the baby chicks in the other courses.

Charlotte's Web quote

Charlotte’s Web Art Activities

Last but not least, I am not sure any farm study would be complete without one of our favorite children’s books: Charlotte’s Web. This post will help you incorporate art and literature with Charlotte’s Web. It includes some fun tea-time ideas and a companion workbook to help you go deeper in your literature study. 

These 12 delightful farm art activities for kids include fluffy baby chicks, a tractor, a barn, ducklings, a lamb, a cow, a piglet and even the chicken life cycle. Such fun learning for your homeschool!

More Art Activity Resources For Kids

If you have enjoyed all the farm-themed resources, you can keep your science and art learning with some of Nana’s other fun lessons.

There are many great science lessons to accompany the chick life cycle lesson in the science course. There are diagrams of the heart and eye, flower diagrams, periodic table lessons, and so much more. It is a great way to incorporate art into your science lessons.

The Garden Nature course will give you some fun insects and plants that you might find in your garden. There is a ladybug, honey bee, corn, watermelon, and more.

If you enjoyed Charlotte’s Web, check out the literature course in the You Are An Artist Membership.

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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Take Flight In Your Homeschool With These Famous Aviators Activities

With the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and more, you can take flight in your homeschool with these famous aviators activities.

With the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and more, you can take flight in your homeschool with these famous aviators activities.

The Thrill Of Learning About Aviators For Kids

“Aviation is proof that given the will, we have capacity to achieve the impossible.”

– Edward Vernon Rickenbacker.

The art and science of aviation are enthralling for adults and children alike. Today, boarding a plane and flying worldwide is a common occurrence, but it was considered impossible just over a century ago.

Growing up in Eastern North Carolina, I was fascinated by the Wright Brothers and their first flights at Kitty Hawk. Kitty Hawk was only a couple of hours from my hometown, and I was blessed with the opportunity to make several day trips to the area.

I was an avid reader, and one of my favorite books was The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk by Donald Strobol. I read that book cover to cover so many times that the cover started to fall off!

How it was possible to keep such a heavy object flying through the air and how creative and brave those first pilots were as they figured out how to make an airplane fly and increasingly larger planes and further distances are fascinating for most children.

Learning about aviators is a great way to engage students with the excitement and mystery while tying in lots of history and science.

The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane

Famous Aviators Activities For Kids: Educational and Fun!

The Wright Brothers Activity

We start with the Wright Brothers, who had the first successful airplane flight. Nana has a fun painting of one of the brothers flying over the treetops in the airplane clubhouse lessons. This is an excellent picture of the Wright Flyer, and if your child wants to know more, you can go to the Smithsonian website for images and information on the original Wright Flyer.

“More than anything else, the sensation of flying is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost. If you can conceive of such a combination.”

– Wilbur Wright

With the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and more, you can take flight in your homeschool with these famous aviators activities.

Amelia Earhart Lesson

Next, moving forward a bit in history, Nana has a fun Amelia Earhart lesson. This lesson features Earhart standing beside her plane. Earhart is a wonderful opportunity to dive into both aviation history and a bit of mystery when you think about her disappearance.

Space Exploration Activities

After you have conquered the skies, you can blast off into space. The Wright Brothers had their first successful powered airplane flight in 1903, and just 58 years later, the first man successfully flew into space.

With the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and more, you can take flight in your homeschool with these famous aviators activities.

There are a variety of great space paintings available in the Space Exploration Course in the You Are An Artist clubhouse. First, check out the fun Man on the Moon painting that features an astronaut standing on the moon! Also, you can also do the Space Shuttle Lift-Off painting, compare the space shuttle to the Wright Flyer, and see how much has changed in half a century.

Keep the creative lessons going with seven additional space-themed lessons in that course! It even includes some of the newest space technology, the Mars Rover.

Adventurous History And Science For Your Homeschool

After you have satisfied your child’s curiosity about aviation with famous aviators activities, you can move on to some of the other great history and science topics from Nana’s I Drew It, Then I Knew It courses!

A Few Examples:

These courses allow you to explore a variety of topics through drawing. They can be a great way to introduce a new concept or cement the knowledge one has already studied. By drawing what they have learned, they help the brain make connections and improve their memory. Just as important, art makes it more fun!

Some of these courses are available as independent courses, but they are all included in the Clubhouse Membership.

With the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and more, you can take flight in your homeschool with these famous aviators activities.

Complete Clubhouse Members even have access to excellent printable companion notebooks to accompany many of these courses. The companion notebooks include more information, fact sheets, and planners to supplement the lessons.

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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The Best Way To Add Music To Your Homeschool

It does not take a lot of musical expertise to teach your children to learn and to love music! These are simple and effective ways to add music to your homeschool.

The Benefits Of Music In Learning For All Ages

If you ask me what I ate for breakfast yesterday or what is on my grocery list for this week, I probably won’t remember. However, if a song I listened to in my childhood starts to play, I will probably remember the lyrics.  

It does not take musical expertise to teach your children to love music! These simple tips will help you add music to your homeschool.
Photo by Amy Law

Music is powerful both emotionally and educationally. Studies have shown that music study in children can increase academic performance, memory, language skills, social skills, self-discipline, and emotional skills. Pair that with the fact that music education can be fun, and you have a winning combination.

For our family, music education is a time that we can come together and learn and grow as a family. It is a fun time that involves listening together, singing together, and maybe even a bit of silly dancing together. Having those shared learning experiences helps create family bonds and fond memories.

The Best Way To Add Music To Your Homeschool

I love listening to music, from silly kid’s songs to contemporary praise music and those old classic hymns. However, I do not have the gift of musical talent, and when I first started homeschooling, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to teach music to my children.

It does not take musical expertise to teach your children to love music! These simple tips will help you add music to your homeschool.

I quickly learned that it does not take a lot of musical expertise to teach your children to learn to love music! While we have added performance music classes to our current schedule, I taught them music appreciation through various easy-to-use resources for years.

First, simply listen to a variety of music together as a family. It seems so simple, but they learn so much just through exposure. At times we would listen to whatever struck our interest; other times, we would focus on different genres of music, and other times we would listen to the same hymn in different styles.

Second, learn about the different composers and artists composing and performing the music they hear. You can use the internet to search or read various biographies about them.

Finally, whenever possible, expose them to live music. Our state symphony does a great children’s series that is reasonably priced and full of different visual effects. However, in most places, you can find lots of local music. Check with your local community college or university to see about concerts; look for free outdoor concerts in the summer.

Outdoor concerts can be an excellent start for young children because they have more freedom to move around and not be as quiet as might be expected at an indoor concert.

*Outdoor concerts can be an excellent start for young children because they have more freedom to move around and not be as quiet as might be expected at an indoor concert*

Homeschool Music Lessons For You

As you introduce your students to new music, new artists, and new composers, it can be very beneficial to have some easy lessons to help you teach them about music. Not only does it take the time planning off your plate, but if you are anything like me, having a plan means I am more likely to get it done.

The new art and music appreciation courses are a stress-free way to incorporate music appreciation into your homeschool.

The courses are designed by grade level, and each course introduces students to a variety of art and music appreciation. For music, the younger grades listen to music from a particular composer or era, including suggested reading to learn more.

As students get older, the lessons include notebooking pages and timelines. There are also art lessons related to the music lesson included in some of the weeks.

Classical Music Appreciation Lessons for All Ages

*Clubhouse members get a 50% discount on all fine arts titles!

High School Music Lessons

There are writing assignments and more in-depth reading assignments for the high school level courses to make it rigorous enough for high school credit (while still simple for the parent). As with most high school courses, the grade levels are suggestions, and you can use them for any year of high school.

While the lessons are created by grade level, you could easily turn them into family-style classes, especially the elementary and middle grades selections. You can have the whole family read and listen together.

There are also family-style units that focus on one artist and one composer. These are a great way to start your studies!

It does not take musical expertise to teach your children to love music! These simple tips will help you add music to your homeschool.

Additional Resources For Music In Your Homeschool

As you learn about different composers and listen to their music, you can add even more fun to your lessons with Nana’s Composer Chalk Pastel Lessons, included in the You Are An Artist Complete Clubhouse Membership.

You can even turn that composer study into a complete unit study, like this one from Beethoven.

One of my favorite parts of studying music is teaching my children beautiful hymns! They are a great way to include music in your homeschool. You can use these free hymn studies, and Nana also has a hymns course in the You Are an Artist Membership.

You can see more fun ideas for hymn study with The Art of Hymn Study!

It does not take musical expertise to teach your children to love music! These simple tips will help you add music to your homeschool.

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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A Beautiful Easter Hymn Study For Your Homeschool

Join us for a beautiful Easter hymn study for your homeschool and video art lessons to match! Music and art help us all to connect learning with a special holiday plus build sweet memories together as a family.

The Beauty And Tradition Of Easter Hymns

Whether you call it Easter or Resurrection Day, so many emotions are tied to this special holy day. Good Friday’s deep sadness and pain countered with the immense joy of Easter Sunday.

While scripture is our primary resource for learning about Easter, we love to add beautiful hymn studies. The music and lyrics often express the emotions of the holiday more beautifully than I could, and the hymns also help children understand and appreciate the importance of that day.

Our hymn studies include music and art, which allows students the hands-on learning components that help them make connections and internalize their learning.

Be sure to check out The Art of Hymn Study for more information on using art and hymns in your homeschool.

Low in the Grave He Lay hymn study at You ARE an ARTiST

Easter Hymns Lessons For Your Homeschool

“Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign”

Low in the Grave He Lay is one of my favorite Easter hymns, and I love the celebration of Christ’s victory of the grave that we hear in that song. Nana created a gorgeous painting looking out at the tomb and seeing the crosses on the hill with beautiful bright colors.

In the Garden is another beautiful hymn that is great for the Easter season. This lesson is also included in the hymns course and features Jesus walking in the garden. This song reminds us of the ladies walking in the garden with Jesus on Easter morning and of our relationships with Him.

Easter Art Lessons That Will Make for a Memorable Time

You can find the Hymns course in your You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership. There are also free hymn studies that have hands-on ideas, background stories, and copy work for each of these hymns included with the lessons.

Finally, The Old Rugged Cross hymn pairs beautifully with Nana’s Easter Cross lesson in the Easter Course (available for purchase or included with the clubhouse membership). This chalk pastel painting is a stunning rendition of the cross, complete with flowers. It does a beautiful job expressing the pain of the cross contrasted with the joy and hope of the resurrection. You can also enjoy this accompanying hymn study.

More Resources For Easter Homeschooling

In addition to all of the Easter hymn studies for homeschool mentioned above, Nana has a plethora of other beautiful art lessons perfect for Easter.

In the New Testament Bible Course, she has a Garden of Gethsemane painting that is a beautiful accompaniment when discussing the days leading up to Easter Sunday.

Next, she has started a great new series in that course that covers the disciples.

There is also an Easter course included in the membership, or you can purchase it separately. The Easter course has a variety of different lessons, including:

  • Palm Branch
  • Crown of Thorns
  • Easter Lily
  • Stained Glass Window
  • The Stone Rolled Away
  • Lord’s Supper
  • Calvary’s Crosses

For Clubhouse members, each of the above courses includes an I Drew It Then I Knew It Companion Guide with fast facts, overviews, art planners and more.

Join us for a beautiful Easter hymn study for your homeschool and video art lessons to match! Music and art help us all to connect learning with a special holiday plus build sweet memories together as a family.

You will also enjoy these resources for Easter homeschooling:

  • Draw Your Way Through the Resurrection Story with Art – You could use these ideas in your homeschool, in a Sunday School, or for home church or family devotional time. Perhaps spread them through the Lenten weeks, or use them for a concentrated study during the Holy Week.
  • Easter Art Lessons That Will Make For a Memorable Time – Whether you want to experience Easter with your family through Lent, Holy Week, or Easter Sunday, we have something for you. Because studying Easter is not only Biblically rich but history-rich. There is so much to learn! 

Spring Homeschool Ideas in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse

You can enjoy all of the hymns art lessons and hymn studies for your homeschool, spring homeschool lessons and more than 800 video art lessons in the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse. You will enjoy access to a monthly interactive calendar and lessons for any time of year.

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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The Beauty Of Art And Nature Study In Your Homeschool

Snail Unit Study

Discover the beauty of art and nature study in your homeschool and help your children explore the simple joys of the outdoors. There is so much to marvel about in God’s great creation!

**Don’t miss the giveaway at the end!

The Wonder Of Creation in Nature


“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1

Though I have a degree in elementary education, I did not know what nature study was until we started homeschooling. If you are unfamiliar with the term, you probably wonder what it means and why it is important. 

Nature study is quite simply observing and studying various aspects of nature. At times in our home, it is done in addition to a more formal science program. Other times (especially for young children), it is our only science program. 

Bible art lessons! Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Discover the beauty of art and nature study in your homeschool and help your children explore the simple joys of the outdoors. There is so much to marvel about in God's great creation!

We know from Genesis that God created the whole world and gave us stewardship over the earth. Nature study allows my children to learn more about the plants and animals God created and helps point them back to the creator.  

Children are naturally curious, and nature study is an excellent tool for learning more about the world around them.

Nature study looks different from home to home, child to child, and often year to year. It might be as simple as taking a walk through the woods and talking about what you saw. As children get older, you may add in resources to research what you find or choose specific topics of focus.

Some of you might be worried that you won’t know the answers to your children’s questions, but one of the great things about nature study is that you can learn together. You don’t have to know the names of all the birds; you get to learn alongside your children with field guides and other resources.

Charlotte Mason quote. Discover the beauty of art and nature study in your homeschool and help your children explore the simple joys of the outdoors. There is so much to marvel about in God's great creation!

Using Art To Explore Nature In Your Homeschool

“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”

– Charlotte Mason

We love adding art to our nature study and find it is a great way to tie things together. Nature journaling is an integral part of helping students remember and share what they have learned. Sometimes, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first.

When I first started encouraging my children to draw what they saw on our hikes, they were resistant. They found it challenging to draw the plants and animals. However, I found that using art lessons to help us draw the different animals gave them confidence and added a bit of extra fun to our study.

Discover the beauty of art and nature study in your homeschool and help your children explore the simple joys of the outdoors. There is so much to marvel about in God's great creation!

At first, we would hike and observe and then go back home and choose an art lesson that represented something we had seen. However, over time, my children became more confident in drawing what they saw because of their skills.

For example, after drawing and painting several bird pictures, they had the confidence to begin drawing birds in their nature journals.

Another option we enjoy is to pick a new topic from our nature study curriculum and then find one of Nana’s art lessons to coordinate. Then we can start our study with a drawing. It is an excellent introduction to a new topic. Also, the art lessons are a fun way to add something to our journals that we cannot find locally.

Learning About Nature And Creation Through Art

Nana has many different nature courses that pair beautifully with nature study. My teenage daughter is enjoying the backyard birds acrylic lessons as we work our way through a nature study focused on birds.

There are even more ideas (and a couple of free art lessons) included in this Chalk Pastels Bird Study.

Some families love to study nature based on the seasons. They allow you to watch how things change over the year and helps you focus on what is available in your area during that time.

Nana has courses for each season that are a fantastic nature study supplement. You can draw frost and frozen lakes in the winter and then rainbows and bird nests in the spring. The fall pumpkin lesson is a family favorite!

Spring is fast approaching, and there is an excellent post with ideas on incorporating art in your spring-themed nature study!

Many other lessons tie in wonderfully, including a shark-themed course, a garden course, and my personal favorite, a seashore course. We live near the coast, so we love to study nature at the beach. However, if you live far from the coast, these art lessons will help you explore the seashore in your home.

Check out all of Nana’s nature-themed courses to see which ones will work best for your studies (or get access to them all with the Clubhouse Membership).

Charlotte Mason quote: Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.

Additional Resources For Art And Nature Study In Your Homeschool

“Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.”

– Charlotte Mason

Though nature study is helpful for all ages, I find it especially important with young children. They thrive with the time outside to move and explore. Sometimes, I let them explore and let their natural curiosity lead our studies.

Other times, I appreciate having a plan and a guide to help us learn and grow together. These resources will help you find something that works well for your family and whatever style of nature study you choose.

  • The Ultimate Guide to Nature Study Resources is a great resource for finding materials that can help you get started on your nature study journey. There are many resources that will help you create a plan that works for your family and give you the tools to lead no matter your prior knowledge level.
  • This Seasonal Tree Study is a fun and simple way to combine art and nature study, and it is simple and easy to do right from your own home.
  • Chalk pastel nature journaling is a great way to get started recording what you learn. You ARE an ARTIST Clubhouse members also get a free nature observation printable that you can use with the nature journaling.
  • Finally, this is an excellent list of a variety of the best homeschool nature study resources. There are exciting options for every family.
Discover the beauty of art and nature study in your homeschool and help your children explore the simple joys of the outdoors. There is so much to marvel about in God's great creation!

Enjoy your time outside with your children, and let these resources help supplement and guide you in your study.

Nature Study and Art Giveaway!

This time of year the butterflies are out, and there’s a cool canopy of trees teeming with all sorts of plant and animal activity. We are blessed with so many beautiful details to study with our children as we enjoy the outdoors.

If you are looking for an engaging way to start the homeschool year, why not raise butterflies and enjoy some nature journaling? We have just the giveaway!

You ARE An Artist, Homeschool Nature Study, and The Homeschool Scientist have teamed up for a fun Nature Study and Art Giveaway!

Here’s what’s included in this hands-on science and art prize pack:

  • A set of 12 NuPastels
  • A magnifying glass
  • A copy of the beautifully illustrated Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story. Read more about the book here.
  • An Insect Lore Butterfly Garden with a certificate for caterpillars (This is so much fun!)
  • A 24-piece set of insect life cycle figurines from Insect Lore

You may enter once per day. Entry closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2022. You must be over 18 years or old to enter. U.S. residents only. The email provided in the giveaway widget will be used to contact the winner.

Click HERE to enter to win!

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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Preschool Art and Music Curriculum For Your Homeschool

This preschool art and music curriculum for your homeschool has everything you need to foster an early love and appreciation of art and music.

  The Benefits Of Adding Art And Music To Your Homeschool

What do you think of when you hear art and music for preschoolers? Do you think that should be for older children? Maybe you already have a full plate and do not know how to add anything else. You might even be thinking that your preschooler is far too wiggly to sit still for art and music lessons.

I have great news, art and music for preschoolers has many benefits and can be super simple to implement in your homeschool.

This preschool art and music curriculum for your homeschool has everything you need for an early love and appreciation of art and music.
Photo by Dawn Peluso

First, incorporating art and music with your preschooler is a great way to create shared family experiences and bonding. You can sing songs together, talk about art, and even create art together.

Second, music and art can help increase language skills. So often, parents feel pressured to focus on reading and math. However, preschool-aged children learn best through hands-on activities and play. Art and music will help prepare them to learn those reading skills when the time is right.

Art and music also help develop preschoolers’ fine and gross motor skills. Holding a paintbrush or chalk pastel, singing with rhythm instruments, and dancing with the music are just examples of how art and music help with motor skills.

Finally, art and music lessons in your homeschool can increase emotional well-being in children by helping them learn to express themselves and become more aware and observant of the world around them. They learn to describe artwork and use those same skills to describe their own emotions. Children hear songs that express different feelings and learn to use that same vocabulary.

Remember, with preschool art and music, the goal is exposure and experience, not mastery and perfection. 

Charlotte's Web Homeschool Art Lessons  in our preschool art and music curriculum homeschool

 Our Favorite Homeschool Preschool Art Curriculum Choices

The benefits of art and music are many, but that does not change the fact that it may seem like a daunting task. However, there are many great options to include an art and music curriculum in your home. Remember that this doesn’t have to be something you do for hours a day or even every day. A few minutes or an hour a few times a week will offer your child a depth of incredible knowledge and experience.

One of the easiest ways to include your preschooler in art lessons is the Preschool homeschool art lessons from Nana! She has created a wide variety of simple chalk pastel lessons perfect for the preschool age group.

She starts with a short five-minute video that explains to parents how to teach art to preschoolers. Then there are some fun basic shape drawings. In addition, there is a course for each season and our personal favorite, the Preschool Barnyard Homeschool Art Lessons. The adorable tractor and farm animals from that course are lessons my children go back to time and time again. 

One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In addition to teaching preschoolers to create art, it is beneficial to teach them to appreciate the art of others. Art history is a subject that many parents do not feel comfortable teaching, and it might feel overwhelming or like it is too complicated for preschoolers. However, the new first-grade fine arts lessons are the perfect solution. I know it says first grade, but the great ideas and resources easily adapt for preschoolers (and can be used with older children to do them as a family to save time and create shared memories).

This simple homeschool fine arts program will help you choose good pieces of artwork to share with your children and give you different ways to engage with that artwork. There are links to digital images that you can view and discuss, hands-on artwork ideas, book suggestions, and an idea for incorporating some great artwork in a hands-on fashion with Child-Sized Masterpieces and Dover Classics coloring books.

The child-sized masterpieces were an excellent addition for my three-year-old. He started by matching them and advanced to using them as a memory game. They are so simple to use and exposed him to many great works of art.

preschool art and music curriculum homeschool

 Top Homeschool Music Curriculum Choices

In addition to art lessons, the first-grade fine arts lessons include ideas for music appreciation. In a low-pressure manner, it introduces a new composer every four weeks. You can read about the composer and then listen to various music from that composer. The style is easy to incorporate into your day. You might listen while you eat lunch or as you are getting ready for nap time. Other families might enjoy playing the music while children are quietly coloring or building with blocks.

If you have a You Are an Artist membership, there is a beautiful four-week homeschool unit study about George F. Handel. This study is set up much the same as the fine arts lessons and includes information about Handel and suggested listening. If you have older children joining in, there are some worksheets you can include.

This preschool art and music curriculum for your homeschool has everything you need for an early love and appreciation of art and music.
Photo by Amy Law

Additional Resources For Homeschool Art and Music For All Ages

Whenever possible, we enjoy using programs that work for the whole family. Hymn studies can be a great way to incorporate music and art for the entire family. These hymn studies include music and art, and they are perfect for the whole family to enjoy together.

You can also check out this great post with ideas for making time for preschool art in your home!

Finally, if you have a Disney fan in your house, you may want to check out the second-grade fine arts curriculum for homeschool. It includes some songs from favorite Disney movies, and this would be a great way to get even a preschooler interested in music and fun for the whole family.

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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Hands-On Homeschool Literature Study: Robin Hood

This homeschool literature study of Robin Hood has everything you need for engaged and hands-on learning.

The Story of Robin Hood

What do you think of when you hear the name, Robin Hood?

Like many medieval tales, the story of Robin Hood has many versions.  There are oral legends, passed down from generation to generation, a wide variety of books, and even several movies about Robin Hood.

“IN MERRY ENGLAND in the time of old, when good King Henry the Second ruled the land, there lived within the green glades of Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham Town, a famous outlaw whose name was Robin Hood.”  – Pyle

Robin Hood: Legend or History?

The basis of the Robin Hood story that we all know today is that a man named Robin of the Hood would steal money from travelers in the forest.  He was a remarkable shot with his bow and arrow and loved among the people.

The legend goes that he would steal from the wealthy and share that money amongst the poor.  Another common thread is an evil sheriff known as the Sheriff of Nottingham.  Robin and his companions, known as the Merry Men, would help the common people and retaliate against the corrupt sheriff.  The story takes place during the reigns of King Richard and his brother King John in England.

It is a fun legend that is action-packed for children who want adventure and includes a little romance between Robin Hood and Maid Marian.

There is much debate on the historical accuracy of the tales and the ethics of his tactics. True or not, they provide great literature, entertainment, and a peek into life in medieval times.

This homeschool literature study of Robin Hood has everything you need for engaged, enjoyable and hands-on learning.


Online Homeschool Literature Lesson: Robin Hood


Robin Hood is well known for wearing a green outfit and hood to help him better hide in the woods.  Nana has created an engaging chalk pastel lesson of Robin Hood with his bow and arrows.

This lesson is only about fifteen minutes long and is perfect for elementary through high school-age students.  As always, with Nana’s lessons, you do not need a lot of supplies, just some construction paper and chalk pastels.

This art activity is a great way to add a hands-on component to your study.  Painting Robin Hood with chalk pastels will help students make connections and remember what they have learned.  As Nana says, “I Drew It, and Then I Knew It.”

Your artists may want to continue with even more Medieval Times Homeschool Art Lessons which include a catapult, castle, court dress, dragon, knights and crusaders and much more.


More Resources for Studying Robin Hood In Your Homeschool


There are so many ways to include the story of Robin Hood throughout your homeschool curriculum. You can tie it all together to make a complete study.  In addition to Nana’s wonderful chalk pastel lesson, the You Are an Artist membership includes a lovely I Drew It Then I knew It Literature Workbook.  The workbook consists of fun facts and writing prompts to go along with your study of Robin Hood.

There are many different versions of the Robin Hood story in print.  Depending on the ages of your children, you could choose one of the shorter picture books or the more complete story by Howard Pyle (written and illustrated in 1883).

We particularly enjoyed The Story of Robin Hood by Usborne for young children and Robin Hood by Carol Heyer for elementary-aged children.  Both were available at our local library.

Robin Hood fits in well with a study of knights, the Crusades, or Medieval history in general.  Our family is adding this Robin Hood unit to our current Medieval studies with Story of the World.  However, you could also use this to start an independent medieval study.  Nana has many art lessons that would coordinate well with a medieval study!

“He has been loving our Robin Hood unit so much that he decided to make a ‘bow and arrow’ and dress up like Robin Hood!” – Dawn

Adding Hands-On Nature Study to Your Homeschool Study

You could add a bit of nature study by tying in a study of forests.  You can study the forests around you and then do a little research and compare your local forests with Sherwood Forest.  On our sister website, there is an excellent Forest course available in the Homeschool Nature Study membership that would be perfect.  You could also add more art with the lessons from the Forest Nature course for clubhouse members.

Homeschool Share has a great free Robin Hood unit study and lapbook that would be an excellent addition to your unit.  It includes literature, science, and history components.


Additional Homeschool Literature Studies


Linking literature with art and then tying in other subjects to make a complete unit study make a fun family study.

If you enjoyed Robin Hood and want to continue with more medieval history, check out the Sword and the Stone. Then pair it with Nana’s Excalibur lesson.

Another family favorite that lends itself to pairing literature with art and nature study is Charlottes Web.  We just finished that one up this fall, and it was so much fun.

Living in the south, I never know if we will have a snowfall in the winter, but Snowflake Bentley is a beautiful option for winter study.  The book and study are a great way to incorporate learning into your snow day fun.

Nana has many more art lessons combined with literature, and the I Drew It, and Then I Knew It workbook will help you with fun facts and creative writing prompts!  Be sure to check out this post on The Power of Adding Art to Your Literature for more great ideas.

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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A Saint Lucia Day Holiday Homeschool Study

This Saint Lucia Day Holiday Homeschool Study includes the history of the holiday, resources, books and an art lesson for your Christmas School.


Who Was Saint Lucia?


The story of Saint Lucia (also known as Saint Lucy) is a challenging and gruesome story. Though the details are debated, we know is that Lucia was a young woman who lived in Syracuse, Italy, with her mother in the late third century.

Lucia was a Christian, though her mother was not. In 304 AD, the Romans tortured and killed her for her faith. Before death, she lost both eyes, though the story of exactly how/why that happened varies from account to account. Since her name means light and she lost both eyes, she is the patron saint of the blind. Also, celebrations of Saint Lucia day often include light in various forms.

This Saint Lucia Day Holiday Homeschool Study includes the history of the holiday, resources, books and an art lesson for your Christmas School.
Photo by Amy Law


Celebrating Saint Lucia Day This December

The first time I had heard of Saint Lucia was several years ago when some friends of ours posted adorable pictures of the daughter in a white robe with a wreath of candles on her head. She was carrying what looked like a breakfast tray.

Families celebrate Saint Lucia Day on December 13th each year. It is prevalent amongst families in Sweden and Catholic families from around the world. One of the most common ways to celebrate includes having girls dress up as Saint Lucia with a crown of lights in her hair. Those were typically lit candles when the celebrations began, but you will often find battery-operated candles for safety reasons. Other children in the home may dress up as handmaidens and star boys.

This celebration is done early in the morning of December 13th, and they then bring special buns (called Lussekatter in Sweden) and ginger snap style cookies (pepparkakor) to the others in the home for breakfast. There are also special songs to sing celebrating Lucia.

Celebrating Saint Lucia Day This December
Photo by Amy Law

In some countries, the community gets together for Saint Lucia Day. They may choose one girl from the community to be Saint Lucia. They celebrate with parades or performances.

We have friends who celebrate by going out to look at Christmas lights in honor of the fact that Lucia means light. I love that idea because it is a simple way for them to incorporate learning about Saint Lucia with a fun family tradition.

St. Lucia Day art lesson with Nana of You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse

Saint Lucia Day Books

Whenever our family learns about something new, I like to find a good book or two to help us understand. Lucia Morning in Sweden is a beautiful picture book written by Ewa Rydaker and Illustrated by Carina Stahlberg.  This book teaches about Saint Lucia day through the story of a family in Sweden celebrating the day. At the end of the book, there is more information about Saint Lucia day, recipes, music, and even a pattern for making Lucia day costumes.

Another book about Saint Lucia day is Kirsten’s Surprise, an American Girl collection book. Kirsten’s Surprise gives the perspective of a young Swedish girl who has recently immigrated to the United States and wants to continue her traditions of celebrating Saint Lucia day.

Christmas Homeschooling
St. Lucia Day lesson is included in the Christmas Clubhouse!


A Saint Lucia Day Lesson For Your Homeschool

In addition to yummy snacks, fun books, and Christmas lights, you can add art to your study of Saint Lucia.  Nana has created this beautiful chalk pastel painting of a young girl on Saint Lucia day with a wreath crown and candles. She is carrying a tray filled with rolls and tea. The rosy cheeks and smiling face are adorable.

Art is an excellent way to make learning hands-on and fun. We have found that pairing art lessons with education helps my children remember more of what they learn. This lesson is available to You Are an Artist Clubhouse members in the Christmas course.

Christmas hymns study can be an enjoyable part of your Christmas School homeschool day. A beautiful opportunity for the family to learn and worship together.


More Resources For Holiday Homeschooling


As we enter this time of Advent and Christmas, there are many fun art lessons for you to incorporate into your studies. If you enjoyed learning more about Saint Lucia, make sure to check out the Saint Nicholas lesson!

You can also enjoy some fun and memorable Christmas Tea Times with your children. They are a great way to slow down and enjoy the season.

Families might enjoy drawing their way through the Christmas story together.

Finally, my family’s favorite Christmas art lessons are the ones to accompany our Christmas Hymn studies!

How do you incorporate art into your Christmas celebrations?

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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Holiday Homeschooling: A Saint Nicholas Day Study

Enjoy a Saint Nicholas Day Study for your holiday homeschool with an art lesson, a Twas the Night Before Christmas printable poem and more!

Who Was Saint Nicholas?

Most of us are quite familiar with Santa Claus, and many have sung songs about “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,” but the story behind the real St. Nicholas is not as well known. The real St. Nicholas was a man who was born in Asia Minor in the third century. He was the son of devout Christian parents who were quite wealthy. Sadly, he became an orphan at a young age.

As a devout Christian, he took the command to give to the poor very seriously and began doing many good works with his money. This is where fact and legend get a little hard to separate. We do not know for sure, but legend says that he threw bags of gold down the chimney of some young sisters who wanted to marry but did not have money for the bride’s dowry.

Nicholas went on to become the bishop of Myra. He, along with many Christians, was persecuted and imprisoned by Diocletian. He was later released and went on to do more work with the church. His life left a lasting impact on the world, and many still remember him as a kind and generous man.

You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members enjoy a new Twas The Night Before Christmas printable poem! Join the Clubhouse today!

                                                                                                       
Celebrating Saint Nicholas Day This December

While Santa Claus, who originated from St. Nicholas, typically visits children on Christmas Eve, St. Nicholas is officially celebrated on December 6th. In our home, we had talked about the legend of St. Nicholas but never celebrated St. Nicholas Day. I enjoyed talking to friends and researching to find out how different families celebrate St. Nicholas Day.

“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic
His giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.”

― St. Nicholas of Myra

My friend Heather likes to leave a trail of chocolate coins that lead to a small gift near their Christmas tree.  Some families put out their shoes or stockings for St. Nicholas to fill. It could be toys, sweet treats, Christmas goodies, or whatever the family decides.

Other families use St. Nicholas Day as a time to give in honor of the generosity of St. Nicholas. They might bake cookies for neighbors or donate toys to a toy drive. I love the idea of having family traditions that involve giving to others and sharing the love of Jesus.

St. Nicholas art lesson for your homeschool. Holiday homeschooling ideas.

Extra Resources For Learning about St. Nicholas

We found a great book, The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving, to read with the children and help them learn more about St. Nicholas and encourage giving.

A friend introduced us to Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa. It is a short movie that tells more about the life of St. Nicholas and goes much more in-depth. It even explains the persecution that Nicholas faced under Diocletian. 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas' A Saint Nicholas Day Study for your holiday homeschool. Most know Santa Claus but do you know the story behind the real St. Nicholas?
You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members enjoy this printable,’Twas the Night Before Christmas poem.


A Saint Nicholas Day Lesson For Your Homeschool


Art is always a great way to add a little fun to your learning, and I think this is especially true during the Christmas season. Nana has created a beautiful new St. Nicholas lesson that features a cute pair of little red shoes with candy, a gift, and gold coins.

We had so much fun with this lesson. You can read a book about St. Nicholas, paint the adorable picture of the boots and treats, and then enjoy a Christmas cookie or other goodie. This is such a simple but fun way to learn about St. Nicholas.

This picture also makes a great Christmas decoration. You can put it on your fridge or even frame it to hang on the wall. You could even turn it into the front of a Christmas card to mail to a friend or family member.

Christmas hymns study can be an enjoyable part of your Christmas School homeschool day. A beautiful opportunity for the family to learn and worship together.


More Resources For Holiday Homeschooling

In addition to this St. Nicholas Day painting, there are many other ideas for celebrating during this Christmas season. We love focusing on our advent studies during this time. You can enjoy a Christmas hymn study (or studies) complete with an art lesson or enjoy a fun and tasty Christmas Tea Time with a beautiful winter painting.

We are looking forward to reading Jotham’s Journey as a part of our advent study this year.  Then we will add in a variety of Christmas art lessons! We usually do one art lesson a week, but we could choose a new lesson each day with so many incredible Christmas lessons from Nana. There are so many different lessons, from beautiful manger scenes to fun Charlie Brown Christmas lessons.

You might also like Nana’s St. Lucia Day art lesson and the accompanying unit study I shared! And you can enjoy The Ultimate List of Christmas Homeschool Art Lessons.

By replacing our regular studies with the advent reading, art, and hymns, we get to enjoy all the fun of the advent season without feeling overwhelmed with adding too much into our day.

A Saint Nicholas Day Study for your holiday homeschool. Most know Santa Claus but do you know the story behind the real St. Nicholas?

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.

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A Merry Christmas Hymns Study For Your Homeschool

Christmas hymns study can be an enjoyable part of your Christmas School homeschool day. A beautiful opportunity for the family to learn and worship together.

Whether you homeschool as normal through December, add in Christmas activities, or trade all your homeschool curriculum for ‘Christmas School,’ a Christmas hymns study can be an enjoyable part of your school day. It is a beautiful opportunity for the family to learn and worship together.

The Joy Of Christmas Hymns

Our family enjoys hymn studies year-round, but Christmas is my favorite. I love the joy and peace that flow from Christmas hymns and find they are a great way to bring the season’s joy into our homeschool.

Some of my favorite Christmas memories involve singing Christmas carols at church on Christmas Eve, at home with hot cocoa, even while decorating the tree. The music of Christmas seems to be present in almost all of our Christmas traditions.

Christmas Hymns Lessons For Your Homeschool

Typically, our family studies one hymn per month, spending time a few mornings a week listening and learning about the hymn. However, I can never pick just one Christmas hymns study, so we often cover a different Christmas carol each week the month of December.

Christmas School

We listen, sing, create art projects, do copy work, and even learn to play the hymns on instruments (that is, my children learn to play because I do not have musical gifting). Sometimes combining it all into a unit study and enjoying learning about the birth of Christ through these activities.

*If you are new to hymn study or homeschool art lessons, I want to take a minute to remind you that you do not need to be a music teacher (or an art teacher) to enjoy these lessons as a family. Do not worry about your musical skills or artistic abilities. Just enjoy learning together as a family.*

Angels announce Messiah's birth!  Christmas hymn study can be an enjoyable part of your Christmas School homeschool day. A beautiful opportunity for the family to learn and worship together.

The Messiah (For Unto Us A Child Is Born)

“For unto us a Child is born,
unto us, a Son is given,”

For Unto Us A Child is Born is a beautiful song from Handel’s The Messiah.  Nana has created two lessons in the Christmas Clubhouse Course that relate to Handel’s Messiah. There is a lovely picture of the nativity and a fun trumpet painting to represent the angels. As the “cherry on top” of this hymn study, Clubhouse members also have a special music appreciation lesson on the Messiah with Mrs. Mary at SQUILT music. You can find it in the master classes or the Christmas Clubhouse lessons.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night Hymn Study for Your Homeschool

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night was written by Nahum Tate in 1700. This song was a metrical paraphrase of Luke’s account of the angels visiting the shepherds. Metrical paraphrase was paraphrasing scripture to not add or delete from the content of the scripture but allow it to be poetic for singing. During that time period, most songs sung in church were from Psalms, and people considered this song unusual because it came from Luke.

“1But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11 NIV

The lyrics were based on Luke chapter 2, the Biblical account of the angels visiting the shepherds to tell of the Savior’s birth. The paraphrasing gives the song a poetic form and allows it to flow while staying true to the scripture.

As we study this hymn, there are many beautiful versions that you can listen to and are available for free online. We particularly enjoyed the performance by Andrew Peterson.

While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks is an excellent opportunity to spend time studying Luke Chapter 2, possibly even using it as copy work or your scripture memory for the week.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks at Night hymn study for homeschool. Perfect for Christmas school!

While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks Homeschool Art Lesson

Next, it is time to add art to your hymn study! Nana has created this beautiful chalk pastel painting of the shepherds, the perfect accompaniment to the hymn. We love how the bright colors of the star stand out on the darker background.

This lesson is available to Clubhouse Members in the Christmas Clubhouse art course. Once you have completed the picture, you can hang it up in your home or give it away as a gift to someone that needs a little joy this Christmas.

While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night Hymn Study Resources

Christmas Tea Time with I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day hymn study.

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day Art Lesson for Homeschool


Nana has created a stunning snowy village scene to go along with I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day! You can pair that lesson from the hymns course in the clubhouse membership with this free hymn study: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

Also, this post about Christmas tea times has excellent ideas on turning this lesson into a memorable family tea time. You might even start a new family tradition! This is definitely one of my favorite chalk pastel lessons.

Christmas School


We Three Kings Of Orient Are for Christmas School

The hymns course also includes a beautiful painting of the three wise men on their camels for We Three Kings. The sunset colors in this painting are gorgeous, and the camels are so much fun for the children. This hymn is great for Christmas time or even after Christmas for Three Kings Day. We find that often the week or two after Christmas is a great time for additional lessons because fewer events and obligations are vying for our time.

Homeschooling Through The Christmas Season

I couldn’t share about Christmas hymns study without mentioning my favorite Christmas carol, Away in a Manger.   There is a great art lesson included in the Christmas Art Lesson course, and the lyrics are simple enough for even young children to learn.

Another favorite lesson is the beautiful Christmas Star Lesson, which our family paired with the hymn Silent Night.

In addition to all of these beautiful hymn studies, there are some other incredible Christmas art lessons available.

There is a Christmas Ornament lesson, which makes a beautiful Christmas card for friends and family.  There are also Christmas Trees, Gingerbread Men, and more. The classes are such a fun way to celebrate Christmas and enjoy your art time together.

Holiday Hymns art lessons for Thanksgiving, Christmas and more!

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.