Tag: You ARE An Artist

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Mark Twain Literature Study: Bring Adventure To Your Homeschool

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

Books By Mark Twain For Kids

Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.

Mark Twain

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

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

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

Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.

Mark Twain

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

A list of his books geared toward older kids are:

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


Mark Twain Homeschool Study

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

Mark Twain


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

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

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


Literature In Your Homeschool

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

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

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

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

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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!

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 wonderful resources to get you started! #martinlutherkingjr #MLK #civilrightsmovement #unitstudies #martinlutherkingactivities

The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an American national holiday, and it is celebrated on the third Monday of January each year. Also known as MLK, Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15th, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Michael King and Alberta King. Michael King Sr. was a Baptist Minister at Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Though they faced ugly prejudices, he and his wife endured MLK received a good education. 

At age fifteen, MLK attended Moorehouse College intending to become a doctor, but during the summers of World War II, he went off to Connecticut and picked tobacco. There he changed his mind about becoming a doctor and instead felt called to become a minister.

Did you know that MLK and Anne Frank were born the same year?

Martin Luther King Jr. went on to Crozer Seminary and became valedictorian of his class. At Crozer, MLK learned about Gandhi and that Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience had inspired Gandhi. MLK became fascinated by the ideas of nonviolent peaceful protesting.

After Crozer Seminary, King attended Boston University for his Ph.D. This made him Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Homeschool Lessons For Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Civil Rights Movement

MLK spent most of his life working to achieve justice and equality for all Americans, especially Americans of color. He helped lead marches, made speeches, and was one of the leading figures in the Civil Rights Movement.

Racial segregation was the worst in the South. Black people had to go to separate schools, drink from separate water fountains, live in separate neighborhoods, etc. King was one of many trying to bring about the change this country so desperately needed.

“..I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Homeschool Lessons For Martin Luther King Jr. Day


A Martin Luther King Jr. Homeschool Study


Unfortunately, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Children need to learn who the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was and what he stood for. He leaves a crucial legacy, and there is still much work to be done in racial equality and justice.

Books are one of my favorite ways to help my children learn about any subject. So, I gathered a collection of picture books and middle-grade books for my children and me to enjoy.

Homeschool Lessons For Martin Luther King Jr. Day


Additional Resources For Learning About Martin Luther King Jr.


Here is a list of books we used to start our unit study:

I like to start with just a few books, and then as my children’s interests expand, I’ll grab more resources on that subject.


For example, my daughter and I also watched this short clip: The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Kid President.

Homeschool Lessons For Martin Luther King Jr. Day

If you are looking for additional resources, you may be interested in the following:

Nana’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Homeschool Art Lesson

Enjoy this free, sample lesson from Nana’s Modern History Homeschool Lessons in the You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse. All you need is construction paper and a set of chalk pastels.

The Companion I Drew It Then I Knew It History workbooks are perfect jumping-off points for a quick history study! We learned 5 fast facts about MLK as well as a short biography. This workbook is available to all You ARE An Artist Complete Clubhouse members!

Homeschool Lessons For Martin Luther King Jr. Day


More Online Homeschool Art Lessons


With the You ARE An Artist Complete Clubhouse Membership, you’ll also have access to 700+ art lessons, including all of Nana’s history art courses:

I love adding the hands-on artistic aspect of chalk pastels to our history studies! It helps to solidify knowledge and add a bit of colorful fun to any subject.

Homeschool Lessons For Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a significant person in American history. His contributions resulted in the end of segregation at lunch counters, buses, and many other public places. He helped bring hope and change to a marginalized group of people. I look forward to discovering more about his life, his work, and the Civil Rights Movement as a whole with my children.

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

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Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

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.

Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff: 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. #modernhistory #modernhistoryresources #modernhistoryartlessons #pearlharbor #homeschoolartlessons #YouAREAnArtist #chalkpastels

My son has a passion for history. More specifically, he loves learning about World War II and onward. This love affair started a few years ago when he watched a documentary about D-Day. Suddenly, he couldn’t get enough. My son read all the World War II books he could find and watched all the documentaries available to him. We’ve gone to several reenactments, made our own World War II newspaper, and even made period-themed recipes! He has woven in and out of the European theater with an obsession with Great Britain. This year he is studying the Pacific theater more in-depth with various books, Wondrium lectures, and now Nana’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance art lesson.

Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

December 7th is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and in 2021 we will remember the 80th anniversary of this historic event. In 1941, a surprise attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor resulted in 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed, 2,403 Americans killed, and 1,178 others wounded.

Japan declared war on the United States and the British Empire later that day. The day after the attack, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his famous Day in Infamy speech. He also called for a formal declaration of war on Japan. On December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. Congress then issued a declaration of war against Germany and Italy later that same day. Thus, the United States officially entered World War II.

Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

One of my son’s interests regarding Pearl Harbor is the USS Arizona. 1,177 officers and crew members were lost when the USS Arizona exploded and sank during the Pearl Harbor attack.

In November 2019, my son discovered that one of the survivors of the USS Arizona was still alive AND had written a memoir about his experience.

Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

My son immediately ordered the book, and when it came in, he proceeded to mail it to Mr. Donald Stratton, asking for his autograph and providing postage to send the book back. Mr. Donald Stratton obliged and signed my son’s copy of his book.

Shortly afterward, Mr. Stratton passed away. This book is now a most treasured possession of my son.

Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

Modern History with the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership

Did you know your modern history buff will have access to 700+ chalk pastel lessons including Nana’s modern history course with the You ARE An Artist Complete Clubhouse Membership!

  • Queen Victoria’s Empire
  • Theodore Roosevelt
  • War Helmets
  • Broadcasting
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Space Exploration
  • Women’s Suffrage
  • Medical Advancements
  • Modern Literature

You’ll also have exclusive access to these art lessons:

  • Queen Elizabeth II
  • Winston Churchill
  • Big Ben and other World  + American Landmarks
  • Presidents series
  • Famous Artists and Composers continuing series
  • Literature continuing series
  • Maps continuing series
  • Plus so much more!
Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

Hands-on Modern History Lessons for Kids

Along with your favorite history books and documentaries you can now add in the hands-on resources of Nana’s art courses. While studying World War II we have enjoyed these corresponding history art lessons:

  • Winston Churchill (Modern History)
  • British Isles (Map)
  • WWII helmet (Modern History)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt (Presidents)
  • Japan (Map)
  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance (Modern History)

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.

Homeschool Art Lessons for Your Modern History Buff

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

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Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

These Ox-Cart Man activities are sure to bring this great book to life! Take a trip back to the 1800s with a New England farmer in the Ox-Cart Man. In a time when you wove your own clothes, whittled your own broom, and split your own shingles, this lyrical story takes you on a journey through the changing seasons.

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall is in picture book format. The story is beautifully illustrated by Barabara Cooney, winner of the Caldecott Medal.

Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool: Take a trip back to the 1800s with a New England farmer in the Ox-Cart Man. In a time when you wove your own clothes, whittled your own broom, and split your own shingles, this lyrical story takes you on a journey through the changing seasons. These activities are sure to bring the Ox-Cart Man to life! #chalkpastels #YouAREAnArtist #OxCartMan #OxCartManActivities #videoartlessons #homeschool #changingseasons #chalkpastelteatime

Ox-Cart Man Is A Wonderful Read Aloud

After a year of harvesting cabbages, turnips, honey, maple sugar, wool, and various other goods a farmer’s family has grown, gathered, or made, the ox-cart man loads up his cart to go and sell it for his family. He walks for ten days through the countryside before he reaches Portsmouth Market.

Ten days!

My children and I couldn’t imagine going to town once per year to buy all the things we needed. Let alone walk ten days to get there and then ten days back!

And yet, the only things the farmer bought and returned home with were:

  • A Barlow knife for his son.
  • An embroidery needle for his daughter.
  • An iron kettle for his wife.
  • Two pounds of peppermint candies for the whole family to enjoy.
Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

What better way to celebrate autumn than with a chalk pastel teatime with Nana’s new lesson and Ox-Cart Man activities? In her lesson, Nana took us step by step in creating our own carts loaded with homegrown and homemade commodities.

We added in a few of Nana’s other lessons to round out our Ox-Cart Man teatime, including:

  • Garden Honey Bees – to represent the honey the family collected
  • Baby Lamb – to represent the wool that was sheered in the spring and spun into yarn for weaving and knitting
  • Goose – to represent the goose feathers collected in the barnyard
  • Forest Path – to represent the ten days the man walked each way through forests and farmland
Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

With Nana’s seasonal tree art, you could also use this book as a springboard for chalk pastels all about changing seasons!

Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

We are not a self-sufficient family like the one in the book, except for honey. We do keep honey bees, and they provide us with enough honey to last all year as well as a little to spare. Harvesting honey is a family affair and pretty tasty too.

So, I brought up a jar of honey from the basement to add to our teatime treats.

Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

More Homeschool Lessons For Our Favorite Books

We also enjoyed the I Drew It Then I Knew It Companion Workbook exclusive to the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Literature Video Art Lessons. It contained facts about author Donald Hall as well as writing prompts and prompts for additional research!

Did you know the Ox-Cart Man was initially written as a poem?

More Homeschool Lessons For Our Favorite Books

With the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership, you’ll have exclusive access to the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Literature Video Art Lessons and IDITIKI Companion Workbook. These literature chalk pastel lessons include:

Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

Chalk Pastels and Literature

The Ox-Cart Man is rich with imagery of days gone by, and Nana has a beautiful way of bringing all the vibrance and color straight into your home with her chalk pastel lessons. Her lessons pair perfectly with some of our favorite literature! How grand to enjoy the richness and depth of the written word AND the vibrant color of art.

Ox-Cart Man Activities For Your Homeschool

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

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Why Adding Art To Your Morning Basket Makes All The Difference

A morning basket is a great opportunity for kids to learn about a variety of subjects together that you might not always get to during your regular homeschool lessons. Adding art to our morning baskets has been an awesome benefit for our homeschool lessons throughout the day. 

Starting our homeschool day with art has been a beautiful way to encourage creative thinking throughout the day. In fact, incorporating art into your homeschool lessons has tons of amazing benefits! Keep reading to discover how we are using art in our morning baskets to support our current homeschool lessons and unit studies. 

Why Adding Art To Your Morning Basket Makes All The Difference - Adding art to our morning baskets has been an awesome benefit for our homeschool lessons throughout the day.

What is a Morning Basket?

When I first heard about morning baskets, I was uncertain if I could make the method work for our family. You see, I’m not a morning person. Thankfully, morning baskets work any time of day and I’ve learned how to use a morning basket without actually being a morning person.

Since I’m not a morning person, I like to choose activities for our morning basket that don’t require me to be functioning at 100%. These are usually things my daughter enjoys and can do with relative independence. Adding video art lessons from ChalkPastel to our morning basket plans makes it easy to incorporate art activities while I’m still waking up.

Sometimes morning basket activities are called “circle time” or “morning time.” The activities that go into your morning basket are made to bring everyone together, to set the tone for your day, and (sometimes) to incorporate activities and subjects you find yourself falling behind in. 

Morning baskets are ideal for incorporating art lessons into your homeschool days because they give you a chance to start the day on a creative note. Beginning your homeschool lessons with creativity gest kids excited about the day’s lessons and encourages creative thinking all day long. 

Morning baskets are great for adding other subjects like poetry, books read aloud, and foreign language to your homeschool days too. We often use our morning baskets to supplement our current unit study or lesson with art projects and other fun activities.

Art during morning time in our homeschool

How We Use Morning Baskets To Support Our Current Unit Study

Currently, we are learning about all things Space. My daughter, Emily, is fascinated by Outerspace so we are learning everything we can about planets, constellations, astronauts, and astronomers. 

I’ve put together a Space Unit Study with lunar lore, constellations, information on all the planets, and lessons on astronauts and the Apollo Missions. We also put together a really cool themed morning basket to use with this Space unit study.  

Our Space morning basket will give Emily opportunities to learn more about all the things we’ll be studying through art, games, and experiments. Some of our favorite art activities from the Space morning basket include a themed playdough kit from Playful Days Dough and Usborne’s Astronauts Sticker Book. 

Chalk Pastel art during our morning basket time

The Value of Adding Art To Our Morning Basket

We might not get to every activity in our morning basket each day, but throughout the month we tend to cover everything. Incorporating art in our morning basket activities has all kinds of great benefits! For starters, art encourages creativity so it’s a great way to begin the day’s lessons.

Adding art to our morning basket also helps us to start the day on a high note. Emily loves art! She’s always excited to begin the day with an art project or art activity, so art is an easy choice for our morning basket routine. Beginning the day with something she really enjoys helps start the whole day off right. 

I have found that one of the best ways to add art to our morning baskets is with You ARE An Artist. Lessons are available for all subjects and interests. I can easily pull up one that matches our current unit study when needed. I also use them to help plan our morning baskets each season.

You ARE an ARTiST has lots of fun video art lessons that match up well with all kinds of interesting topics and unit studies. Here is an example of all fun options we are using for our Space unit study:

You can access all of these fun and easy video art lessons for your morning basket or homeschool unit studies with a clubhouse membership. 

I’m particularly excited about exploring the Solar Exploration Video Art Lessons with Emily because they include a Hubble Lesson that is going to be super fun to do together with our mini unit study on Edwin Hubble. If you’re thinking about beginning morning baskets with your kids this year, this is a great way to get started. Pair a book with an art activity and watch the learning fun begin! 

About Jessica Waldock

Jessica Waldock is a writer, photographer, and homeschool mom of one living in sunny Florida. She founded The Waldock Way as a way to give back to the homeschool community that she loves so much. At The Waldock Way Jessica shares tips, tricks, inspiration, and unique resources that help ignite a love of learning in children that will last a lifetime. She inspires families to engage in homeschooling as a lifestyle where relationships come first and interest-led learning prevails. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.

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Celebrate the Summer Games with Chalk Pastel Art Ideas

The Games are back! The Games are a great opportunity to celebrate culture, history, sports, and healthy competition with your kids. Every family has their favorite sport to watch during these events, whether summer or winter. Gather the kids and celebrate the Summer Games with Chalk Pastel Art. Enjoy Ancient Greece lessons for the history of the Games. Then illustrate important aspects and moments of the modern Games! It’s a fun I Drew It Then I Knew It experience.

Ideas to Celebrate Summer Games with Chalk Pastel Art:

The boys and I went through a “mock Games” celebration to create activity and art ideas to go along with this summer’s games. We had so much fun learning, painting, and acting out various Games’ moments! Here’s how we enjoyed our home-grown sporting event.

How to Paint The Games Torch with chalk pastels.

Pass the Torch Relay!

Historically, the torch relay connects the initial Games of Ancient Greece with today’s version of the Games. The torch is lit and the flame passed from Olympia, Greece, to the current host location.

Symbolically, the passing of the Flame represents handing down knowledge and life through generations.

Pass the torch relay idea! The boys ran around the house, passing the torch, symbolizing the Torch Relay that begins the Games.

With Nana’s Ancient Greece lessons, my son drew the Torch on larger 12×18″ construction paper on a diagonal. He positioned the bottom of the handle about two-thirds across the bottom of the paper, then drew the torch across the paper so the flame would end up in the upper left corner. Then, we rolled the paper into a conical shape, so the bottom narrowed, and the torch was visible on one side of the cone. A little tape will keep this torch nicely rolled!

The boys ran around the house, passing the torch, symbolizing the Torch Relay that begins the Games. (During the actual Torch Relay, you can watch LIVE and recorded clips on the official Games site!).

The Games Torch Video Art Lesson

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.

Opening Ceremonies

This might be my favorite part of the Games. I love the parades and choreography, the anthems, and colorful flags and uniforms! The purpose of the Ceremonies is to learn about the culture of the host country.

We drew a map of Japan and looked at various geography books about Japan. You might even want to trace the path of the torch using Nana’s map of Japan!

Ancient Greece Lessons

After painting the Opening Ceremonies lesson (use Nana’s Coliseum lesson to hark back to Ancient Greece as another option!), we hung the boys artwork up and marched around to classic fanfare music from past games.  Leo Arnaud’s Bugler’s Dream and John Williams’s “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” combined is a classic and well-recognized opening song. Nana also has a John Williams composer art lesson!

Let the Games Begin!

Now the real fun starts! There are so many sports represented at the Games, it’s hard to pick a favorite.

Archery, swimming, volleyball, diving, sailing, gymnastics, running, surfing. Nana has any number of sports-themed lessons for kids to enjoy. Pick a favorite, or draw them all!

I had the boys pick a few to draw, then set up mini Games competitions.

Archery – We made a bow and arrow out of a plastic hangar and chopstick, then tried to hit a paper plate target.

Sailing – The boys launched paper boats (which they made beforehand) in a kiddie pool and raced to blow them to the other side.

Tennis – The boys competed to see who could bounce a tennis ball off their rackets the most times.

Get together with the kids and invent more “Games” ideas based on their favorite sports, Nana’s art lessons, or just whatever you have around the house. Make silly versions of popular games to keep it short and light.

Medals Ceremony

The top three winners at the Games receive gold, silver, or bronze medals. In ancient times, winners received a Laurel Wreath to symbolize victory. Kids will enjoy hearing about the history of these awards during Nana’s lessons. If you have any old medals or trophies, let your kids receive them like the athletes do; we dug around and found old running medals to wear!

The Games Medals Ceremony - Kids will enjoy hearing about the history of these awards during Nana's lessons. If you have any old medals or trophies, let your kids receive them like the athletes do; we dug around and found old running medals to wear!

When my boys do chalk pastel lessons, I feel we’re all winners! Nana includes so many little details and facts as she demonstrates, that kids walk away with knowledge as well as a beautiful piece of artwork.

Every piece of art is a victory for our little artists, isn’t it? Nana champions every artist as they paint along with her. And the best prize is kids are learning while they’re painting with chalk pastels!

After the boys completed their victory pictures, we hung all our Games drawings up to enjoy. They are excited for the real Games to start this summer!

Drawing with Nana embodies the same ideals as the Games themselves: excellence, friendship and respect. With Nana as your art teacher, your children will be encouraged in all three of these areas to create with excellence, enjoy the friendship of a delightful art teacher, and to respect their work, because they ARE artists!

Drawing with Nana embodies the same ideals as the Games themselves: excellence, friendship, and respect. With Nana as your art teacher, your children will be encouraged in all three of these areas to create with excellence, enjoy the friendship of a delightful art teacher, and to respect their work, because they ARE artists!

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

Nana is adding many new lessons to The Games Clubhouse Edition for your celebration!

Grab Your Complete Clubhouse Membership and Celebrate The Games!
Gather the kids and celebrate the Summer Games with Chalk Pastel Art to illustrate important aspects and moments of the Games!

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. 

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Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson

Do your kiddos love the fantasy and adventure of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit? Maybe you and your children are reading The Hobbit and you’re looking for a fun hands-on activity to help celebrate the book. Then, The Hobbit art lesson with Nana and chalk pastels are for you!

Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson: Do your kiddos love the fantasy and adventure of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit? Then, The Hobbit art lesson with Nana and chalk pastels are for you! #chalkpastel #YouAREAnArtist #TheHobbit #TheHobbitartlesson #TheHobbitchalkpastellesson #chalkpastellessons

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”

J. R. R. Tolkien – The Hobbit

My son fell in love with The Hobbit when he was five years old. I have read it aloud numerous times, he listens to the audiobook regularly, and he never tires of watching the movies. Now my daughter is loving The Hobbit too!

Imagine my excitement when I discovered that Nana had a video art lesson straight from the Shire!

Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson

“It was a hobbit hole, and that means comfort”

J. R. R. Tolkien – The Hobbit

The kids were just as excited about The Hobbit chalk pastel lesson. My daughter even pulled out her new special chalk pastel pencils for the occasion! But seriously, you only need a cheap set of chalk pastels and a pack of construction paper to enjoy this lovely tutorial!

Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson

An Art Lesson Perfect for Second Breakfast

“I’m going on an adventure”

J. R. R. Tolkien – The Hobbit

The Hobbit art lesson is perfect for second breakfast, luncheon, or afternoon tea! But it’s also great for pairing with the famous literature that we’ve read aloud time and again. The Hobbit is a fantasy classic and by reading it aloud you’ll get plenty of practice at perfecting your mountain troll and goblin voices.

Part of the adventure of a great read aloud is doing the voices!

Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson

You ARE AN Artist Literature Clubhouse

Did you know that with the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Membership you’ll have exclusive access to the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse Literature Video Art Lessons? Here is a sampling of what the literature chalk pastel lessons include:

You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members enjoy the I Drew It Then I Knew It Literature Companion curriculum to match these lessons. The Literature Workbook includes writing prompts, fun facts and more!

Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson

Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson

We had such fun with The Hobbit art lesson. As always, my kiddos took creative liberties such as adding apple trees to the hobbit hill and the famous sign, “No Admittance Except on Party Business!” That’s because Nana always reminds us that WE are all artists and we adore the colorful adventure that only chalk pastels provide!

Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson

For even MORE Hobbit art lessons, head to The Lord of the Rings: A Homeschool Study to Rule Them All!

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