Posted on

Five in a Row Art Activities: Literature Learning with Favorite Homeschool Books

Enjoy this fun collection of Five in a Row art activities. These are a great way to expand your learning with a hands on element to add to your favorite homeschool books.

What is Five in a Row?

One of very earliest homeschool resources was Five in a Row. We started homeschooling with the gently learning style Five in a Row curriculum offered. The idea is to have a new book to focus on each week. And for five days in a row, you read the book. The unit study style curriculum suggests a certain topic or short follow up activity to go along with your reading time.

These homeschool unit studies are geared towards children ages 4-8, but some families have used this curriculum with younger and older students.

There are four separate volumes of Five in a Row.

  • Before Five in a Row (ages 2-4)
  • More Before Five in a Row (ages 3-5)
  • Five in a Row (ages 5-10)
  • Beyond Five in a Row (ages 9-12)

Learn more about Five in a Row with Homeschool Reviews:

We have reviews of Five in a Row on our sister site, The Curriculum Choice. Five in a Row is a collection of literature-based unit studies by Jane Claire Lambert.

It always helps me to hear from a fellow homeschool family who has actually used a homeschool curriculum. Enjoy these homeschool reviews at The Curriculum Choice:

Five in a Row Art Activities

Of course we focused in on the Five in a Row art activities! And, we created our own art activities with Nana! Art is a favorite way to explore even more learning with Before Five in a Row and Five in A Row book selections.

Enjoy these fun ideas to go with your Five in a Row homeschool unit studies and favorite picture books!

Blueberries for Sal Art Activity for Five in a Row

Blueberries for Sal Art Activity

With Nana’s blueberry video art lesson in A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels course in membership, you can paint a beautiful blueberry! You can also follow her step-by-step lesson at Your Best Homeschool.

Author Eric Carle Homeschool Study

Here you will find everything you need for a famous artist Eric Carle homeschool study. “Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and designed picture books children. His best known book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten it’s way into the hearts of millions of children all over the world and has been translated into 66 languages and sold over 50 million copies. Since The Very Hungry Caterpillar was was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books. This includes many best sellers which he wrote. More than 152 million copies of his books have sold around the world!” – Nana

Enjoy Nana’s Eric Carle podcast and art lessons!

Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat Art Activities for Kids

Dr. Seuss art with chalk pastels? Yes, please! How adorable would a Cat in the Hat be hanging on your refrigerator? How about the lovely Truffula Trees? Nana has a lesson for both! Now you and your kiddo can enjoy a Seussical art time with chalk pastels! Be sure to also check out Everything Seuss with books, resources and more at The Curriculum Choice.

Cranberry Thanksgiving Five in a Row with Mr. Whiskers art lesson!

Cranberry Thanksgiving Art Lessons

Here are just a few ways you can enjoy a Cranberry Thanksgiving book study in your fall homeschool plans – with art, activities, baking and more! Don’t miss Nana’s Mr. Whiskers homeschool art lesson at the end.

madeline five in a row art activities

Madeline Five in a Row Art Activity

In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines…lived twelve little girls in two straight lines…the smallest one was Madeline.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Five in a Row art activities

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Homeschool Art

We are big fans of Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Anne. Every time I turned the page to this particular scene – the dirt, the steam, the clouds of smoke – I always thought this would make a wonderful Mike Mulligan chalk pastel art tutorial. So we set aside an art afternoon and enjoyed it!

Pete the Cat Art Lesson

Not necessarily a Five in a Row book but a family favorite by an author from our home state. So many fun Pete the Cat books!

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening Tea Time

Stopping By The Woods on a Snowy Evening

One of the best poems to enjoy during winter is the renowned Robert Frost’s, Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening. It is one of those poems that instantly comes to life with all of the delights of winter. Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening art!

Enjoy a winter snowflake study for your homeschool! Fun learning with a Snowflake Bentley read aloud, online winter art lessons and snowflake activities.

Snowflake Bentley

This winter homeschool snowflake study combines the beauty of winter with the fascinating life of Snowflake Bentley. You might also like my step-by-step snowflake art lesson.

Enjoy this fun collection of Five in a Row art activities. These are a great way to expand your learning with a hands on element to add to your favorite homeschool books.

More Five in a Row Art Activities for Your Homeschool

As I shared, we started homeschooling with Five in a Row. Nana would come by our house and teach an art lesson around something we were learning in our homeschool. So, these are older, step-by-step art lessons from our early days. We invite you to enjoy them as well!

Then, join Nana in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse!

Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared the fun of her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Your Best Homeschool and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of sister sites Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.

Posted on

Groundhog Day Art Lesson For Your Homeschool

What do you think? Will it be an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Paint your prediction with Nana’s Groundhog Day homeschool art lesson. You are the artist!

Then, if you are ready for an early spring, dive into Nana’s set of Spring Video Art Lessons. Or if you are still enjoying winter, paint up a snowstorm with Nana’s Winter Video Art Lessons. Of course you can have access to ALL of Nana’s 800+ video art lessons in the You ARE an Artist Complete Clubhouse.

Groundhog Day Art Lesson For Your Homeschool

Enjoy Nana’s Groundhog Day Art Lesson!

Art Supplies For This Lesson

We suggest the following supplies: white construction paper, brown, yellow and black chalk pastels. Nana walks you through exactly how to use them all in the video lesson above.

Will it be an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Paint your prediction with Nana's Groundhog Day art lesson. You ARE an Artist!

 

Photo by Dawn Peluso Schoolin’ Swag

Share Your Homeschool Art With Us!

So, paint your Groundhog Day art lesson and be sure to share with us! Simply tag @chalkpastelart on Instagram, use the #YouAREanArtist hashtag, or upload a photo to the ChalkPastel.com Facebook page!

  • A note on chalk pastels: Pastels are an easy, forgiving medium. Fun for children and adults alike! Details on the pastels and paper we use, how and where to purchase, and links to all of Nana’s other pastel lessons are here: Our Favorite Chalk Pastels
  • The practical aspects of a mess: Pastels are blessedly messy. We always have baby wipes close by to wipe hands. We wear something we don’t mind getting stained or don a smock.

Do you and your artists learn best with a video art tutorial? Join the You ARE an Artist Clubhouse for even more Video Art Lessons at ChalkPastel.com!

Additional Resources For Homeschool Art Lessons

You might also like:

Will it be an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Paint your prediction with Nana's Groundhog Day art lesson. You ARE an Artist!

We can’t wait to see your Groundhog Day painting. And please be sure to share this lesson with a friend!

You ARE an Artist!

Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared the fun of her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Your Best Homeschool and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of sister sites Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.wners of Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.

Posted on

How to Draw a Painting Snowman for Your Winter Homeschool

Not only can you make the snowman just like you’d like him, you can design your background, plus – decide what your snowman will paint! Nana’s How to draw a painting snowman with chalk pastels is perfect for your cozy, winter homeschool art time.

Not only can you make the snowman just like you’d like him, you can design your background, plus – decide what your snowman will paint! How to draw a painting snowman with chalk pastels.

Snowman Paints!

Painting with chalk pastels is such a wonderful activity for the whole family to enjoy around the homeschool table. If you have never painted with Nana before, we invite you to grab her FREE set of Get Started in Chalk Pastel Art Video Art Lessons. All it takes is 1, 2, 3! A starter set of chalk pastels, construction paper and Nana’s art lessons.

How to Draw a Snowman with Chalk Pastels for your winter homeschool. In this homeschool art lesson, you decide what your snowman will paint!

Free Art Lesson: How To Draw a Snowman for Your Winter Homeschool

Enjoy this early art lesson Nana shared with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table and recorded for you!

Suggested supplies: white or light blue construction paper. Black, red, purple, green, yellow and blue chalk pastels. Pictured: Our favorite chalk pastels and chalk pastels drawer storage.

See how Nana’s grandchildren painted their snowmen here.

Winter Solstice Art with the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse for homeschool.
Photo by Erin Vincent – Winter Solstice Art for Your Homeschool

More Homeschool Art With Nana in the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse!

You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse is perfect for homeschool art for all ages!

Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Hodgepodge and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of The Curriculum Choice.

Posted on

Homeschool Bird Study: I Drew It Then I Knew It Science

Your resident ornithologist will love this homeschool bird study with Nana’s bird art lessons! There are so many ways to combine a homeschool bird study with art. Maybe a seasonal study, the Great Backyard Bird Count, nature study and more. You can have an I Drew It Then I Knew It homeschool science lesson.

Your resident ornithologist will love Nana's chalk pastel bird video art lessons! In fact, there are so many ways to combine a homeschool bird study with art. Maybe a seasonal study, the Great Backyard Bird Count, Apologia's Flying Creatures, nature study and more. You can have an I Drew It Then I Knew It homeschool bird study.

Homeschool Bird Study With I Drew It Then I Knew It Science

Enjoy this fun fall blue jay to paint with Nana’s video art lesson!

Suggested supplies: brown construction paper. Blue, black, white, orange, yellow, brown and red chalk pastels.

Then join Nana for even MORE bird art lessons in a Chalk Pastel Bird Study with Nana! And enjoy a Fall Bird Study with the Outdoor Hour Challenges at our sister site, Homeschool Nature Study.

fall bird study for your homeschool

More Resources For Your Homeschool Bird Study

Fall Bird Nature Study

Enjoy this simple nature study for your homeschool with Project Feederwatch! This activity helps you learn more about local birds in a way that is fun and beneficial to your community.

Here is how to get started in birdwatching – including some tips for attracting birds to your yard.

This homeschool bird study for different learning styles is a wonderful example of how nature study can benefit any child. It allows you to provide a variety of experiences to tap into their natural learning style and complete a bird study all along the way!

You might also enjoy Turkey Homeschool Nature Study Activities for Your Homeschool.

You ARE AN Artist Clubhouse Membership for Your Homeschool Lessons

With You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse membership, you can do several bird lessons per week leading up to the Great Backyard Bird Count! You can even do a little mini-study on each bird as you go. With the chalk pastel You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership you’ll have access to 700+ art lessons including these:

  • owl
  • cardinal
  • goldfinch
  • hummingbird
  • hummingbirds at the feeder
  • chickadee
  • robin
  • sandpiper
  • bluebird
  • cardinals in snow (try for FREE)
  • fall blue jay (try for FREE)
  • goose
  • eagle’s nest with eagle family
  • John James Audubon (Nana’s podcast + lesson!)
  • bird nest
  • owl in Pilgrim hat

You ARE an Artist Clubhouse – includes Bird Chalk Pastel Video Art Lessons AND acrylic video art lessons for your homeschool bird study!

Acrylic Titmouse art lesson. You may remember our Chalk Pastels Bird Study with Nana back in February. Did you know that Nana also has Bird acrylic painting lessons? We loved learning extra tidbits from Nana about some of our favorite feathered friends.
More on painting Backyard Birds with Acrylics in Erin’s post here.

You’ll also have access to Nana’s acrylic bird lessons if you’re interested in acrylics!

  • wren on teacup
  • bluebird
  • titmouse
  • nuthatch
  • bird’s nest
  • baby bluebird in a birdhouse
  • blue jay
  • cardinal

You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse For Your Homeschool!

So, paint your fall bird with your homeschool study and be sure to share with us! Simply tag @chalkpastelart on social media, use the #YouAREanArtist hashtag, or upload a photo to the ChalkPastel.com Facebook page!

We have a wonderful Science + Art Curriculum Match Up Guide that you can enjoy for planning your I Drew It Then I Knew It art times with your homeschool bird study! Get yours here.

  • A note on chalk pastels: Pastels are an easy, forgiving medium. Fun for children and adults alike! Details on the pastels and paper we use, how and where to purchase are in Our Favorite Chalk Pastels.
  • The practical aspects of a mess: Pastels are blessedly messy. We always have baby wipes close by to wipe hands. We wear something we don’t mind getting stained or don a smock.
Your resident ornithologist will love Nana's chalk pastel bird video art lessons! In fact, there are so many ways to combine a homeschool bird study with art. Maybe a seasonal study, the Great Backyard Bird Count, Apologia's Flying Creatures, nature study and more. You can have an I Drew It Then I Knew It homeschool bird study.

Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Your Best Homeschool and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of sister sites Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.

Posted on

Fantastic Fall Art Lessons For Kids

Grab a slice of apple pie, some warm socks, bury your homeschooler in a pile of leaves or enjoy these fantastic fall art lessons together! Have we got a fall bucket list for you!

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fantastic Fall Art Lessons For Kids

Fall speaks to each of us in different ways. When we lived in Florida we were only aware it was “fall” because Pumpkin Spice arrived at Starbucks. However in Colorado, the air just feels and smells crisp, the trees change colors, and we start baking an indecent amount of banana bread. If you live in an area that experiences the four seasons or none at all incorporate these Fall Art Lessons.

Homeschool pro tip: laminate special creations and give as Christmas gifts to grandparents.

Seasonal Tree Study For Fall

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” – Emily Brontë

What better way to enjoy a fall tree than A Year Round Seasonal Tree Study For Your Homeschool or the Fall Hygge Homeschool Art Lessons. Turn these beautiful chalk art trees into a nature study – with all the ideas in The Ultimate Guide to Fall Nature Study in Your Own Backyard.

Fall Art: One-On-One Time With Kids

Looking for something on the smaller side? Try a pinecone or acorn art tutorial. Let your student decide with help from our Fall Art One on One Time with Kids or Mommy and Me Time with Art.

Photo by Erin Vincent

S’Mores Me ! Art Lesson

Are you ready for Roasting Marshmallows and all the dessert joy? I was a Girl Scout for ten years. So I’m definitely the resident S’Mores maker in our home. Every marshmallow turns out perfectly golden brown. But my boys still loved letting them catch on fire.

Campfire roasting marshmallows smores fall art

I’ve only made S’Mores with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars. Until we moved to Colorado and one camping angel offered the mind blowing suggestion of switching out chocolate bars for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Oh. My. S’More. Campfire Game Changer!! Switch up your chocolate bar of choice, I’ve heard Kit Kats are the perfect shape, but we’ve yet to try them.
October is National Fire Safety Month. It’s a great time to go over fire safety in your home.

Incorporate these Fantastic Fall Art Lessons and your entire family will enjoy the change of seasons in your homeschool day.

Apple Art With Chalk Pastels

Johnny Appleseed Day is September 26th. We honor the man who made apple (and pear) trees grow all across most of this country. Or you just have another reason to bake and eat apple pie. I’ll take it!! Check out Apple Chalk Pastel Art Lessons and serve up a plate of Nana’s Apple Pie with it! (Includes How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World art lesson and ideas!)

Incorporate these Fantastic Fall Art Lessons and your entire family will enjoy the change of seasons in your homeschool day.
Apples to Oregon makes a fun A Hands-On Oregon Trail Unit Study perfect for fall geography and history studies!

Animals in Fall Study For Your Homeschool

We always loved cutting out construction paper fall leaves, taping them to windows, and adding little gratitude comments all season. I wish I would have added some adorable fall animals among the leaves. If you’re observing the birds, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks busy in your yard maybe decorate a Fall Wall in your homeschool room with chalk animals!

We loved Nana’s Deer in the Fall Clubhouse. We decided to make our own cartoonish deer with big sweet “puppy dog” eyes.

Homeschool Pro Tip: during these more enjoyable fall days try your chalk tutorials outside on your sidewalks and driveways. DO NOT use chalk pastels on concrete. Stick to cheap sidewalk chalk!

More Fall Homeschool Art Fun

You will also have fun with these fall art lessons:

Incorporate these Fantastic Fall Art Lessons and your entire family will enjoy the change of seasons in your homeschool day.

Members Fall Bucket List

Don’t forget! Members can create a Fall Fun Bucket List! Personally, I’m hoping to drink as much apple cider and enjoy those S’Mores. Check and check. Happy Fall Y’all !

Incorporate these Fantastic Fall Art Lessons and your entire family will enjoy the change of seasons in your homeschool day.
Stef Layton

Stef started homeschooling her boys in 2008. She quickly adopted a hands-on learning homeschool style and graduated her oldest tactile learner in 2021. Stef started the Hands-On Learning column in Homeschooling Today magazine. The Laytons currently reside in the foothills of Colorado where Stef also teaches yoga. The family loves to hike trails, stand-up paddle board, and chase sunsets. Stef shares travel and homeschool tips on IG at @LaytonAdventures.

Posted on

The Beauty of Literature, Art and Nature in Your Homeschool

Make your homeschool a little more beautiful with literature, art and nature study! Explore the beloved picture book, Miss Rumphius, with Sarah, Nana and Tricia. What a FUN way to celebrate Sarah’s new book together!

Make your homeschool a little more beautiful with literature, art and nature study! Explore the beloved picture book, Miss Rumphius, with Sarah, Nana and Tricia. What a FUN way to kick off your homeschool year!

Make Your Homeschool a Little More Beautiful – A Free Event!

YOU are invited to the replay of this event!

Sign Up For Access to the Replay and For Your Free Resources

When you sign up you will receive: access to the replay of the event

You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse, Homeschool Nature Study and Read Aloud Revival members receive:

  • Access for as long as you are a member (Read Aloud Revival, You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse and Homeschool Nature Study)
  • Your Read Aloud Revival Family Book Club Guide on Miss Rumphius
  • A Homeschool Nature Study lupine Outdoor Hour Challenge

Please note: A replay will only be available to those who sign up. Be sure to fill out the form, below!

Sign Up To Participate

Get your free resources + info on the Live Event!

Make Your Homeschool Year a Little More Beautiful

    What is included in Make Your Homeschool a Little More Beautiful Event?

    • A fun Miss Rumphius literary ‘hunt’ with Sarah Mackenzie of Read Aloud Revival
    • A peek at Sarah’s NEW picture book, A Little More Beautiful
    Find out ALL about Sarah’s NEW A Little More Beautiful book HERE!
    • A wildflower nature study with Tricia of Homeschool Nature Study
    • Nana’s art lesson in the style of Miss Rumphius and A Little More Beautiful
    Miss Rumphius picture book.

    Here’s How to Be Ready for the Event

    For your literature time with Sarah, reserve or pick up your copy of Miss Rumphius at your local library or order online today!

    For your art time with Nana, you will just need a very few suggested supplies, below:

    • a starter set of chalk pastels (Our favorites are here).
    • construction paper (Nana suggests white construction paper for this lesson)
    • baby wipes or damp paper towel for easy clean up

    For your nature study time with Tricia, have your lupine download on hand.

    Remember to sign up, above!

    Share On Social Media!

    Be sure to share your Make Your Homeschool A Little More Beautiful time on social media and tag @readaloudrevival @outdoorhourchallenge and @chalkpastelart – We can’t wait to see you participating and to see your paintings!

    And please invite your friends! Share this post with them!

    Sarah Mackenzie quote about Nana and chalk pastels.

    What a FUN way to incorporate literature, art and nature into your homeschool routine!

    Posted on

    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!

    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.

    Posted on

    Bible Crafts For Kids: Meaningful and Fun Resources

    A really fun way to bring the Bible to life in your homeschool is with these Bible crafts for kids. You can build memories, pass on your faith to your children and create hands on art projects that are meaningful and fun!

    A really fun way to bring the Bible to life is with these Bible crafts for kids. You can build memories, pass on your faith and create hands on art projects that are meaningful and fun!

    Teaching Children About The Bible Should Be Fun

    There are so many benefits to taking an art-based approach to learning about the Bible. Whether you are teaching Bible in your homeschool as a daily or weekly lesson, or perhaps you are creating a church-at-home experience for your family, you will love how effective it is to add art along with your Biblical teachings.

    Art can open the door to learning and add depth to an understanding of the Bible. Listening to a Bible story while creating a Bible craft with art is a really fun way to help remember something you are learning.

    Teaching children about the Bible should be fun!

    Bible Crafts For Kids: Everything You Need To Get Started

    Did you know you can craft Bible Art with Nana? Yes! Learning with art is simple because all you need to get started is a starter set of chalk pastels, construction paper and our video art lessons. Having baby wipes or a slightly damp paper towel is recommended for easy clean up.

    In addition, our You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members enjoy an accompanying I Drew It Then I Knew It companion guide for each of the set of art lessons listed below! Each guide includes an overview of each Bible topic with the Bible reference, a list of books and extension ideas like tea time, unit studies and art shows.

    Old Testament Bible Stories crafts for kids
    Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea art lesson – Photo by Jamie of Treasuring the Tiny Moments Homeschool


    Old Testament Bible Video Art Lessons

    “God left us a book filled with incredible stories to share with our children, so why not go all out? I want my children to hear the amazing things God has done, and it leave an impression on them for life, just as it did for me.” Enjoy How to Plan an Awesome Home Bible Study for Kids by Courtney.

    • Creation
    • Garden of Eden
    • Noah’s Ark
    • Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors
    • Parting the Red Sea
    • Ark of the Covenant
    • David and Goliath
    • Esther
    • Daniel in the Lion’s Den
    • Jonah and the Whale – with more, exclusive lessons for members

    Free Bible Craft for Kids – Sample Old Testament Bible Story Art Lesson

    For a fun way to incorporate Bible crafts for kids, give this sample lesson from Nana’s Bible Stories series a try!

    Suggested supplies: yellow or other light colored construction paper. Starter set of chalk pastels. Baby wipes or slightly damp paper towel for easy clean up.

    If you enjoy this art lesson, please share a photo and tag us on social media! @chalkpastelart on Instagram

    New Testament Bible Art Lessons

    “Yes, reading straight from the Bible with our family is fantastic! But it doesn’t hurt to add resources that visually stimulate our children. Visuals are excellent teaching tools for children of all learning styles. It also doesn’t hurt to tie in hands-on experiences that will help them never to forget. We can help bring the Bible to life as they hear the retellings. 

    For that reason, I am beyond thrilled to share with you the ultimate Bible story companion. Art. How to Plan an Awesome Home Bible Study for Kids by Courtney. 

    • Jesus Blesses the Children
    • Zacchaeus
    • Jesus Walks on the Water
    • Jesus Feeds the 5,000
    • Garden of Gethsemane
    • Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet
    • The Last Supper
    • Paul and Silas Jail Earthquake
    • I Stand at the Door and Knock and more lessons for Clubhouse members.

    A really fun way to bring the Bible to life is with these Bible crafts for kids. You can build memories, pass on your faith and create hands on art projects that are meaningful and fun!

    Disciples of Christ Art Lessons with Nana

    Homeschooling is such a unique privilege for Christian families, and it is such a sweet blessing to pass along the Word of God to our children. We have, as parents, an incredible opportunity to mold our children into disciples for Jesus, and educating at home is a powerful tool for that. And what better way to experience personal discipleship with our children at home than to study the Disciples of Christ. 

    Enjoy a full Disciples of Christ Unit Study for your homeschool with Jesus, history, character, prayer, geography, genealogy, language and math!

    We have also included Biographies of the Disciples and 5 Fast Facts for them all in our I Drew It Then I Knew It New Testament Companion Guide for your family to enjoy. Inside the Companion Guide, you can plan your studies with our art planners and use our book recommendation list to get started. 

    You can even tie in The Chosen TV series with these lessons!

    A Simple Start in Hebrew art lessons Bible learning

    A Simple Start in Hebrew Video Art Lessons with Nana and her Grandson

    A Simple Start In Hebrew: Learn seven basic Hebrew words with A Simple Start in Hebrew Video Art Lessons. Why would you want to learn Hebrew? Because many Biblical words have roots in the Hebrew culture. With You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse membership, you will get the Companion Guide to these art lessons packed with Aleph-Bet chart, word studies, traceable letter printables, and much more. 

    • Day
    • Peace (Full Moon)
    • Faith
    • Prayer
    • Hallelujah
    • Commandment
    • Israel
    Easter Art Lessons - Bible Crafts for Kids

    Easter Art Lessons – Draw Your Way Through the Resurrection Story

    You can use these art lessons in your homeschool to draw through the Resurrection story and to teach the Easter story in a colorful and memorable way.

    These are all accompanied by a Companion Guide too! So you will get the book list, planners, overviews, fast facts, and more. 

    • Palm Branch 
    • The Lord’s Supper 
    • Crown of Thorns 
    • Calvary’s Crosses 
    • Easter Cross 
    • The Stone Rolled Away
    • Easter Eggs 
    • Easter Lily 
    • Church Stained Glass Window 
    • Jesus and the Sheep

    Christmas Bible Crafts for Kids – Draw Your Way to the Birth of Jesus

    Add these Advent art activities to your Christmas Homeschool plans! You can draw your way through the story of Christmas from the angels announcing Messiah’s birth to the manger scene. Draw Your Way Through the Story of Christmas by Courtney.


    Inspiring Art And Music Activities For Additional Learning

    In addition to Nana’s Bible crafts for kids, her online hymn video art lessons are a wonderful way to celebrate these rich songs of the Christian faith.

    A really fun way to bring the Bible to life is with these Bible crafts for kids. You can build memories, pass on your faith and create hands on art projects that are meaningful and fun!

    Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared the fun of her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Your Best Homeschool and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of sister sites Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.

    Posted on

    How to Draw an Olympic Torch with Chalk Pastels

    Learn how to draw an Olympic Torch with chalk pastels and Nana’s homeschool art lesson for The Winter or Summer Games! There are so many art lessons ready for you the celebrate The Games in a hands on way in your homeschool.

    How To Draw an Olympic Torch for The Games

    How to Draw an Olympic Torch with Chalk Pastels

    You can enjoy this sample lesson, The Torch. This is one of the many lessons for both summer and winter games included in The Games Clubhouse Edition in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse.

    Suggested supplies: white construction paper. Blue, light blue, black, white, red, orange, yellow chalk pastels.

    Share your art! Draw an Olympic Torch with Chalk Pastels with Nana’s art lesson and please tag us on social media. You can tag @chalkpastelart on Instagram and use the hashtag #youareanartist – we can’t wait to see!

    More Homeschool Learning with The Games

    Celebrate The Games with Chalk Pastel Art Ideas – From ancient Greece and the Roman coliseum to the modern games and all the sports competitions, this is a great opportunity to build a homeschool unit study around The Games. Plus, chalk pastels are a fun addition to your Olympic learning.

    Paint The Games medal ceremony!
    Paint The Games medals or a medal ceremony!

    You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse members have access to ALL of Nana’s art lessons for The Games for both summer and winter sports! Plus, artist clubhouse members enjoy a wonderful I Drew It Then I Knew It The Games companion curriculum workbook with Fun Facts, a printable medal tracker and more!

    Celebrate the games in a hands on way in your homeschool.

    Enjoy the upcoming Games by using these art lessons to connect kids to the historic and symbolic nature of the world’s greatest competition!

    Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Hodgepodgemom and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.

    Posted on

    The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Art Museum Field Trips

    The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Art Museum Field Trips is your extensive guide to why, how, and where to find virtual art museum resources.

    If there is one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s that you don’t necessarily need to leave your home to have access to things. There are so many resources you can use to enrich your homeschooling, right online! Virtual Art Museum Field Trips are one of those things!


    Why Virtual Field Trips Are So Valuable

    Besides the fact we already mentioned, you don’t have to leave your home. There are some other great reasons why virtual field trips are so valuable to homeschoolers.

    • Easier on mom – As a homeschooling mom it can be taxing to organize outings for and with all your children. And stressful to navigate public places with, especially ones where they may need to be quiet and orderly!
    • Cost effective – No gas used, no museum tickets to purchase, no lunches to buy while you are out.
    • Vastly increased field trip options – With virtual field trip you have access to museums around the globe, not just in your local area or where you can travel to easily.
    • You are not limited by ages – I used to have a hard time taking my older children to things because I always had to have the little in tow.


    Virtual Art Museum Field Trips To Take In Your Homeschool


    I have to say, as I did research for this topic I was truly astounded at the amount of virtual art museum field trip resources there are!

    Art Credit For High School - The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Art Museum Field Trips is your extensive guide to why, how, and where to find virtual art museum resources.
    Photo by Courtney Messick – This is how your teen can earn an art credit for high school.

    Two HUGE “Catch All’ Sites For Virtual Field Trips

    I feel as though these two sites I am going to mention need a special place here in this list. Why? Because each one houses SO MANY museums and art works right in one place. So if you are looking for a place to start, I suggest one of these sites.

    Google Arts & Culture Art Expeditions– I can’t believe all that is housed in the Art Expeditions (virtual field trips that explore the creative world, from painting to literature and performing arts)! Explore masterpieces and artists through the ages, get to know the movements, learn more about iconic writers and their stories in the Page turners section, tour museums around the world and so much more!

    The Art Institute of Chicago – They put 44,000+ works of art online for you to view in high resolution! The museum also includes a bibliography, exhibition history, notes on provenance, audio and video histories and descriptions, and educational resources like teacher manuals, lesson plans, and exams. 

    Enjoy a virtual tour of Horace Pippin’s paintings via The High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Then enjoy Nana’s Horace Pippin lesson and podcast!

    23 Art Museums with Virtual Resources For Your Homeschool

    The British Museum and Google Cultural Institute teamed up to create one of our favorite interactive projects: The Museum of the World. The British Museum’s digital art collection lets users travel through time while seeing how each historical piece in their collection connects with others. 

    The Frick Collection – Located in the Henry Clay Frick House (New York City, New York), the Frick Collection houses the art collection of industrialist Henry Clay Frick. The collection features some of the best-known paintings by major European artists like Bellini, Rembrandt, Vermeer, as well as numerous works of sculpture and porcelain. The entire museum can be viewed virtually.

    Frida Kahlo Museum – Also known as La Casa Azúl (the Blue House) and located in Mexico City. In Google Street view style you can take a virtual tour of the museum both inside and out.

    Find Nana’s famous artist Georgia O’Keeffe lesson in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse. Photo by Erin Vincent.

    The Georgie O’Keeffe Museum – Located in Sante Fe, New Mexico. dedicated to the artistic legacy of Georgia O’Keeffe and her work on American Modernism. The museum website offers creative activities, stories, and education about Georgia O’Keeffe’s life, along with six virtual exhibits available through Google Arts and Culture: Georgia O’Keeffe, Modernism, Oil Paint, Canvas, American Modernism, United States.

    The J. Paul Getty Museum – Located in Los Angeles, California. The collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum comprises Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity; European art—including illuminated manuscripts, paintings, drawings, sculpture, and decorative arts—from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century; and international photography from its inception to the present day.

    Guggenheim – Featuring over 1,700 artworks by more than 625 artists, the Collection Online presents a searchable database of selected artworks from the Guggenheim’s permanent collection of approximately 8,000 artworks. There are also Virtual Group Tours with an actual guide, as well as printable activities for kids. (Google Arts & Culture also has an awesome section on the Guggenheim!)

    The Hermitage Museum  Located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The second-largest and eighth-most visited art museum in the world. The Hermitage has over 60,000 pieces of artwork on display, including works like the Peacock Clock by James Cox, Madonna Litta by Leonardo Da Vinci, and works by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and Antonio Canova. The online tour is extremely comprehensive and allows you to virtually walk through all 6 buildings in the main complex, treasure galley, and 9 different exhibition projects.

    High Museum of Art – Located in Atlanta, Georgia. It offers over 15,000 works of art in its collection and is the leading art museum in the southeastern U.S. The museum focuses on 19th- and 20th-century American art, historic and contemporary decorative arts and design, European paintings, modern and contemporary art, photography, folk and self-taught art, and African art. The museum’s partnership with Google Arts and Culture offers 4 online exhibits for viewing: Bill Traylor’s Drawings of People, Animals, and Events; How Iris van Herpen Transformed Fashion; Incredible, Innovative, and Unexpected Contemporary Furniture Designs; Photos From the Civil Rights Movement

    Mornings with Monet and Monet art lessons with You ARE an ARTiST. The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Art Museum Field Trips
    Spend a day with Monet and listen to Nana’s Famous Artist Claude Monet podcast.

    La Galleria Nazionale – Located in Rome, Italy, displays about 1,100 paintings and sculptures of the 19th and 20th centuries — the largest collection in Italy. It features work from famous Italian artists like Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni, Alberto Burri, and foreign artists like Cézanne, Monet, Pollock, Rodin, and Van Gogh. It has teamed up with Google to offer 16 different virtual exhibits for online viewing.

    The Louvre – The world’s largest museum. Explore the The Body in Movement, Founding Myths: From Hercules to Darth Vader, and much more through their 360-degree viewing feature. They also have a Louvre for Kids with easier wording and engaging cartoon like navigation, kids can view and learn about the art at the gallery.

    The Met – Located in NYC, The Met has many of it’s exhibitions online. You can view photos of the pieces, read background information, and some even have video tours! The Met also developed #MetKids for, with, and by kids—but parents and teachers can have just as much fun using it. It has features like a fun and highly interactive map, a “time machine” search function, informational and how-to videos, and so much more.

    The Museo Nacional del Prado located in Madrid Spain, is considered to have one of the greatest collections of European art in the world and offers guests the single largest collection of Spanish art. The collection currently comprises around 8,200 drawings, 7,600 paintings, 4,800 prints, and 1,000 sculptures. Well known works include Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, The Third of May 1808 by Francisco De Goya, and The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. The museum’s online gallery allows you to get a close look at over 10,000 different pieces of art.

    The National Gallery – Located in London. Click and scroll your way around with their three interactive virtual tour options. 1 showcasing 18 different rooms in the museum, 1 showcasing the Sainsbury Wing, and a Google Virtual tour. The National Gallery has hundreds of paintings in its collection ready to be viewed online, many of which are from the Renaissance period.

    The National Gallery of Art – Located in Washington, D.C., offers online 3D virtual tours of exhibitions such as Raphael and his Circle, and Degas at the Opera.

    Museum of Modern Art – Founded in 1929, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in midtown Manhattan was the first museum devoted to the modern era. Through Google Arta & Culture you can view 129 artworks from MoMA’s collection.

    National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art – Located in Seoul, Korea, this virtual tour takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea and all over the globe.

    Musée d’Orsay – Instantly transport to the middle of Paris with the Musée d’Orsay and their online tours and art collection. Here you can explore art history with the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces from renowned artists such as Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and many more.

    Rijksmuseum – located in Amsterdam the Rijkmuseum showcases  the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a 3D virtual museum tour through Street View, where you can zoom in on every tiny detail of each work of art, and listen to stories about 18 masterpieces

    San Diego Museum of Art – 360-degree scans of your favorite galleries, zoom in to see art details, and read full label text in both English and Spanish. they also offer FREE docent tours through Zoom.

    The Tate Modern – Check out this video tour of their famous Andy Warhol exhibit. Museum curators Gregor Muir and Fiontán Moran talk in-depth about Andy Warhol and his work through the lens of the immigrant story, his LGBTQ identity, and more.

    Learn about Vincent Van Gogh in The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Art Museum Field Trips
    A Hands-On Homeschool Study of Famous Artist Vincent Van Gogh with photos by Erin Vincent.

    The Van Gogh Museum – home to the largest collection of van Gogh pieces in the world. The museum, virtual tours, ebook “stories,” and online collection dive into the life of van Gogh and the inspiration behind his art. Moreover, we think teachers everywhere will appreciate how big a fan he was of reading books!

    The Vatican Museums – You can finally say you’ve seen the Sistine Chapel thanks to this online program! And, you can also virtually visit the Raphael Rooms, the Chiaramonti Museum, and more historic sites through these virtual tours.

    The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Art Museum Field Trips is your extensive guide to why, how, and where to find virtual art museum resources.


    Tips For Making The Most Of Your Virtual Art Museum Field Trip


    Additional Art Museum Resources For Your Homeschool

    So many famous artists to learn about in The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Art Museum Field Trips

    The Famous Artists Series

    The Famous Artists Series: The You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership offers 47 famous artists video lessons for your homeschool including:

    • Vermeer
    • Michelangelo
    • da Vinci
    • Warhol
    • Monet
    • Rockwell
    • Rembrandt
    • Lichtenstein
    • Audubon
    • Beatrix Potter

    … and a new one added about once a month!

    The Famous Artists series is exclusive to the You ARE an Artist Complete Clubhouse. There is so much to learn about art, artists, and art history! The Famous Artist series is the perfect way to introduce these master artists and their works to your kids!