School Projects, Fall Leaves, Fall Photo Shoot – and in between we managed two major surgeries, two minor surgeries, lots of physical therapy, and many other tests. We’re looking forward to break and we’re looking forward to being on a routine and *home* during the New Year!
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Abby is finishing her study of the Solar System using the Montessori style task cards I made for Sarah years ago. Here are a few of her recent posters.
Posted in Curricula, Gallery, Learning at Home, Week by Week
A new sewing machine is a very good thing!
A dress for Holly by Amy Kate
A dress for Beret Anna by Amy Kate
A reversible apron made by Sarah from a kit Grandma sent for her birthday
Other side
Posted in Gallery, Home Keeping, Learning at Home
is blooming in our garden.
I should have thought to combine art with nature study years ago. What a wonderful thing-to-do during free time on a summer day.
Sarah was still working on hers.
Posted in Gallery, Learning at Home
I have been seriously art challenged all of my life. I remember loving the process of creating art as a child, but the results were discouraging. A few of the art classes I tookin school taught a specific technique and I loved those, but most of my art experience would rightly be classified as seasonal crafts.
I planned on outsourcing our family’s art needs when we started home schooling, but reading Drawing With Children (Brooks) when Sarah was in first grade opened my eyes to new possibilities. Over the years we’ve done some outsourcing, but have ended up working on most of our art together. We’ve used and enjoyed the Artistic Pursuits curriculum. The 4-6th grade books that allow students to work independently cover a lot of material even though my girls haven’t felt inspired by quite a few of the projects.
I’m taking us on a bit of a different path this summer. I’ve been spending some time on Harmony Art Mom (Barb)’s website and have been inspired by her practical suggestions in areas of my weakness (art and nature study!). I was already planning on cataloging the trees, birds, and animals that live on our property this summer. Now we will do so and take or find pictures to use as a basis for art copywork. I’m excited to pull our nature study and applied art together in a purposeful and refreshing way. I am planning to alternate weeks where we use Artistic Pursuits with weeks where we copy a work of art from our history studies or from nature.
This one is mine. Sarah has declared that I’ve moved beyond preschool and into elementary school. I’m humming one of the songs from Peter Pan and inserting the words, “I can paint, I can paint, I can paint, I can paint, I can paint!” It looks like a bird!
I love these spontaneous projects!
This child was rescued from a bombed out building in London. 
Posted in Gallery, Learning at Home, Tapestry of Grace
We’re making our way through the 20th Century with Tapestry of Grace. We’ve left WWI and WWII behind and have completed weeks on Israel, India, China, and Korea. We’ve moved into the Eisenhower years and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement this week.
Lower and Upper Grammar Books
Enjoying coloring time
Joining big girls at the table during Bible study
Long, winter afternoons are project time.
and I need to remember to have Sarah and Hannah take pictures of their work.
I can’t remember if I already posted these.
Holly’s still life in browns
My still life in browns (giggle)
Abby’s still life and some efforts at pointilism.
A bit of a disaster – salt maps. The dough burned their hands and we found we were out of brown tempera, which took the wind out of their sails.
Posted in Gallery, Learning at Home
