Author: Erin Vincent

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Mark Twain Literature Study: Bring Adventure To Your Homeschool

Are you doing a Mark Twain literature study in your homeschool? If you are reading any of Mark Twain’s books then be sure to check out Nana’s Mark Twain video art lesson!

Books By Mark Twain For Kids

Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain is considered one of the most significant figures in American literature. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemons, and he was born in Florida, Missouri in 1835 when Halley’s comet came through. Did you know Mark Twain died in 1910, just one day after Halley’s comet came its closest to Earth? It’s also interesting to think about the fact that he was alive during the Civil War.

During his life, he worked at a newspaper owned by his brother, and later as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi river. The Mississippi, therefore, became an integral part of many of Twain’s writings. Many people believe that Samuel Clemons took up his pseudonym “Mark Twain” from a term meaning safe depth by the crewman of the steamboats.

Mark Twain Literature Study: Bring Adventure To Your Homeschool - Are you doing a Mark Twain literature study in your homeschool? If you are reading any of Mark Twain's books then be sure to check out Nana's Mark Twain video art lesson! #YouAREAnArtist #chalkpastel #homeschoolart #MarkTwain #literaturestudy

Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain did not shy away from challenging the roles of race and class in America. He wrote many books, and older children and teens tend to enjoy them. Though you know your child best, I’d recommend ages 14 and up can read the originals, but the abridged versions for ages 10-13. There are themes of violence and racism in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, so you’ll want to judge for yourself what your child is ready for.

A list of his books geared toward older kids are:

  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
  • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  • The Prince and the Pauper
  • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court


Mark Twain Homeschool Study

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

Mark Twain


Nana brings Mark Twain literature studies to life with her Mark Twain video art lesson! All you’ll need is a piece of white copy paper and a starter set of chalk pastels to recreate this famous and witty American novelist while Nana shares her knowledge about Mark Twain!

Mark Twain, also known as the greatest humorist and author America has ever produced!

Are you doing a Mark Twain literature study in your homeschool? If you are reading any of Mark Twain's books then be sure to check out Nana's Mark Twain video art lesson!


Literature In Your Homeschool

With the You ARE An Artist Complete Clubhouse Membership, you’ll have access to 800+ art lessons, including exclusive access to You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Literature Video Art Lessons such as:

There is so much literature goodness to explore with chalk pastels! Be sure to check out 7 Engaging American Literature Curriculum Choices for Your Homeschool too!

Enjoy ALL of these and more in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse with Nana!
Mark Twain Literature Study

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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Fun Activities For History Class In Your Homeschool

Did you know that history doesn’t have to be boring? That’s right; you can bring fun activities for history class into your homeschool with these chalk pastel lessons.

Did you know that history doesn't have to be boring? That's right; you can bring fun activities for history class into your homeschool with these chalk pastel lessons.


Bring History To Life With Engaging Activities


Adding hands-on activities to any history lesson creates an immersive and engaging learning environment. This means that kids comprehend and thus retain more of their learning. Art can bring any textbook to life or enhance living history books with a multi-sensory approach! You’ll need a simple set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and Nana’s video art lessons! Then watch the learning begin.

Fun Activities For History Class In Your Homeschool

Fun Activities For History Class In Your Homeschool

We’ve covered many different timelines over the years, and our You ARE An Artist Complete Clubhouse Membership ensures that there is almost always a corresponding art lesson. My kids have loved painting the pyramids of Giza, medieval castles, mapping the Louisiana Purchase, and so much more!

You, too, can expand your history studies with Nana’s chalk pastel homeschool art lessons because art is the perfect way to encourage hands-on learning and exploration through historical timelines. Engage your children with color, lines, and form as they recreate these periods of the past. Did you know Nana has courses for:

You can check out more of the individual lessons available below.

Ancient History

The Ancient History Video Art Lessons include:

  • Greek philosopher
  • Chinese Emperor
  • Ancient Buddha under Bodhi tree
  • Alexander the Great: helmet
  • Ancient Rome: Coliseum
  • Peloponnesian Wars: Spartan & Athenian soldiers
  • The Roman Empire: Caesar
  • The Life of Jesus: Sermon on the Mount

You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse Members also enjoy:

  • Pyramids
  • King Tut
  • Hieroglyphics
  • Ancient Egypt/Nile Map

You can also add in the corresponding Old Testament Bible Lessons:

  • Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors
  • Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea
Fun Activities For History Class In Your Homeschool

Middle Ages

  • Dragon
  • Stained glass
  • Cathedral
  • Viking ship
  • Viking helmet
  • Castle
  • Catapult
  • Lute
  • Jester
  • Crown
  • Court dress
  • Illuminated letter
  • Medieval garden
  • Crusade banner
  • Robin Hood
  • Knight
  • Banquet table
  • Shield
  • Falconer-Hawk
  • Excalibur in the stone
  • Festival tent
  • War of roses
  • Joan of Arc
Fun Activities For History Class In Your Homeschool

American History

Early American history art lessons? Nana’s got you covered!

  • Revolutionary War uniforms – Continental soldier and British soldier
  • Boston Tea Party
  • Early colonists
  • White House
  • The Constitution
  • Women in War
  • Paul Revere
  • Lewis and Clark
  • Native Americans – Midwestern Tribes Headdresses
  • Napoleon
  • French Flag
  • War of 1812
  • Columbus
  • Harriet Tubman
  • 13 Colonies

You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse Members also enjoy:

  • Three Branches of Government
  • Alexander Hamilton
  • King George, III
  • Presidents continuing series
  • American Landmarks
  • Maps continuing series
  • Famous Artists and Composers continuing series
  • Literature continuing series

7 American History Homeschool Lessons Your Kids will Love and Hamilton The Musical Homeschool Study has been among our favorite American History studies thus far.

Fun Activities For History Class In Your Homeschool

Modern History

My son is also obsessed with World War II and Modern History. I’m so grateful that Nana has video art lessons to help explore this time period as well:

  • Queen Victoria’s Empire
  • Theodore Roosevelt
  • WWI & II War Helmets
  • Broadcasting
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Space Exploration
  • Women’s Suffrage
  • Medical Advancements
  • Modern Literature
  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse Members also enjoy:

  • Queen Elizabeth II
  • Winston Churchill
  • Big Ben and other World  + American Landmarks
  • Presidents series
  • Famous Artists and Composers continuing series
  • Literature continuing series
  • Maps continuing series


Fun Activities For Science, Literature, and More In Your Homeschool


Nana has loads of homeschool science resources to keep the learning going beyond history. When you have a You ARE an Artist Clubhouse Membership; you’ll have access to over 800 video art lessons. Or you can find all the science and literature lessons in the I Drew It Then I Knew It series!

Homeschool Anatomy & Biology

Homeschool Chemistry & Physics

  • Inventors Clubhouse (includes the following)
  • Fulton steamboat
  • Henry Ford automobile
  • Nikola Tesla electricity
  • Wright brothers airplane
  • Light Prism – Sir Isaac Newton
  • Benjamin Franklin and electricity
  • Steam railroad engine
  • Samuel Morse telegraph
  • Thomas Edison’s light bulb
  • Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone

Homeschool Astronomy

Homeschool Botany

Literature Studies

Fun Activities For History Class In Your Homeschool

No matter what period of history your homeschool is immersed in, there are fun activities for history class to be enjoyed. Let Nana take you on a trek through the timelines of Ancient through to Modern times and everything in between!

Find ALL of these and MORE in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse!

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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Homeschool Anatomy Study: Diagram The Ear

Hey, did you hear? Nana has a homeschool science ear diagram activity! This activity is a perfect way to learn the inner workings of the human ear while being creative and a bit messy with chalk pastels.

Homeschool Anatomy Study: Diagram The Ear - Hey, did you hear? Nana has a homeschool science ear diagram activity! This activity is a perfect way to learn the inner workings of the human ear while being creative and a bit messy with chalk pastels! #chalkpastels #YouAREAnArtist #homeschhool

Learning About Human Anatomy Made Easy: Diagram the Ear

I love incorporating art into our homeschool studies! It gives us a tactile way to explore information, and for my kinesthetic learner, it helps solidify what he’s learning. This year my high schooler is studying biology. And wouldn’t you know it, Nana has chalk pastels that fit with his course of study! Colorful diagrams are a perfect way to help my teen visualize what he’s learning in a hands-on way.

Homeschool Anatomy Study: Diagram The Ear

Diagram The Ear With This Homeschool Study


Nana’s online video art lessons provide you with all the information you need to create a vibrant diagram. This week my son learned about the inner workings of the ear! All we needed was a pack of construction paper and a starter set of chalk pastels as Nana took us step-by-step on how to draw the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Then she proceeded to show us how to label each part of the ear diagram correctly.

I love that I could pair Nana’s chalk pastel with our biology textbook! Chalk pastels can be a wonderful compliment to any homeschool curriculum.

Homeschool Anatomy Study: Diagram The Ear

Additional Resources For Science In your Homeschool


Nana has loads of homeschool science resources to keep the learning going. When you have a You ARE an Artist Clubhouse Membership; you’ll have access to over 800 video art lessons. Or you can find all the science lessons in the I Drew It Then I Knew It series!

Homeschool Anatomy Study: Diagram The Ear

Homeschool Anatomy & Biology

Homeschool Chemistry & Physics

  • Inventors Clubhouse (includes the following)
  • Fulton steamboat
  • Henry Ford automobile
  • Nikola Tesla electricity
  • Wright brothers airplane
  • Light Prism – Sir Isaac Newton
  • Benjamin Franklin and electricity
  • Steam railroad engine
  • Samuel Morse telegraph
  • Thomas Edison’s light bulb
  • Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone

Homeschool Astronomy

Homeschool Botany

Plus so much more!

Homeschool Anatomy Study: Diagram The Ear

Homeschool Anatomy Study: Diagram The Ear

No matter what your kiddo may be studying, Nana has a corresponding lesson that can solidify the knowledge in a hands-on way. And I, for one, love the colorful diagrams that pair so beautifully with our homeschool lessons.

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun

Are your kids excited about Halloween homeschooling? Maybe you don’t do spooky but still want to incorporate some delightful festivities for the season. Look no further than Nana’s chalk pastel art activities for learning fun!

Halloween Homeschooling

Halloween Homeschooling


You can make Halloween a day, week, or month to remember with an assortment of chalk pastel video art lessons. All you’ll need is a starter set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership!

H2 - Halloween Homeschooling (make it a fun week that your kids will remember) H2 - Fun, Not Scary Art Activities For Halloween (introduce each lesson) H2 - More Fall Activities For Your Homeschool (link to additional fall related activities) (there are lots of posts to link to!)

Set the table with some favorite treats, a pot of tea, and a few candles (if you don’t have little kids), and you are on your way to a delightful Halloween homeschooling chalk pastel teatime! Your children could even dress up in old costumes if they wanted to!

Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun


Fun, Not Scary Art Activities For Halloween


Halloween doesn’t have to be spooky unless you want it to be. For me and my kiddos, we chose lessons that still gave off a Halloween/fall vibe without being scary.

Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun

Here are a few of the lessons we chose for our not-so-spooky teatime:

  • Colorful Spider Web (Backyard Nature) – because spider webs are synonymous with Halloween!
  • Football Video Art Lesson (Fall Clubhouse)
  • Fall Nature Walk in the Woods (Fall Clubhouse)
  • Bat (Animals Clubhouse) – This NEW bat lesson was awesome! Plus, he’s cute!
  • Cat (Animals Clubhouse) – Black cats anyone or is it just a silhouette?
  • Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin (Fall Clubhouse) – You can never go wrong with The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!
Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun

Here are a few extra lessons you could incorporate:

Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun


More Fall Activities For Your Homeschool


We had loads of fun sipping tea, and eating lemon cake and cupcakes. The colors of chalk swirl together to create beautiful masterpieces that are unique to each child. Even my teenager joined in with our fun!

Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun

Did you know you can add more fall activities and art to your homeschool with these fun teatime ideas:

Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun

Make Halloween homeschooling a fun and festive time of year with these non-spooky chalk pastel lessons! Remember to add in your favorite treats and let your children be as creative as they want. As Nana always says, “You ARE an ARTIST!” Plus, anytime is a great time for art!

Halloween Homeschooling: Spooky Art Activities For Learning and Fun
Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse for Access to ALL of Nana’s Art Lessons!

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love!

Spring and summer are the perfect time to explore a pond nature study! Exploring a local pond can be filled with surprises and wonder, from algae and tadpoles to birds and fish. The educational opportunities are endless. Then, you can come back inside to cool off with the fun and colorful chalk pastel pond lessons!

A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love! :Spring and summer are the perfect time to explore a pond nature study! Exploring a local pond can be filled with surprises and wonder, from algae and tadpoles to birds and fish. The educational opportunities are endless. Then, you can come back inside to cool off with the fun and colorful chalk pastel pond lessons! #YouAREAnArtist #pondstudyforkids #pondunitstudy #pondstudy #chalkpastel #videoartlessons

The Abundant Life In A Pond


Ponds are a perfect place to learn about various things. A pond’s ecosystem is chocked full of life cycles of plants and animals. Birds and insects fill the air while fish and frogs fill the water. Even little kids enjoy catching tadpoles while older children may learn about water ph!

Observing a pond can also be a wonderful sensory experience. Water, mud, and grass are all along a pond, and the sights can be exciting and soothing. Watching a butterfly flit back and forth is calming, while the minnows zipping to and fro is exhilarating. How about watching a turtle lumber up onto a slippery log?

I highly suggest visiting your local pond and letting your children see what they can see! Are those wildflowers across the way?

A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love!


This Pond Nature Study Is Perfect For Kids


After an eventful day at the pond, why not come inside and cool down with some of Nana’s pond video art lessons? The benefits of learning in a hands-on and multi-sensory way are vast. Children absorb more information and retain more of what they’ve learned when you incorporate hands-on opportunities, including art!

All you’ll need is a pack of construction paper, a starter set of chalk pastels, and Nana’s pond video art lessons!

A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love!

The pond nature video art lessons include:

  • the pond
  • turtle
  • bullfrog
  • water strider
  • beaver
  • rainbow trout
  • goose
  • dragonfly
  • New Frog Life Cycle lesson (For You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members)
A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love!
The Lily Pads are in a Simple Start with Chalk Pastels series in Clubhouse membership!


Frog Life Cycle Activity

Nana has a NEW Frog Life Cycle art lesson! A pond nature study wouldn’t be complete without studying the frog life cycle. While raising tadpoles is the most fun, drawing the life cycle is just as educational, and it helps solidify the knowledge my kiddos have acquired. Nana will show your child how frogs start as jelly-like eggs and then go through a metamorphosis where tadpoles slowly start to grow legs and then begin to develop the pulmonary respiration system that allows breath!

A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love!

Be sure to check out these other posts, such as Backyard Biology: Frogs for Kids, where we raised our tadpoles and learned about the frog life cycle up close and personal! Tricia and her family did too!

A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love!


More Pond Nature Study Resources For Your Homeschool

Don’t forget there is a frog life cycle printable in the Homeschool Nature Study membership that includes notebooking pages, a full nature study and more.  

A Pond Nature Study Your Kids Will Love!

Here are a few more posts all about pond life that you’ll love:

If you happen to have a pond nearby you could create a Hands On Pond Science Unit With An At Home Water Testing Kit!

A dragonfly homeschool art lesson.

With the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse membership, you’ll have access to the pond nature video art lessons plus 700+ other lessons, including these other nature-themed lessons:

  • honey bees on sunflower
  • bunny
  • ladybug
  • caterpillar
  • lily pad
  • snail
  • forest path
  • red-eyed tree frog
  • eagle’s nest with eagle family
  • rat snake
  • deer in the forest
  • bear 
  • dandelion
  • green anole
  • ant
  • chipmunk
  • lightning bug (or firefly)
  • cardinal
  • goldfinch
  • hummingbird
  • chickadee
  • robin
  • bluebird
  • Plus so much more!

This summer, don’t miss out on a pond nature study, including the art of chalk pastels!

A Frog Life Cycle Activity for Your Homeschool
Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse to Experience It All!

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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Ultimate List of Holiday Activities for High School

Enjoy this compilation of holiday activities for high school using your You ARE An Artist clubhouse membership. All you’ll need is a set of starter chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and your clubhouse membership.

High school is looming and my son and I have been planning the upcoming year with a multi-sensory approach. He has requested we use a combination of You ARE An Artist Clubhouse video art lessons AND the Homeschool Fine Arts lessons. I love this idea because both the clubhouse and the fine arts have proven to provide a thorough fine arts education for one of his high school credits.

We started using the 6th-grade fine arts lessons last year for Fine Arts Fridays and loved them. Plus, we’ve been using Nana’s chalk pastel art lessons since he was nine years old. I’m confident that this is going to be a great year of art!

Ultimate List of Holiday Activities for High School:With all of these fantastic chalk pastel lessons available, we have created some memorable unit studies! All of these would be perfect for high school as well as for Holiday activities. So, enjoy this ultimate list of holiday activities for high school. #YouAREAnArtist #chalkpastels #chalkpastelartlessons #highschool #multisensory

Chalk Pastel Activities for High School

You too can create awesome chalk pastel activities for your high schooler. How? The You ARE An Artist Clubhouse membership has 700+ art lessons to choose from so adding art to a lesson is a snap. This is a great approach for high schoolers that need that multi-sensory component.

You ARE AN Artist Clubhouse provides companion workbooks, Fast Facts, and a curriculum checklist for their I Drew It Then I Knew It series which include:

  • Literature
  • World Landmarks
  • Composers
  • Maps
  • American Presidents
  • Famous Artists
  • Inventors STEAM
  • Moon Missions
  • Solar Eclipse
  • Art in Space
  • Solar System
  • Space Exploration
  • Classical Collection History
  • Inventors History
  • American Landmarks
  • Knights and Crusaders
  • Modern History
  • American History
  • Medieval History
  • Ancient History
Ultimate List of Holiday Activities for High School

Ultimate List of Holiday Activities for High School

With all of these fantastic chalk pastel lessons available, we have created some memorable unit studies! All of these would be perfect for high school as well as for Holiday activities. Just make sure you assign books to your high schoolers’ reading level. So, enjoy this ultimate list of holiday activities for high school.

Activities for January

Activities for February

Ultimate List of Holiday Activities for High School

Activities for March

  • March 1st – Founding of Yellowstone National Park – Celebrate America’s first National Park with art!
  • March 3rd – Alexander Graham Bell’s Birthday – telephone lesson in the Inventors History lessons
  • March 6th – Michelangelo’s Birthday – Famous Artists video art lesson
  • March 15th – Death of Julius Ceasar – Ancient History The Roman Empire: Caesar
  • March 30th – Van Gogh’s Birthday – A Hands-On Homeschool Study Of Famous Artist Vincent Van Gogh
Ultimate List of Holiday Activities for High School

Holiday Activities for High School

Activities for April

Activities for May

May 2nd – Catherine the Great’s Birthday – Catherine the Great lesson in the Classical Collection History Art lessons

Activities for June

June – Marine Biology Study – A Shark Week Homeschool Unit Study for Kids and A Majestic Ocean Study Perfect For Your Homeschool

Ocean Unit Study Perfect for Your Homeschool

Activities for July

Activities for August

  • August 5th – Neil Armstrong’s Birthday – Man on the Moon lesson in the Space Exploration art course
  • August 6th – Andy Warhol’s Birthday – Famous Artists’ video art lesson
  • August 18th, 1920- Women gained the right to vote – Women’s Suffrage Modern History lesson

Activities for September

The Lord of the Rings for homeschooling high school

Holiday Activities for High School

Activities for October

  • October 9th – Columbus Day – Columbus Day
  • October 1632 – Vermeer’s Birth Month – Famous Artists’ Video Art lessons
  • October 25th- Pablo Picasso’s Birthday – Picasso lesson in the Famous Artists’ video art lessons
  • October 27th – Lichtenstein’s Birthday – Famous Artists’ Video art lessons
  • October 31st – Katsushika Hokusai’s Birthday – The Great Wave Famous Artist’s lesson

Activities for November

  • November 11th – Veterans Day – Veterans Day Homeschool Activities and Resources 
  • November 14th – Monet’s Birthday – Famous Artists’ video art lessons
  • November 15th – Georgia O’Keefe’s Birthday – Famous Artist’s video art lessons
  • November 24th – Frances Hodgson Burnett’s Birthday – The Secret Garden lesson in the Literature Clubhouse
  • November 29th – Louisa May Alcott’s Birthday – A Little Women Unit Study For Your Homeschool
  • November 29th – C.S Lewis’s Birthday – Lamp Post lesson
  • November 30th – L.M. Montgomery’s Birthday – Anne of Green Gables lesson in the Literature Clubhouse

Activities for December

Art activities for homeschooling high school.

More Art Activities for High School

You will love these other high school activities posts!

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Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love

Kick off summer with a summer bucket list of activities your kids will love! All you’ll need is a starter pack of chalk pastels, construction paper, and the You ARE An Artist Summer Camp Guide!

Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love:Kick off summer with a summer bucket list of activities your kids will love! You'll need a starter pack of chalk pastels, construction paper, and You ARE An Artist Summer Camp Guide! #summercamp #summerartcamp #summerbucketlist #YouAREAnArtist


Getting Ready For Summer In Your Homeschool


Take a new and fun approach to learning this summer by relaxing with your kids. Make memories and enjoy togetherness as a family with the freedom and creativity of art. Throw in some outside time and some fun treats, and you’ve got the makings of a glorious summer!

Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love


Summer Bucket List Activities For Kids


The You ARE An Artist summer art camp helps you create the summer art camp experience right from the comforts of your own home! The summer camp guide and June art lesson calendar give you ideas for completing your family bucket list while giving you access to camp lessons, including:

  • Summer camping
  • Reading in the hammock
  • Backyard wading pool
  • Blowing bubbles
  • I spy through the binoculars
  • Canoe

Nana has even created a new refreshingly cool glass of Lemonade art lesson for this summer too!

Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love

In addition to all of the above, You ARE An Artist Clubhouse members with also have access to an additional six lessons:

  • Camp Song: Rise and Shine
  • Adventure Map
  • Adventure Teacup (art lesson for parents)
  • Fairy Garden
  • Donut for National Donut Day
  • Look Up! Summer Night Sky
  • ‘Freedom’ Acrylic Abstract
Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love

If you follow the Summer Camp Guide and the online June Art lesson calendar, there are some suggested art lessons to consider, including:

  • Monday – Water Day with the beach ball lesson, and then get outside with the water hose, sprinkler, or pool if you have one!
  • Tuesday – Library Day with reading in the hammock lesson, and then take a trip to the library and stock up on books that peak your children’s interests.
  • Wednesday – Nature Day with firefly lesson, and then try to catch a jar full of fireflies as the sun is setting.
  • Thursday – Craft Day has so many possibilities!
  • Friday – Fun with Food with the watermelon lesson: how about this awesome Easy Watermelon Popsicles Recipe or make sugar cookies that look like watermelon or lemon slices!
  • Saturday – Family Outing with the jumping in puddles lesson, and then go find some puddles to jump in or make your own with the water hose! Maybe the whole family could take a trip to the beach, lake, or local park!


Your kids may also enjoy creating their solar ovens out of pizza boxes; then, they can make solar oven s’mores!

Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love
Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love
Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love
Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love
Summer Bucket List Activities Your Kids Will Love


More Resources For Summer Fun


If your kids want more art lessons or maybe have more diverse interests then be sure to check out these ideas for summer art fun:

lemonade art lesson

We had loads of fun with Nana’s summer bucket list activities and video art lessons! The ice cold lemonade and sugar cookies were delicious and the art was sublime. My daughter got extra creative with her glass of lemonade lesson and created an entire pool scene around her glass of lemonade! I love that Nana encourages this creativity, and she always reminds the kiddos, “You ARE an artist!”

So tell me, what’s on your summer bucket list?

Lemonade art lesson
Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse for Endless Access to Summer Art and More!

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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Free Buzz Lightyear Activities For Your Summer Space Camp

To infinity and beyond with these Buzz Lightyear Activities!

To infinity and beyond with these Free Buzz Lightyear activities perfect for your summer space camp!

Free Buzz Lightyear Activities For Your Summer Space Camp


Space Camp For Fun Summer Learning

With summer upon us, many parents are looking for summer camps for their children as a way for them to have fun, explore, and extend their learning. But summer camps can be costly, and not every child wants to travel or be away from home for an extended period.

Did you know that You ARE An Artist Clubhouse members can enjoy space camp anytime from the comforts of their own home?

What’s more, you can learn How To Create An Affordable Space Camp At Home This Summer with just a few easy steps! Most traditional art camps may cost $200-$250. But with the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse membership, your entire family can enjoy a full year of over 700+ art lessons and companion workbooks with planners, book recommendations, fast facts, biographies, and overviews for the same investment! Plus, you can access all of the lessons at your convenience! 

Choose the day or week you want to host your summer camp. There are so many space art lessons to choose from:

  • Solar System
  • Space Exploration
  • Solar Eclipse
  • and Moon Missions art courses

You’ll need a starter set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and Nana’s video art lessons! Add in some fun planet-shaped sugar cookies, cake pops, or cake to make this space camp even more memorable!

Free Buzz Lightyear Activities For Your Summer Space Camp


Buzz Lightyear Activities For Kids


You can start your space exploration with NASA’s awesome Buzz Lightyear To Infinity and Beyond! Activities which include:

Free Buzz Lightyear Activities For Your Summer Space Camp

Then, enjoy Nana’s FREE Buzz Lightyear chalk pastel lesson you will find at the end of this post! We even had a furry four-legged visitor join us, and I think he wanted to explore space too! Socks jumped up in my daughter’s lap and stayed there as she drew her version of Buzz Lightyear.

Free Buzz Lightyear Activities For Your Summer Space Camp


Space Activities: To Infinity and Beyond


Here are the space camp lessons all You ARE An Artist clubhouse members will have access to:

I Drew It Then I Knew It Moon Missions Art Course 

  • Pad Crawler
  • Saturn 5 Lift Off
  • Headed to the Moon
  • Flag on the Moon
  • Mission Control
  • Footprint on the Moon

I Drew It Then I Knew It Solar Eclipse Art Course 

  • Diamond Ring
  • Total Solar Eclipse
  • Baily’s Beads
Companion Solar System Guide for Your Summer Space Camp

Follow along with the I Drew It Then I Knew It Solar System Course and Companion Workbook. If you introduce your students to the solar system for the first time, the companion workbook is perfect for learning about the individual planets. But even kids who have studied the solar system before will learn something new!

I Drew It Then I Knew It Solar System Art Course 

  • Solar System
  • Earth
  • Mars
  • Venus
  • Uranus
  • Saturn
  • Jupiter
  • The Plutoids
  • Neptune
  • Solar Eclipse
  • Mercury
Mars Rover For Your Summer Space Camp

Buzz Lightyear Activities

We had a load of fun with Nana’s FREE Buzz Lightyear lesson. My daughter’s creativity shone through with her “Fairy Bummblee Buzz,” space dolphin, moon, Saturn, and space shark… Let those artists choose how, what colors, and anything else they want to add. Why? Because as Nana always says, “You ARE the artist!”

So remember, there is no right or wrong way to do space summer camp. Do what works best for your family. Let your kids choose which lessons they want to create and follow their lead. You’ll be surprised at how much learning and fun can happen when creativity flows, and I think Buzz Lightyear agrees!

To infinity and beyond!

Free Buzz Lightyear Activities For Your Summer Space Camp
Free Buzz Lightyear Activities For Your Summer Space Camp: To infinity and beyond with these Free Buzz Lightyear activities perfect for your summer space camp! #spacecamp #artcamp #spaceartcamp #summercamp #summerartcamp #BuzzLightyear #YouAREAnArtist #videoartlessons

Free Buzz Light Year Art Lesson

Suggested supplies: white construction paper. Blue, red and light green chalk pastels. (Our favorites are here.) Baby wipes or a slightly damp paper towel for easy clean up.

Nana would love to see your Buzz Lightyear paintings. Please tag us on social media @chalkpastelart or send a photo via the chat box here on the website – so we can cheer you on to infinity and beyond!

Find Out More About ALL Access Art Lessons with Nana in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse!

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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13 Colonies Lesson Plans For Creative Kids

Are your students learning about the 13 Colonies? Why not add Nana’s wonderful chalk pastels as a colorful and artistic project to help solidify their knowledge? All you need is a simple starter set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and Nana’s video art lessons!

13 Colonies Lesson Plans For Creative Kids: Are your students learning about the 13 Colonies? Why not add Nana's wonderful chalk pastels as a colorful and artistic project to help solidify their knowledge? All you need is a simple starter set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and Nana's video art lessons! #YouAREAnArtist #ThirteenColonies #13Colonies #AmericanHistory #chalkpastels #USHistory

Learning About The 13 Colonies In Your Homeschool

The 13 Colonies are a fascinating part of our nation’s history, and to learn about them, it’s interesting to view them from a geographical and economic standpoint.

The New England colonies included Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire and the Puritans dominated these regions. Their economic activities included shipbuilding, fishing, lumber, animal furs, and whale oil. That’s because these colonies had a cooler climate and rocky soil.

The Middle colonies included New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and the Quakers dominated these regions. Their economic activities were based on agriculture, including wheat, rye, corn, vegetables, fruits, and livestock. 

The Southern colonies included Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. They were known for their agricultural products, including tobacco, rice, indigo, corn, cotton, and livestock. The Southern colonies had rich fertile soil and a long growing season.

We also enjoyed learning about the founding of each colony.

Did you know that James Oglethorpe founded Georgia in 1732? He wanted to empty the debtor jails in England. Oglethorpe wanted to send all those in England who owed money to Georgia to pay off their debts! He also wanted a buffer between the Spanish in Florida and the English in the Carolinas.

Resources for Learning About Early American History

When studying early American history, we love using:

  • DK Smithsonian: American History Encyclopedia
  • History Year by Year: The History of the World, from the Stone Age to the Digital Age
  • DK Smithsonian: Timelines of Everything

When studying the original 13 Colonies, I also pulled these books from the library:

  • A History of US: Making Thirteen Colonies: 1600-1740
  • You Wouldn’t Want to Be an American Colonist!
  • A History of US: From Colonies to Country: 1735-1791

We also found these online resources fun:

13 Colonies Homeschool Lesson Plans For Creative Kids

Homeschool History Lesson Plans For Creative Kids

Like many children, my son is a hands-on visual learner. He enjoys his studies and retains more knowledge when there are hands-on and creative components to his lessons. That is one of the reasons Nana’s chalk pastel lessons have been a vital and thriving part of our homeschool for many years! Learning about the 13 Colonies was no different. Though we read books and watched documentaries, the hands-on art of Nana’s 13 Colonies chalk pastel lesson solidified his understanding!

13 Colonies Homeschool Lesson Plans For Creative Kids
13 Colonies – the Gathering Storm

Chalk Pastel Resources For Learning About The 13 Colonies

With the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse, you have access to 700+ chalk pastel video art lessons. In addition to the 13 Colonies lesson, did you know that Nana has other Early American history art lessons?

  • Revolutionary War uniforms – Continental soldier and British soldier
  • Boston Tea Party
  • Early colonists
  • White House
  • The Constitution
  • Women in War
  • Paul Revere
  • Lewis and Clark
  • Native Americans – Midwestern Tribes Headdresses
  • Napoleon
  • French Flag
  • War of 1812
  • Columbus
  • Harriet Tubman
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Three Branches of Government
  • Alexander Hamilton
  • King George, III

7 American History Homeschool Lessons Your Kids will Love and Hamilton The Musical Homeschool Study have been among our favorite American History studies thus far. As you can see, my son learns best when we incorporate the hands-on beauty of chalk pastels into our history studies!

13 Colonies Homeschool Lesson Plans For Creative Kids

Additional Homeschool History Lessons For Creative Kids

There are so many excellent chalk pastel history lessons to choose from:

Simply choose the history lessons that best fit the era of history you and your child are studying, and you are on your way to a hands-on and colorful way of experiencing the past.

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse to Access Them All!
13 Colonies Homeschool Lesson Plans For Creative Kids

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

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Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning

Check out these homeschool map skills activities using chalk pastels! They are perfect for helping kids learn about maps and how maps work. You’ll need a set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and your You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership!

Homeschool Map Skills Activities Chart Your Way To Learning: Check out these homeschool map skills activities using chalk pastels! They are perfect for helping kids learn about maps and how maps work. You'll need a set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and your You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership! #maps #mapskills #mapsskillsforkids #homeschoolmapskills #homeschool

The Power Of Map Skills For Children


Spatial thinking is an important development for children. Map skills in young children are as vital as building blocks and puzzles for a young mind because all of these help build spatial awareness. Map drawing, or cartography, is a skill that gets better with practice. As my children get older, I like to incorporate map tracing and even freehand drawing as they learn about different geographical areas. This method has helped them retain information that otherwise would have remained in their books.

Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning

Did you know that Charlotte Mason encouraged geography activities, including map study? Ms. Mason believed that children would better understand their history lessons by drawing and discussing maps!

Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning


Homeschool Map Skills Activities and Lessons


You ARE an ARTIST has a wide array of map skills video art lessons! With the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership, you’ll have access to over 700+ art lessons, including:

  • Italy
  • France
  • The United States and Canada
  • Australia
  • Europe
  • South America
  • Antarctica
  • Asia
  • Africa
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland
Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning

But the maps don’t stop there! Your children can draw their way across Ancient Egypt and the surrounding area and explore U.S. histories like the Oregon Trail or the 13 Colonies! How about traveling through the fantasy lands of Middle Earth, Narnia, or the Hundred Acre Wood? Plus so much more!

Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning


Additional Homeschool Geography Resources

There are so many excellent chalk pastel lessons, no matter what geography you are studying. Nana’s got you covered. You can pair these beautiful lessons with Nana’s history or landmarks lessons to create a richer learning adventure!

These American Landmarks would pair well with American History and Geography:

  • Grand Canyon
  • Golden Gate Bridge
  • Statue of Liberty
  • Mt. Rushmore
  • Liberty Bell
  • Washington Monument
  • Yellowstone Falls
  • Old Faithful
  • Civil War Cannon
  • Niagara Falls
  • Lincoln Memorial
  • Grand Tetons
Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning

These World Landmarks would pair well with Ancient History, Middle Ages, Modern History, and Geography:

  • Eiffel Tower
  • Taj Mahal
  • Scottish Highlands
  • Roman Coliseum
  • Sydney Opera House
  • Great Wall of China
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Stonehenge
  • Big Ben
  • Volcano
  • Plus, more to come!
Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning

For example, when studying World War II, we paired the Great Britain map with the Big Ben world landmark, the Winston Churchill lesson, and the WWII helmet!

Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning

Map Skills for Kids

Nana’s maps have opened up a whole new world for us regarding spatial thinking and the overall scope of drawing maps that coincide with our history and geography studies. Chalk pastels are fun to use, and they also give us a colorful and hands-on way to dig deeper into our current interests.

Homeschool Map Skills Activities: Chart Your Way To Learning

I love all of the skills we’ve acquired, and my son loves that his cartography has improved. Have you tried adding Nana’s maps to your homeschool lessons yet?

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse for Endless Access!

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.