Hi fellow homeschoolers! Since I know a lot of you are out there contemplating your curriculum for next year, I thought it would be fun to do a curriculum series where we can all talk about our favorites.
My “plan” is to discuss one subject per day with you all. I’ll of course share my picks for the subject, and then you will all be free to leave a comment on this post regarding your favorites as well!
So today I wanted to talk about your favorite art program, curriculum, unit study, website, or resource. Feel free to leave a comment below with your top art picks and why so we can all share our wisdom with one another!
One of my favorite art curriculum is the See The Light Art DVDs. Not only do I NOT have to teach the actual lesson, but I can participate! And the kids love the lessons and we have been really impressed with their finished products as well.
Pros:
- The art project DVDs include wonderful art techniques and instruction via video lessons.
- You can stop, pause, or replay the lessons as needed.
- Supplies are fairly normal, they don’t usually require anything that is hard to find.
Cons:
- Some of the lessons can be quite long, and my students will sometimes “fast-foward” through some of the slower parts.
- The DVD price might be a little high depending on your budget.
I love the Home Art Studio DVDs they have really fun art projects. They are sold by grade level, which might not work as well if you have multiple-grades represented in your home. But I’ve found that for the most part, if you pick a DVD between the upper grades in your home, you can have everyone do a project from one DVD and it seems to be okay. There have been a few times where it was more difficult for my youngest, but I don’t expect her work to be the same level as her older sister. So we just go with it and they’ve done fine. The DVDs may cost a bit more, but they also take the pressure off of you to teach a lesson. If you’re not comfortable teaching art, you can simply gather the required materials and let the DVD do the teaching for you.
Pros:
- Great video led art lessons, lessons are challenging, fun, and well laid out. They also have some free lessons on their website as well.
Cons:
- Price. They are purchased by grade level which can get kind of expensive if you have multiple grades using it. They also only have lessons for K-4th as of right now.
And of course we are having a wonderful time doing our Greatest Artists Units as well! I have two volumes out now for you all.
What Artists are included in Vol 1?
- Pablo Picasso
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Jackson Pollock
- Claude Monet
- Henry Matisse
- Georgia O’keefe
- Michelangelo
- Leonardo Da Vinci
What artists are included in Vol. 2?
Some of my favorite art resources are found for free online! Here are my top art websites:
So, now comes the fun part!
What are your favorite art curriculum, resources, websites, etc? Leave a comment below discussing your choices for art this year and why.
Feel free to ask questions or reply to each other too!
It’s my way of doing a forum without actually doing a forum haha!
And hopefully this will help us all as we start the process of researching curriculum, and trying to decide what will be the best fit for our homeschool.
Note: Please keep today’s conversations geared towards ART, I will be posting one for each subject separately so we can keep our comments organized.
Disclosure: This was not a sponsored post, I may however be affiliated with one or more products mentioned. The opinions expressed in this post were not influenced by the company. They are products I have used and felt like sharing, cuz’ it’s my blog and I can if I want to.
This year we used I can do all things from, How Great thou Art and we also used Home art studio. I liked them both and will use both again next year. My two boys especially enjoy all of the projects from Home Art Studio. The videos make it seem just like you have a art teacher in your house. http://www.officialhomeartstudio.com/
We have used the Greatest Artist Study, Vol. 1 and How Great Thou Art in the past. This year we used the Draw Write Now books simply for the drawings on a daily basis. We also use Pinterest, so many art projects! For next year, I got the Usborne book of 365 Things to Draw. Even though it says draw, it includes everything from inks to paints to pastels!
Does anyone have experience with Atelier art curriculum? I’m looking into this one for next year. I like that it will work for all three of my children at one time, but it is pricey even through Homeschool Buyers Co-op. I would love to know more about it from someone who has used it.
I used Atelier art for my kids ages 13,8,6 and they seemed to like it….I liked how you watch the dvd and they taught how to do the project but I got it through a charter school and had to give it back at the end of the year and am now looking to buy an art program for them and do not think it is worth the money!! If price doesn’t matter it is a good art program…. but their is probably others out there that are better:)
Since ART is my lest favorite subject, only because I can NOT draw a straight line, and am a little OCD 😉 I have been putting it off. Last year I got Erica’s World’s Greatest Artists Vol. 1 with every intention to use it, we started off with Van Gogh, and when we got to the part to PAINT, I was scared off!
Anyway with 4 VERY loud voices begging for ART, I have promised that we would pick it up this coming year, using Erica’s curriculum and whatever we can find on Pinterest to recreate.
Home Art Studio….it is a DVD curriculum like the one mentioned in your post!
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/dvds/home-school-art-studio-program.htm
Nosotros utilizamos esta pagina de inspiracion: http://www.thatartistwoman.org/ me parece genial!!
We use Erica’s artist studies and love them!!!!! We also use Charlotte Mason Picture Study. So far we have done Giotto and Michelangelo. My girls ( ages 5 and 6) love them! Takes such a small amount if time and I am impressed at how well they retain.
We love http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/
Me, too! This blog is full of inspiration for easy art projects (searchable by grade level)! And my kids are so proud of the results that are truly impressive.
Great ideas here: http://www.mrsbrownart.com/index.htm
We are just about to start homeschooling with my daughter. She turns three in January. What is the best art curriculum for pre-k? Thank you!