Tag: homeschool activities

Posted on by

The Ultimate Guide To Fun Art Projects For Your Homeschool

There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.

There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.

Art Projects by Grade Level

First Grade Art and Music Curriculum for Your Homeschool – Creating a love for beautiful art and music in your homeschool can start from birth. It doesn’t take much effort to surround your family with the great artists and classical composers from the very start of a child’s life. Weave experiences into your everyday routine by using our Homeschool Fine Arts first grade art and music plans as a framework.

Online Art Lessons Perfect for Grades K-3 – Art is an essential part of our elementary learners’ development. Online art lessons are a great option for grades K-3 and are easily incorporated into any homeschool lesson plan.

There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.

Homeschool Art Lessons Perfect for Grades 4-6 – Studies have shown, time and time again, that adding art to learning adds value across academic subjects. This educational approach is appropriate and helpful across all grade levels, including the late elementary grades 4-6.

Why Homeschooling Middle School is Better with Hands on Learning – Study after study has shown that learners of all ages do best when the material is presented in a multisensory format. Text combined with video, hands-on creative activities, and even art as a way to demonstrate understanding have all been proven to contribute to more successful learner outcomes.

Integrated Art for Homeschooling High School – Are you looking for ways to create a more dynamic learning environment for your high schooler? Homeschooling with an integrated art approach may be exactly what you need!

Art Credit For High School

Here Is How You Can Earn an Art Credit for High School – As fellow homeschoolers, we know that homeschool families like to plan their own way! That’s why You Are An Artist is an excellent fit for your visual art credit needs. Our flexible path to a visual art credit with chalk pastels allows you the freedom to plan; however it best suits your student. 

Classical Music Appreciation Lessons for All Grades – There is no right or wrong way to start classical music homeschool lessons. The most important thing is that you start! Learn the simple steps to building a love of classical music and a knowledge of great composers.

Art Projects for Preschool Homeschool

Preschool Homeschool Art Activities

Early learners need lots of play-based learning and time creating. We have to make time for preschool art in our homes and homeschools. Art is essential to the mental, social, and emotional growth of our early learners. Art is also a fantastic way to satisfy children’s natural curiosity for exploration and  experimentation.

Art Projects By Academic Subject

Art Projects for Ancient Egypt

Art Lessons for Your Homeschool History Curriculum

Yes, you can use art to teach history! No matter what time period you are studying in your homeschool history curriculum, Nana’s I Drew It then I Knew It video lessons are the easy – and fun – way to learn important parts of history. Enjoy a library of history video art lessons to match all four history cycles no matter what homeschool history curriculum you are using. Nana does the teaching and all you need are very minimal supplies. It is super easy to get started in chalk pastel art with The Best Art Lessons for Your Homeschool History Curriculum.

  • Ancient History Art Projects – “When I discovered that Nana had new chalk pastel art lessons specifically for ancient Egypt, I was so excited! I love presenting our current interests with hands-on activities, and art is just that. When my kids can create art while we read aloud about a particular subject they are interested in, it helps solidify the knowledge they are learning in ways that dry, rote memorization can not.”
  • American History Art Projects – Are you looking for fun ways to incorporate American history homeschool lessons? Maybe you already have a history curriculum, but you’re looking for ways to make it more hands-on and engaging. Chalk pastels may be just what you need to get your kids to fall in love with history!
  • Civil War History Art Projects – With Nana’s Civil War Hands-On Homeschool Lessons and the accompanying I Drew It Then I Knew It American History workbook, you can reinforce all that you are learning in your homeschool. Don’t miss Nana’s podcast on Sojourner Truth, included below!
  • Middle Ages History Art Projects and The Ultimate Guide to Medieval History Lessons – Do your kiddos love dragons, and knights, and princesses? Or maybe you are studyingthe Medieval world this year with your history curriculum. The Middle ages were an interesting time. The Roman Empire had fallen, and smaller kingdoms were vying for control. There were Barbarian raiders, wars on faith, and the Black Death to contend with, but there were some pretty exciting inventions too! The printing press, flying buttresses in gothic architecture, eyeglasses, and knights in shining armor, to name a few!
  • Modern History Art Projects – These lessons have made my history buff extremely happy. Isn’t it wonderful how we were able to pull from Nana’s different courses to create art lessons to fit my son’s interests? That’s just one of the reasons I adore our You ARE An Artist Complete Clubhouse membership. I can cater to my children’s interests in colorful and fun ways that won’t soon be forgotten.
  • Chalk Pastels Great Britain Homeschool Art Lessons – You can now travel to Great Britain with chalk pastels! Explore Big Ben, Queen Elizabeth, Winston Churchill, and much more in this unique and colorful way. Nana will be your guide on this historic trip filled with key icons and landmarks with chalk pastels Great Britain themed art.
Make Geography Fun with Art Projects

Make Homeschool Geography Fun!

Are you looking for a unique way to get your kids excited about their homeschool geography? Maybe you have a hands-on learner that just needs something a little extra for their cartography lesson. Here is a unique way to learn about maps, continents, countries and world landmarks. Now you can make geography fun with chalk pastels!

There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.

Literature and Art Are a Perfect Combination!

A Lord of the Rings Homeschool Study to Rule Them All
STEAM and Science Art Projects

STEAM and Science Activities Make Learning Fun!

Why STEAM Learning Matters in Your Homeschool – STEAM learning has become a popular topic in education today. The good news is, a STEAM approach to learning can add creativity and innovation to your child’s education. This summary of STEAM learning includes ideas and resources for how to easily and effectively incorporate it into your homeschool.

Shark Week Fun Art Projects

A Shark Week Homeschool Study for Kids – Do your kids love sharks? Are you getting ready for shark week? Then let Nana take you under the sea with chalk pastels shark art for kids! These easy-to-follow video homeschool lessons will teach you and your child how to draw some of the most exciting sharks using chalk pastels.

Dive into a Shark Study This Summer! – This homeschool study all about sharks is perfect for summer learning. It includes a shark tracking activity, online lessons, book lists, and so much more!

Human Heart Art Activity

Human Heart Activity for Kids: Hands-On Science – Nana’s human heart activity for kids is a great hands-on homeschool science experience that highlights art, writing, diagramming, plus an exposure to brand new vocabulary. It’s a combination of multiple subjects all in one spot!

Solar System Art Projects – Are your kids fascinated by the idea of space? Mine too! The solar system can be such an exciting area of study. Most of us still remember learning about all of the planets and space exploration when we were kids. 

Here is everything you need to create a moon missions unit study that will blast off! Includes art, books, and even snacks for learning.

Everything You Need For A Moon Missions Unit Study – This is a perfect time of year to learn about the moon in your homeschool. Here is everything you need to create a homeschool moon missions unit study that will blast off!

This Homeschool Moon Study Is Out of This World – Moon activities, books, and fun art lessons for all ages! Learn about moon phases and more with this homeschool moon unit study!

Small But Mighty Cell Activities for Your Homeschool – These online cell activities for your homeschool are multi-sensory and appropriate for all ages. In fact, online cellular biology lessons are an excellent addition for your homeschool science. Take a look!

Small But Mighty Cell Activities for Your Homeschool

STEAM Art Projects – A STEAM approach encourages students to ask questions and think creatively. It is also a great way to help children who typically shy away from topics related to mathematics and technology to engage and learn in a different way!

A Microscopic World Study for Homeschool Science – Science, it’s one of those love-it-or-hate-it subjects in homeschooling. Teaching homeschool science and facilitating experiments at home might make you feel a little overwhelmed. There are so many exciting ways to teach and learn about science together at home.  This microscopic world study is a great example!

Take Flight with These Famous Aviators Homeschool Lessons – With the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and more, you can take flight in your homeschool with these famous aviators activities.

Famous Artists Art Projects at You ARE an ARTiST

Famous Artists and Art Appreciation

Exploring famous artists with your children has never been easier! Now you can expose your children to the glory and wonder of master artists like da Vinci, Michelangelo, Monet, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and so many more with chalk pastels!

Most of the links below include Nana’s mini podcast on the artist!

Fine Arts Curriculum for Grades 1-12 at You ARE an ARTiST

Homeschool Fine Arts for Learning About Artists and Composers

You ARE an ARTiST Homeschool Fine Arts lesson plans organize great art and music appreciation resources into the classical four-year cycle of history and seasons each week with a Charlotte Mason flavor. Here you will find homeschool fine arts curriculum for the whole family!

homeschool fine arts titles at You ARE an ARTiST

These lesson plans are available for Grades 1-12 and will offer families three different options for art study and a detailed plan for music appreciation.

Each flexible and easy to use 32-36 week plan includes notebooking pages, coloring pages and YouTube links for art tutorials and listening to classical music.

View more about these Comprehensive Plans for Families.

homeschool acrylic art projects

Fun Acrylic Art Projects

Let Nana help you as you embark on this easy acrylic painting journey. Learn some simple tips about color, and brush strokes. You’ll be amazed at how much fun you and your kids will have! It’s easier than you might expect! Easy Acrylic Painting with Nana!

There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.

Art Projects for the Homeschool Mom

Mini Moments for the Homeschool Mom with Chalk Pastels – Whether you have 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or more, take the time to recharge your spirit with these mini moments for the homeschool mom. Even busy moms can appreciate the simplicity and ease of chalk pastels.

Easy Mommy and Me Art Time – Taking the time to create art with your kids shows them that it is worth doing. As you connect with your child, they will see that art is interesting and fun. It shows them that you are engaged while also building your relationship through an easy and fun shared activity.

Bible Crafts homeschool art projects

Bible Stories Art Activities

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 Disciples of Christ Unit Study – 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. 

Easter Art Projects – You can easily count the Easter art lessons as homeschool because you will also learn facts and history behind each topic. We give you just enough for an all-in-one lesson that is the perfect fit for homeschool or church-at-home. If your kids are anything like mine, you will find yourselves researching more exciting facts on your own. Or access all of our extension ideas inside the companion workbook to continue the learning. 

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

How to Plan an Awesome Home Bible Study for Kids – 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. With an I Drew It Then I Knew It New Testament Guide!

There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.

Holiday Art Projects For Throughout the Homeschool Year

Thanksgiving art activities for your homeschool

Thanksgiving Art Activities

Nana has all sorts of Thanksgiving homeschool lessons to fill the whole month. Abraham Lincoln, Aaron Copland, pilgrims, the Mayflower voyage, a map of the very first Thanksgiving, Cranberry Thanksgiving and more!

Christmas Tea Time

Christmas Art Lessons for All Ages

Enjoy this ultimate list of Christmas Homeschool Art Lessons! Christmas homeschooling allows us to focus on the real reason for the season. And you can do that in so many ways. We will give many resources to choose from and help you customize your perfect Christmas school day, week, or month.

Favorite movies for Christmas Homeschool

Christmas Book to Movie Homeschool Activities – Check out this festive list of Christmas books made into movies – with homeschool activities your kids will love! Now your kids can re-create their favorite book characters and movie scenes with chalk pastels!

movies art lessons

Movies Art Projects

Favorite Movies Homeschool Art Lessons – Don’t let family movie night become boring! Bring some excitement back with these chalk pastel art lessons. All you’ll need is a pack of construction paper and a set of chalk pastels. So grab your favorite movie snacks or make some of your own and join Nana for some of your family’s favorite movies.

homeschool art lessons for favorite movies
Included with You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse Membership!
  • Incredibles
  • Mary Poppins
  • Peter Pan
  • Seuss Truffula Trees
  • Tangled
  • Penguins of Madagascar
  • Star Trek
  • Super Hero Shield
  • Angry Birds
  • Bruce of Finding Nemo
  • Cars Mater and Lightning McQueen
  • Cat in the Hat acrylic
  • Charlie Brown Christmas
  • Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
  • Despicable Me Minion
  • Dinosaur – Jurassic Park
  • Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat
  • Finding Dory
  • Frozen
The beauty of art, music and nature in your homeschool!

Art Lessons for Nature Study and The Seasons

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

Art Activities for Every Month of the Year

Look ahead to ALL the art activities for homeschooling you can enjoy every month of the year:

There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.

Nana has all of these Homeschool Art Projects ready for you in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse, along with 700+ video art lessons and an art lesson calendar with art for every day of the year!

It is all done for you!

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse for Instant Access NOW!

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 by

Marvelous May Homeschool Art Activities

These marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! You can include beautiful blooming flowers for your nature studies, celebrate mothers, use the force for May the 4th Be With You and paint an American flag for Memorial Day. There is SO much to enjoy and to celebrate in your homeschool!

Marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! Fun celebrations for Mother's Day, May the 4th and more!

Marvelous May Homeschool Art Activities

Flower Art Lessons

With Nana’s A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels and acrylics lessons, you can paint flowers galore! It’s the joy and the beauty of art and nature study.

Harry Potter Day

Check out this fun Harry Potter homeschool teatime that even muggles will love! You’ll find magical art lessons that everyone in the family will enjoy. You don’t have to have a magic wand or spellbook. Bring the magic of art and Harry Potter into your home!

Marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! Fun celebrations for Mother's Day, May the 4th and more!

May the 4th Be With You

May the 4th Be With You – Use the Force for Learning! – Nana has a NEW Star Wars themed art lesson perfect to pair with the new Obi Wan series or any of your fan favorites.

There are several free art lessons included in this fun Star Wars chalk pastel teatime with Nana – which is the perfect way to celebrate your kiddo’s love for all things Star Wars! The Star Wars-themed lessons are super easy to follow and are ideal for all ages. All you need is a simple set of chalk pastels, construction paper, and Nana’s video art lessons! Add in some tasty treats, and you have a teatime even a Wookie would love!

Marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! Fun celebrations for Mother's Day, May the 4th and more!

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day – You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members have a special art lesson to paint for mothers and grandmothers and all of the very special women in your lives.

Garden of Gethsemane art lesson

National Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer – “an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation.” Choose from any of Nana’s many Bible and Hymns art lessons.

Cinco de Mayo

For your Cinco de Mayo studies, enjoy painting a map of Central and South America! Did you know Nana has maps 🗺 of all the continents — and SO much more? Oh the learning adventures and travels you can enjoy!

Marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! Fun celebrations for Mother's Day, May the 4th and more!
Easy Acrylic Painting with Nana

How Does Your Garden Grow – Backyard Nature

Plant a Garden and Enjoy Backyard Nature Study – Art and Nature Study for Your Homeschool. Discover the beauty of art and nature study in your homeschool and help your children explore the simple joys of the outdoors. There is so much to marvel about in God’s great creation!

All Creatures Great and Small Spring Art Celebration – Perfect for commemorating spring, Nana’s spring homeschool nature study with art explores all creatures great and small and all things bright and beautiful! These nature-inspired art lessons are easy and fun for the whole family!

Backyard Creatures Art Lessons

Squirrel! Paint this rascal and change up his coloring according to the squirrels you have in your area. Included in Nana’s Backyard Nature art lessons in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse.

Homeschool Fine Arts

The Beauty of Art, Music and Nature Study in Your Homeschool – Learning art and music history is very important, as is learning about the world right outside our door. Now you can quickly and seamlessly include the beauty of art, music, and nature in your homeschool.

World Turtle Day

Enjoy a Turtle Nature Study from our sister site, Homeschool Nature Study. Learn about pond life, pondweed and a pond habitat with this fun turtle nature study for your homeschool. Includes activities for learning about tortoises and microscopic pond life too.

Visit the Ocean with an Ocean Study with Art

Take your kids on an ocean study under the sea and up on shore with a combination of books and art to spark the imagination! Majestic Ocean Study

Homeschool Science

Hands On Homeschool Science Lessons

As much as we can observe so much of the human body’s wonder from the outside, it’s a million times more astounding to consider what goes on at the cellular level! Enjoy Small But Mighty Cell Activities and A Microscopic World Study.

Homeschool History Art Lessons

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!

Enjoy Nana’s ‘America’ (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) hymn lesson and Dawn’s accompanying hymn study in the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse! Photo by Erin Vincent

Art Activities for Every Month of the Year

Look ahead to ALL the art activities for homeschooling you can enjoy every month of the year:

Memorial Day

What better way to learn about the flag and remember its importance than to paint it? The Art of Patriotism – I am so grateful for our freedom and the blessings that come from living in the United States of America. While I am grateful every day, upcoming holidays make me spend more time reflecting on those blessings and the art of patriotism.

Marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! Fun celebrations for Mother's Day, May the 4th and more!

Summer Art Camp Kick Off

Are you looking for a summer art camp for your kiddo this year? How about an online summer art camp chocked full of artful activities? With just a little bit of planning you can create an online summer camp right from the comfort of your own home! An Online Summer Art Camp Perfect for All Ages

Marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! Fun celebrations for Mother's Day, May the 4th and more!

Homeschool Art Lessons for the Whole Family with You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse

Build beautiful memories while having fun painting today around the kitchen table. Marvelous May homeschool art activities for all ages!

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse Today!

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 by

The Ultimate List of Holiday Activities For Elementary School

A fun art project is a perfect way to celebrate a holiday! These holiday activities for elementary school will give you opportunities to make memories in your homeschool journey. 

We believe sometimes pushing everything off the kitchen table and pulling out a project is just what everyone needs.

Holiday activities for elementary school with opportunities to make memories in your homeschool journey. Perfect way to celebrate!

The Ultimate List of Holiday Activities For Elementary School

Enjoy this list of holiday activities for homeschool by month and by holiday. We will be adding to this list throughout the year!

January Activities

January Homeschool Art Activities – These January homeschool art activities will keep you going through the coldest month of the year with fun, indoor projects for all ages.

Activities For February

February Homeschool Art Activities You Will Love! – Valentines Day, Groundhog Day, Great Backyard Bird Count, Presidents Day

The Best Presidents Day Lessons for Your Homeschool – Presidents’ Day should really be referred to as President’s month if you are a homeschooler! Am I right? We can’t cram all of that good stuff into one day. It’s impossible; there are way too many interesting facts and rabbit trails to explore. 

St. Patrick's Day unit study with holiday activities for elementary school

Activities For Holidays In March

March Homeschool Art Activities – Add a beautiful layer of education with art! With these March homeschool art activities you can celebrate spring, St. Patrick’s Day, Van Gogh’s birthday and more!

Here are a few ideas for using chalk pastel lessons to teach the Resurrection with kids. You could use these ideas in your homeschool, in a Sunday School, or for family devotional time. Perhaps spread them through the Lenten weeks, or use them for a concentrated study during the Holy Week.

April Activities

Awesome April Homeschool Art Activities – Build beautiful memories with your family with these awesome April homeschool activities. Find art lessons for Easter, famous artists, Earth Day, plus mini moments for homeschool moms and more spring homeschool ideas! Don’t miss the new I Drew It Then I Knew It Science course too!

Eric Carle and Very Hungry Caterpillar Day – Here you will find everything you need for a famous artist Eric Carle homeschool study.

May The 4th Activities

May the 4th Be With You – This fun Star Wars chalk pastel teatime with Nana is the perfect way to celebrate your kiddo’s love for all things Star Wars! The Star Wars-themed lessons are super easy to follow and are ideal for all ages. All you need is a simple set of chalk pastels, construction paper, and Nana’s video art lessons! Add in some tasty treats, and you have a teatime even a Wookie would love!

Marvelous May Homeschool Art Activities – These marvelous May homeschool art activities will keep the fun going throughout the month! You can include beautiful blooming flowers for your nature studies, celebrate mothers, use the force for May the 4th Be With You and paint an American flag for Memorial Day.

Holiday activities for elementary school with opportunities to make memories in your homeschool journey. Perfect way to celebrate!

Summer Holiday Activities

Summer Art Camp for All Ages – Are you looking for a summer art camp for your kiddo this year? How about an online summer art camp chocked full of artful activities? With just a little bit of planning you can create an online summer camp right from the comfort of your own home!

June Activities

June Homeschool Activities Perfect for Summer Fun – Summer! Do you feel it too? These June homeschool art activities for summer fun will help you kick off summer break and keep any mention of boredom at bay! You can include Nana’s new earthworm lesson for your nature studies, celebrate fathers, go to “infinity and beyond” with Buzz Lightyear for the new Lightyear movie and travel American Landmarks and national parks. Let’s start the fun!

July Activities

July Homeschool Art Activities – What a celebratory month July is! With these July homeschool art activities, you can celebrate Independence Day, Shark Week, blueberry month, famous authors birthdays, National Ice Cream Day, Moon Day and MORE!

Here is everything you need to create a moon missions unit study that will blast off! Includes art, books, and even snacks for learning.

Moon Missions Anniversaries and Space Camp – This is a perfect time of year to learn about the moon in your homeschool. Here is everything you need to create a homeschool moon missions unit study that will blast off!

The Art of Patriotism – I am so grateful for our freedom and the blessings that come from living in the United States of America. While I am grateful every day, upcoming holidays make me spend more time reflecting on those blessings and the art of patriotism.

Shark Week – Do your kids love sharks? Are you getting ready for shark week? Then let Nana take you under the sea with chalk pastels shark art for kids! These easy-to-follow video homeschool lessons will teach you and your child how to draw some of the most exciting sharks using chalk pastels.

September Art Activities

Talk Like a Pirate Day – Ahoy Matey! Talk Like A Pirate Day is the perfect opportunity to add a bit of fun to your homeschool. Do you know what a pirate’s favorite subject is? Arrrrrt! Get it? Arrrr. See what I did there? But seriously, there are plenty of creative ideas to add to your homeschool day, and some of them count as educational. So, let’s plan a day or afternoon in your homeschool that the kids will never forget!

October Activities

Pumpkin Art Lessons Perfect for Fall Homeschooling – Just in time for fall,  these fun and engaging art projects are perfect for your homeschool! Take a look at all the different options available as you create your own homeschool pumpkin themed study.

Columbus Day – paint a tall ship to celebrate American history.

Activities For November Holidays

Veterans Day Homeschool Activities and Resources – Whether you know a military member personally or not, there are several activities and ideas you can use to help children recognize and honor our veterans. 

Holiday activities for elementary school with opportunities to make memories in your homeschool journey. Perfect way to celebrate!

Thanksgiving Homeschool Lessons – Draw Your Way Through the Story – Here are some ideas and resources to help you plan some time to dive all into learning about Thanksgiving and creating your own homeschool traditions. 

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Homeschool Art Activities – I am a big fan of tradition, and there are some that I want to pass down to my children. I recall watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving as a child so many times. It became a tradition to watch the beloved special each holiday season. 

December Art Activities

Pearl Harbor Day – These modern history art lessons are perfect for adding a bit of art to your homeschool history studies! These lessons are also excellent for history buffs, young and old.

Holiday activities for elementary school with opportunities to make memories in your homeschool journey. Perfect way to celebrate!

Christmas Book to Movie Homeschool Activities Your Kids Will Love! Check out this festive list of Christmas books made into movies – with homeschool activities your kids will love! Now your kids can re-create their favorite book characters and movie scenes with chalk pastels!

The Ultimate List of Christmas Homeschool Art Lessons – St. Nicholas Day, St. Lucia Day, Christmas and more! Enjoy this ultimate list of Christmas Homeschool Art Lessons! Christmas homeschooling allows us to focus on the real reason for the season. And you can do that in so many ways. We will give many resources to choose from and help you customize your perfect Christmas school day, week, or month.

Winter Solstice Homeschool Art – Celebrate the winter solstice with your kids with chalk pastels winter themed art! They are easy and fun for the whole family. A perfect addition to your winter homeschooling!

Winter Homeschool Snowflake Study – This winter homeschool snowflake study combines the beauty of winter with the fascinating life of Snowflake Bentley.

Boys point at computer screen with art lesson calendar shown

More Elementary School Learning Options

You will also love these fun elementary homeschool activities!

10 Ways to Effortless Add Art to Your Homeschool Any Time of Year – Whether you are a serious planner mom or a spontaneous fun family, we have some ideas to share with you. Because art can be the cherry on top of all your learning at home and kids thrive when they can use their hands and exercise their creativity! 

Art Activities for Every Month of the Year

Look ahead to ALL the art activities for homeschooling you can enjoy every month of the year:

You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse for Homeschool Art Lessons for the Whole Year!

Plan art for every day with the Art Lesson Calendar for members. Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse for access to endless art lessons for holiday activities for elementary school and the whole family throughout the year.

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse Today!

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 by

Awesome April Homeschool Art Activities

Build beautiful memories with your family with these awesome April homeschool activities. Find art lessons for Easter, famous artists, Earth Day, plus mini moments for homeschool moms and more spring homeschool ideas! Don’t miss the new I Drew It Then I Knew It Science course too!

Awesome April Homeschool Art Activities

Easter Homechool Art Lessons

  • Draw Your Way Through the Resurrection Story with Art – You could use these ideas in your homeschool, in a Sunday School, or for home church or family devotional time. Perhaps spread them through the Lenten weeks, or use them for a concentrated study during the Holy Week.
  • Easter Art Lessons That Will Make For a Memorable Time – Whether you want to experience Easter with your family through Lent, Holy Week, or Easter Sunday, we have something for you. Because studying Easter is not only Biblically rich but history-rich. There is so much to learn! 
  • NEW Resurrection Morning (Women at the Tomb) – Jamie shares, “Let’s recount this glorious day with Nana and paint absolute JOY, as she shares her heavenly concept painting, Resurrection Morning. Bursting with warm and soft colors, join Nana as she takes you into the twilight of the morning, and recreates “the joy both Marys found going to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning”. This most beautiful, treasured scene is Nana’s depiction of one of her favorite childhood Bible stories found in Matthew 28.”
  • A Beautiful Easter Hymn Study For Your Homeschool – Join us for a beautiful Easter hymn study for your homeschool and video art lessons to match! Music and art help us all to connect learning with a special holiday plus build sweet memories together as a family.
  • NEW! Philip the Disciple lesson adds to Nana’s Disciples of Christ New Testament series – 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. 
  • How to Plan an Awesome Home Bible Study for Kids – 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.

Spring Homeschool Ideas

In addition to Nana’s Spring Art Celebration, she continues to add new homeschool art lessons to her Spring Clubhouse membership lessons. These include a Spring Splendor Walk, a redbud (or other) spring tree, the parts of a daffodil and a roly poly bug!

Backyard Flowers Art Activities

Give Nana’s Daisy art lesson a try! This is a fun lesson Nana taught her grandchildren and her daughter, Tricia – right around Tricia’s kitchen table.

Suggested Chalk Pastel Art Supplies: your choice of colored construction paper (You might choose to cut your construction paper in half – hooray for saving paper!) – our artists used blue, pink and dark blue. Plus white, yellow, brown, green, light green, blue, light blue and orange chalk pastel colors.

More Flowers Art Lessons

Leonardo da Vinci’s Birthday April 15th

This Leonardo da Vinci homeschool art lesson introduces his works of art and allows your child to create a Mona Lisa of their own! A perfect way to celebrate this artist master’s birthday: Leonardo da Vinci Homeschool Art Lesson Perfect for All Ages.

Earth Day Homeschool Art Lessons

What a beautiful view of our planet! You can paint this scene with Nana’s continuing series of space art lessons! In fact, you can plan an entire Space Art Camp at Home!

Shakespeare’s Birthday April 23rd

Did you know that Nana has a Globe Theatre art lesson for all things Shakespeare? Yes! Find it in our I Drew It Then I Knew It Literature series in the Complete Clubhouse.

Lovely Literature Homeschool Art Lessons

Announcing these awesome April homeschool art activities! Jane Austen art lessons featuring Pride and Prejudice and Miss Elizabeth Bennet! These lessons are available for Complete Clubhouse members in the continuing Literature series. Study the Excellent Literary Works of Jane Austen for High School!

Art Lessons for Homeschool Moms

Whether you have 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or more, take the time to recharge your spirit with these mini moments for the homeschool mom. Even busy moms can appreciate the simplicity and ease of chalk pastels. No super long supply list is needed! Mini Moments for Homeschool Moms

Arbor Day April 29th

Easy seasonal tree art with Nana is a perfect way to celebrate the four seasons or add to your next tree nature study! This year round seasonal tree study for your homeschool includes Spring, summer, fall, and winter all in a mix of chalk pastel and acrylic paintings. These lessons are perfect for kids and adults alike. So, sit back, and let Nana guide you through the four seasons with trees. A Year Round Seasonal Tree Study For Your Homeschool

April Artist Studies for Homeschool

April is a great time to explore famous artists in your homeschool! From Picasso to Pippin, Bob Ross to Winston Churchill, Monet to Van Gogh – Nana has them all!

Hands On Geography Homeschool Lessons

It’s important to keep map work light and exciting for kids, allowing them to nearly immediately apply what they are learning to a discussion or activity. Build their knowledge base with these living lessons and activities. Then let that knowledge naturally extend in their older years into deeper conversations and connections. Here are a bunch of ideas in Engaging Charlotte Mason Geography Activities for Homeschool.

Hands On Science Homeschool Lessons

We are excited to announce I Drew It Then I Knew It Science! You KNOW how much Nana loves maps! This is a new way to map and diagram with fantastic, hands on lessons with art! STEAM learning just got better with diagrams of:

  • the microscopic world
  • plant life
  • anatomy
  • da Vinci’s Vitruvian man
  • Newton’s light prism

There is even a lab-coated scientist! What a fun way to learn with Nana’s continuing series for You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse members!

Shawna shares, “I learned a long time ago that my son learns best with a multi-sensory approach. His comprehension and retention is so much greater when we focus on the more experiential aspects of a particular topic.

The problem is, sometimes, it’s really challenging to find ways to engage his need for hands-on learning. In fact, for many years, I spent hours scouring the internet, looking for creative ways to enhance our textbook learning.” Why Art is an Essential Part of Science in Our Homeschool.

You Will Also Love These April Homeschool Activities

For even more April homeschool art activities, check out these homeschool resources as well:

Art Activities for Every Month of the Year

Look ahead to ALL the art activities for homeschooling you can enjoy every month of the year:

Homeschool Art Lessons for the Whole Family with You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse

Enjoy access to ALL of Nana’s video art lessons from preschool to high school with a You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse membership.

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse Today!
Build beautiful memories with awesome April homeschool art activities. Easter, famous artists, Earth Day, plus more spring homeschool ideas!

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 by

March Homeschool Art Activities

A beautiful layer of education with art! These March homeschool art activities help you celebrate spring, St. Patrick's Day, Van Gogh's birthday and more!

Add a beautiful layer of education with art! With these March homeschool art activities and spring homeschool ideas, you can celebrate Lent, St. Patrick’s Day, Dr. Seuss and Van Gogh’s birthday and more! Nana has human anatomy science lessons to add to her continuing series as well.

Spring Homeschool Ideas and Spring Homeschool Art Lessons

A beautiful layer of education with art! These March homeschool art activities help you celebrate spring, St. Patrick's Day, Van Gogh's birthday and more!

Perfect for commemorating spring, Nana’s spring homeschool nature study with art explores all creatures great and small and all things bright and beautiful! These nature-inspired art lessons are easy and fun for the whole family! Including a NEW Spring Splendor Nature Walk art lesson.

More Spring Homeschool Resources You Will Like: First Day of Spring: Simple Ways to Study Nature in Your Homeschool from our sister site, Homeschool Nature Study – We are excited to get started on this first day of spring with simple ways to study nature and a fresh set of homeschool nature study ideas. It hardly seems possible that we are at the beginning of another spring season but here we go! We look forward to another season of encouraging nature study. Have fun and get outdoors with your children! (Including a FREE Set of Getting Started in Homeschool Nature Study Guide)

March Homeschool Art Activities You Will Love

So much to enjoy!

The mighty Aslan with Nana’s Narnia lessons
Baby Animals Lessons

March In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb?

In like a lion, out like a lamb! With Nana’s lessons in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse, you can literally choose exactly what you would like to complement the learning already happening in your homeschool.

Celebrate Yellowstone National Park's anniversary on March 1st with homeschool art lessons.
Trekking American Landmarks with art! Photo by Erin Vincent.

March 1st – Yellowstone National Park Anniversary – 2022 marked the 150th anniversary of the founding of Yellowstone! Celebrate this American treasure with these art lessons in membership:

Yellowstone National Park Homeschool Lessons

Celebrate America’s first National Park with art!

  • President Grant (signed into law this first national park) – Presidents series
  • Theodore Roosevelt (for Roosevelt Arch at the north entrance) Presidents series
  • Yellowstone Falls – American Landmarks
  • Old Faithful (and a buffalo!) – American Landmarks
  • Grand Tetons (the beautiful, neighboring park on Yellowstone’s southern border) – American Landmarks
  • Plus these animal nature lessons – bald eagle, bear, chipmunk, beaver, rainbow trout
  • And maybe for your travels: camping with tent, open road with mountains (Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory hymn lesson)
Cat in the Hat A beautiful layer of education with art! These March homeschool art activities help you celebrate spring, St. Patrick's Day, Van Gogh's birthday and more!

Dr. Seuss Homeschool Lessons – Read Across America

Dr. Seuss Day with Chalk Pastels – You can try this lesson for free. 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!

Easter Art Lessons -A beautiful layer of education with art! These March homeschool art activities help you celebrate spring, St. Patrick's Day, Van Gogh's birthday and more!

Lent and Easter Homeschool Lessons

If your ready to start planning for your Easter art lessons, join Courtney as she provides resources and tools to make this special time memorable with your children of all ages!

Here are a few ideas for using chalk pastel art lessons to teach the Resurrection with kids. You could use these ideas in your homeschool, in a Sunday School, or for home church or family devotional time. Perhaps spread them through the Lenten weeks, or use them for a concentrated study during the Holy Week.

March Homeschool Art Activities for Easter and Lent

5 Easter and Lent Activities Perfect for Tweens and Teens – What if I told you You ARE an ARTiST offers Easter activities perfect for tweens and teens and suitable for all ages? Nana also has a brand new art lesson appropriate just for your tween or teen!

Interested in a hymn study? Dawn shares hymns perfect for Resurrection Day and art that pairs so gorgeously with those wondrous, life-giving words.

These Beautiful Easter Nature Studies are another fun and hands on way to celebrate the resurrection!

Disciples of Christ Bible Homeschool Art Lessons

Nana has brand new lessons releasing to our You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members over the next weeks! There are lessons for all 12 disciples. A Disciples of Christ Unit Study for Your Homeschool. A great way to begin adding Bible study into your daily homeschool routine might be to start with Lent or Holy Week leading up to Easter. Lent is a 40-day period observed by Christians to commemorate the forty days that Jesus fasted in the desert. You can find the full story in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. By reading the Bible and studying all that led up to the Resurrection of Christ, you and your children can build a solid habit of reading God’s Word together.

You also will want to use these great resources Courtney shared for How to Plan an Awesome Home Bible Study for Kids.

St. Patrick's Day unit study - Add a beautiful layer of education with art! With these March homeschool art activities you can celebrate spring, March holidays, Van Gogh's birthday and more!

St. Patrick’s Day Homeschool Art Activities

The Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Unit Study with Art – St. Patrick’s Day is full of educational goodness, and it’s so much fun to celebrate with kids. We can’t wait to share all of these ideas with you. Not only shamrocks but Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Pi Day - A beautiful layer of education with art! These March homeschool art activities help you celebrate spring, St. Patrick's Day, Van Gogh's birthday and more!

Pi Day Activities and Homeschool Lessons

Celebrate with a yummy fudge pie painting AND Nana’s fudge pie recipe!

periodic table art lessons

Hands on Homeschool Science – The Periodic Table

There’s a saying that goes, “What in the world ISN’T Chemistry?” because everything we see is made up of elements (not necessarily as pure elements, but in their ionic, compound, and mixture forms!). Showing kids where they are most likely to encounter each element makes learning chemistry memorable and practical. Enjoy Nana’s lessons and Julie’s The Periodic Table: Fun Activities for Kids!

human anatomy step-by-step art activities

Human Anatomy Step-by-Step Art Activities

Nana recently added both the Lungs and Respiratory System plus the Circulatory System to her continuing human anatomy series. Help your child get excited about homeschool anatomy with these activities for hands on science! Diagram a cell, a bacterium, the human eye, the human heart and more!

Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice Literature Art Lessons

Nana has new I Drew It Then I Knew It Literature art lessons celebrating Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice! In addition, You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse members enjoy a new Jane Austen lesson with writing prompts in the accompanying Literature Guide. Learn more about The Power of Adding Art to Literature Lessons. You will also love these ideas for How to Host a Jane Austen Movie Night for Homeschool Moms.

Charlotte's Web Homeschool Art Lessons

Barn Animals Arts and Crafts

Everybody loves Charlotte’s Web! Charlotte’s Web is a fantastic elementary read-aloud, and I am so excited to share some art & tea time ideas to help you plan something memorable for your homeschool too. Nana has art lessons for Charlotte, Wilbur, barn animals and farm life.

Preschool Baby Animals and Barnyard Lessons

Your youngest artists can definitely get in on the action with the barn animals lessons and preschool baby animals lessons! Paint a chicken, a cow, a pig and a sheep with Nana! Make Time for Preschool Art in Your Homeschool!

Ocean Study for Homeschool

So, whether you live by the seashore or hundreds of miles away, you can still enjoy an ocean unit study with all the depth and excitement of the open ocean and the color of a coral reef! A Majestic Ocean Study Perfect for Your Homeschool.

Learn About Artist Vincent Van Gogh – His Birthday is March 30

Celebrate famous artist Vincent Van Gogh! This homeschool study includes everything you need for a hands-on approach to learning about Van Gogh with Nana’s art lessons, her podcast and a Van Gogh fine arts unit study. You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse members enjoy them all!

Grade 3 Homeschool Fine Arts

You ARE an ARTiST’s art, and music appreciation program is designed for busy homeschooling families. Our art & music appreciation plans organize a variety of resources so you can open the schedule and, with little preparation, offer your child experiences with famous artists and composers. See a list of the artists and composers included, view a sample and find out more Grade 3 Famous Artists and Composers.

Art Activities for Every Month of the Year

Look ahead to ALL the art activities for homeschooling you can enjoy every month of the year:

A beautiful layer of education with art! These March homeschool art activities help you celebrate spring, St. Patrick's Day, Van Gogh's birthday and more!

You might also like these March Homeschool Activities

For even more March homeschool art activities, check out these homeschool resources as well:

Nana would LOVE to see photos of your art time and your finished paintings! Please share on social media and tag us on Instagram @chalkpastelart – Nana would love to comment!

Homeschool Art Lessons for the Whole Family with You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse

Enjoy access to ALL of Nana’s video art lessons from preschool to high school with a You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse membership.

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse Today!

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 by

February Homeschool Art Activities You Will Love

This is a fun month to fill with February homeschool art activities to help you celebrate each day and look forward to spring. We have gathered our favorites for homeschool families to get you ready for a fabulous February!

Groundhog Day Lesson for Your Homeschool

Groundhog day - This is a fun month to fill with February homeschool art activities to help you celebrate each day and look forward to spring. We have gathered our favorites for homeschool families to get you ready for a fabulous February!

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! Enjoy Nana’s FREE groundhog day art lesson to celebrate.

Because art and nature are a perfect combination, you might like these 10 Fun Groundhog Day Nature Study Activities too!

Norman Rockwell art lesson - This is a fun month to fill with February homeschool art activities to help you celebrate each day and look forward to spring. We have gathered our favorites for homeschool families to get you ready for a fabulous February!

Artist Norman Rockwell’s Birthday – February 3

How would you like to visit with famous artist Norman Rockwell, known as “America’s Artist” while he paints one of his most iconic scenes from the “Four Freedoms” series: Freedom from Want! Yep, you will sit at a festive Thanksgiving table, set with the best china, the best dinner guests and have a happy time? Come on, that turkey leg looks like it is all yours! Enjoy Nana’s Norman Rockwell podcast and art lesson.

Learn about the Winter Games with these homeschool lessons.

Winter Games Activities for Your Homeschool

Your sports fan will enjoy these homeschool resources for learning about Winter Olympics! The Games are a great opportunity for all kinds of hands on art activities and fun around a favorite sport: Homeschool Resources For Learning About the Winter Olympics.

The Winter games are not just fun to watch, but it’s also an educational event you can discover in your homeschool! Chalk Pastel has so many video art lessons that serve as wonderful introductions to the Winter Games. Clubhouse members can enjoy the I Drew It Then I Knew It workbook. The workbook offers a planner, questions, and fun facts and interesting details about the most popular Summer and Winter Games events. 

If your family plans to enjoy watching the Winter Games, there is also a Games Medal Count printable in the workbook, so you can track your favorite countries achievements!

February homeschool art activities to help you celebrate each day and look forward to spring. Our favorites for homeschool families.

Football Art Lesson for the Super Bowl

Speaking of sports, in celebration of your favorite team, enjoy this football video art lesson with Nana! YOU are the artist, so feel free to add the field, the fans, and your favorite team colors. All things fun for football season, a play off or championship game or the Super Bowl.

Black History Month Homeschool Art Lessons

Take a tour of homeschool art lessons great for African American Heritage month. You can start with Famous Artist Horace Pippin, Jazz composers in Nana’s continuing Composers series or Civil War homeschool lessons with Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. Nana also has a wonderful art lesson on Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his famous I Have a Dream Speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in her I Drew It Then I Knew It modern history series.

Little House On The Prairie Homeschool

Valentines Day Homeschool Art Activities

Little House on the Prairie Homeschool Activities You’ll Love – You can pair some heart-shaped sugar cookies and tea or milk with this sweet Little House art tutorial with Nana. We think this one is perfect for a Valentine’s Day tea too. You can find it in Nana’s Master Classes, it’s included in a complete Clubhouse Membership.

A Fun Hands On Unit Study for Valentines Day – Did you know that Nana has some lovely Valentine’s Day art for you and your kiddos to enjoy? All you’ll need is a simple set of chalk pastels and a pack of construction paper!

You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members will enjoy a NEW, live Valentine art lesson. Replay available!

February homeschool art activities to help you celebrate each day and look forward to spring. Our favorites for homeschool families.

Draw a Heart for Valentine’s Day Learning

Help your child get excited about homeschool anatomy with these activities for hands on science! Diagram a cell, a bacterium, the human eye, the human heart and more!

Presidents Day Art Projects

The Best Presidents Day Art Projects for Your Homechool

Presidents’ Day should really be referred to as President’s month if you are a homeschooler! Am I right? We can’t cram all of that good stuff into one day. It’s impossible; there are way too many interesting facts and rabbit trails to explore. The Best Presidents Day Art Projects for Your Homeschool

Great Backyard Bird Count - This is a fun month to fill with February homeschool art activities to help you celebrate each day and look forward to spring. We have gathered our favorites for homeschool families to get you ready for a fabulous February!

Great Backyard Bird Count Homeschool Lessons and Art Activities

A chalk pastels bird study with Nana is a wonderful way to introduce bird art lessons in your homeschool. Chalk pastels are perfect for preschoolers to adults. They are super easy to use with no long art supply list needed. You’ll love adding these vibrant birds to your next homeschool nature study or in preparation for the Great Backyard Bird Count! Chalk Pastels Bird Study with Nana plus Famous Artist John James Audubon Homeschool Lesson.

Art Activities for Every Month of the Year

Look ahead to ALL the art activities for homeschooling you can enjoy every month of the year:

February homeschool art activities to help you celebrate each day and look forward to spring. Our favorites for homeschool families.

You might also like these February homeschool activities

For even more February homeschool art activities, check out these resources as well:

You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse Membership For All Access

Join the Complete Clubhouse for access to ALL 800+ of Nana’s art lessons for all ages. I Drew It Then I Knew It, bird studies, holiday fun, spring splendor and more!

Find Out More About You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse Membership with Nana HERE!

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 sister sites Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice..

Posted on by

A Winter Homeschool Snowflake Study With Snowflake Bentley

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

This winter homeschool snowflake study combines the beauty of winter with the fascinating life of Snowflake Bentley.

In our part of New England, the arrival of the first snow is greatly anticipated. It can happen as early as October or as late as January. We watch the sky and weather reports eagerly for this delightful precipitation. 

What is this somewhat magical weather phenomenon that turns ordinary dreary rainfall into a puffy playscape for kids of all ages? 

It seems hard to believe it’s simply the temperature dropping! Yet, it really is that simple. Let the red line drop below thirty-two degrees and our dreams of a white winter crystalize into reality! Our breath plumes white to match the snow, and suddenly the world is renewed! 

In our house, my boys have their boots on as soon as there’s a skim of snow to make tracks in. Snow angels, snowmen, snow ball fights, and sledding take up hours of their time until they’ve quite worn the snow out!

Whether you get snow in your area or not, you can create a winter snowflake study of this beautiful white fluffy stuff in your homeschool this year! Just gather a few simple materials to show your kids the wonder of these winter crystals.

“The snow crystals . . . come to us not only to reveal the wondrous beauty of the minute in Nature, but to teach us that all earthly beauty is transient and must soon fade way. But though the beauty of the snow is evanescent, like the beauties of the autumn, as of the evening sky, it fades but to come again.” ― Wilson A. Bentley

Learning About Snowflakes

There is no person better to start learning about snowflakes from than the man who dedicated his life to capturing these ephemeral water-stars. 

Wilson Bentley of Vermont said, “… from the beginning, it was the snowflakes that fascinated me most.” We agree, snowflakes are simply mesmerizing!

Wilson Bentley’s website contains a rich and lengthy biography, as well as several articles about snowflakes written by Bentley himself. Bookmark this site for some “mother culture” reading time as you plan your homeschool snowflake study. Bentley’s articles are written with as much beauty as their subject matter. 

Snowflake Bentley Homeschool Read Aloud

As the first person to ever capture a snowflake’s intricacy on camera, Wilson Bentley’s passion for snowflakes earned him the nickname “Snowflake Bentley.” His story is best enjoyed in the picture book by the same name. 

This read-aloud book is distinctive in that it uses two side-by-side narratives to share Snowflake Bentley’s story. The narrative under the woodcut illustrations lyrically tells the story of Bentley’s life and passion for snow. The margin text adds facts and scientific details that help the reader understand the excitement and importance of Bentley’s work. 

Bentley grew from a young boy who loved snow to a teenager who pursued his passions to a young man who determinedly persevered through failures. He knew there were “treasures in the snow” and he would gift these treasures to the world. 

And so he did. After decades of effort, he had a vast collection of snowflake photos compiled into a book: Snow Crystals. From passionate child to “snowflake authority” figure, Snowflake Bentley’s story is both endearing and insightful. 

Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind.” — Wilson Bentley

A Snowflake Bentley Study For All Ages In Your Homeschool

After reading about the startling beauty of snowflakes, children will definitely want to explore more! 

My boys took turns creating chalk pastel paintings to celebrate all things snow.

winter snowflake study
winter snowflake study

We started with the lesson on Snowflake Bentley and his camera. This lesson is perfect for older students because it’s a bit more intricate. 

The preschool lesson on snowflakes in Snow Clubhouse is short and sweet and delightful for beginners or younger students. Even a few minutes of painting with Nana helps kids to pause for a moment and consider the wonder of these tiny, transient winter gems. Nana’s patient instruction guides kids to wonder at the uniqueness of snowflakes as they draw. 

Bird in Snow is the perfect lesson to connect snowflakes to wildlife in your backyard – plus it uses black paper like Bentley’s black snowflake tray! The contrast of the chalk pastels on different colored backgrounds is stunning. 

winter snowflake study

My youngest painted Welcome Winter Snowman to celebrate the fun we can all enjoy with snowflakes! 

winter snowflake study

More Winter Homeschooling Resources

These snowy treasures of Bentley’s are well-celebrated in Nana’s Chalk Pastel lessons! Check out the ideas in this Winter Solstice celebration post. 

From a snowflake study, you can move easily to exploring other winter weather topics. Enjoy lessons on frosted leaves, icicles, beautiful frozen winter lakes at midnight and more with Nana. Your kids will see how snow, with its delicate, icy touch, creates beauty in all aspects of wintertime. 

Along with our chalk pastel lessons, we added in a few other hands-on craft activities. 

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse Today to Access ALL of Nana’s Winter Art Lessons!
winter snowflake study

We were blessed beyond delight when the morning after painting our snow pictures with Nana, we had a suddenly snowfall! I handed out black construction paper and we rushed out to play Snowflake Bentley and collect our own snow crystals. Although I’m no photographer like he was, I managed to snap a few closeups to capture the detail of a handful of our flakes. 

The boys and I studied my photos later, commenting on the shapes, edges, and variety in our small sampling. When we draw attention to the fleeting beauty of snow, we’re teaching children to pay attention to even the smallest of things. This skill of noticing is foundational to keep our children enthralled with learning.

Later in the week, the boys and I made snowflakes. Snowflake cutouts can be simple and fun to make. Since my husband’s family is Polish, every so often, we attempt the Polish paper cutting technique of Gwiazdy (or, stars). Very similar to cutting paper snowflakes, but with more detailed cut-out designs. Just like snowflakes, no two are ever the same, no matter how we might try! 

winter snowflake study

We also designed snowflakes out of pipe cleaners. Extend this activity into a science lesson by making your own snow crystals! Kids can make actual crystal structures using a borax solution (especially wondrous if you live in an area that won’t have snow). 

You might also enjoy a Silent Winter Snow Walk using your senses. Find out how with our sister site, Homeschool Nature Study’s Outdoor Hour Challenge Instagram post!

However you choose to study snowflakes, whether reading, painting, or crafting, there is no doubt snowflakes are one of nature’s most beautiful wonders. The melt-away beauty of snowflakes never fails to melt hearts of nature lovers everywhere.

Of all the forms of water the tiny six-pointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied. – Wilson Bentley

Julie is a teacher, writer and homeschool mom. Her blog Happy Strong Home shares encouragement for cherishing children, enjoying motherhood, and growing strong families. Discover homeschool resources, natural living tips, and family activity ideas. Julie has been featured on Million Praying Moms, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, and the Melissa and Doug blog. She offers writing workshops and a “homeschool neighborhood” community to support parents in their homeschool adventures. Find Julie on Instagram to be the first to know when new workshops and community events are available. 

Posted on by

January Homeschool Art Activities

These January homeschool art activities will keep you going through the coldest month of the year with fun, indoor projects for all ages.

January is the perfect time to enjoy winter homeschool art activities. The winter section of the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse includes frost, icicles, a frozen lake, bird in snow, a winter forest and more!

winter homeschool art lessons at You ARE an ARTiST include frost, frozen lake, winter forest and more!

Looking for an acrylic art lesson? Nana shares a winter acrylic tree reflection you will love!

January Homeschool Art Activities

Each January, Nana shares art lessons to match your favorite books! The January homeschool is all about art and literature in an I Drew It Then I Knew It style. Find a full list of ALL of the literature lessons in Engaging Homeschool Literature Activities Your Kids Will Love! and The Power of Adding Art to Literature Lessons.

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

A Winter Snowflake Study For Your Homeschool with Snowflake Bentley

Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind.

— Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley

Why not make paper snowflakes, catch snowflakes on black construction paper and then learn about Snowflake Bentley with Nana’s NEW lesson? Find it in the Winter section of the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse. Find ALL the wonderful learning ideas from Julie and her artists in their A Winter Snowflake Study for Your Homeschool.

This Homeschool Moon Unit Study is Out of This World

Moon activities, books, and fun art lessons for all ages! Learn about moon phases and more with this homeschool moon unit study! Homeschool Moon Unit Study by Erin.

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day - These January homeschool art activities will keep you going through the coldest month of the year with fun, indoor projects for all ages.

Homeschool Lessons For Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Are you looking for Martin Luther King Jr. lessons and activities for your children? Here are some excellent resources to get you started! Plus, Nana has a wonderful chalk pastel lesson of Dr. King giving his “I have a dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial! All you’ll need is a set of chalk pastels, and white copy paper to get started!

This delightful homeschool nature study is all about Winnie The Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood. It includes book references and online art lessons, perfect for the entire family.

Winnie the Pooh for A.A. Milne’s Birthday in January

This delightful homeschool nature study is all about Winnie The Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood. It includes book references and online art lessons, perfect for the entire family. A Homeschool Nature Study With Winnie The Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood

These January homeschool art activities will keep you going through the coldest month of the year with fun, indoor projects for all ages. Little Women - Jo March art lesson

Little Women Online Art Lessons For Your Homeschool

Pair these art lessons with an all-time favorite book – Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Paint Jo March, the March sisters in their Civil War period dresses and a favorite scene reading a letter from the war front.

These January homeschool art activities will keep you going through the coldest month of the year with fun, indoor projects for all ages. Lord of the Rings

The Lord Of The Rings: A Homeschool Study To Rule Them All

“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” – Lord of The Rings. Nana has five lessons for you to enjoy! Find out more in Erin’s The Lord of the Rings Homeschool Study.

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening Tea Time

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening – Perfect for Your January Homeschool Art Activities

Always a snowy favorite for this time of year! Members enjoy a printable version of Robert Frost’s famous poem. A Snowy Evening Tea Time with Art.

Join the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse for Access to the Library of Online Art Lessons!
January Homeschool Art Activities. Your January homeschool will be filled with the best kinds of hands on learning with these online art lessons which incorporate literature, science, nature, seasonal studies and more.

Your January homeschool will be filled with the best kinds of hands on learning with these online art lessons which incorporate literature, science, nature, seasonal studies and more.

Art Activities for Every Month of the Year

Look ahead to ALL the art activities for homeschooling you can enjoy every month of the year:

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 Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.