Artastic

Quite some time ago over at Latter-day Homeschooling there was a blog post about art.  Specifically, what do people do to teach art?   There were several helpful comments, but one comment--by Birrd of Tales From Toad Hall--has proven especially helpful for our family.  In her comment she said that she used Artistic Pursuits with her children and loved it.

Being completely and totally art handicapped, I looked up every suggestion given in the comments to that post and eventually decided to buy Artistic Pursuits for my family.  I'm so glad I did!  Here's a link to their website in case you want to learn more about the product from the source.  

Basically what I love about this program is that I don't do anything and my kids are still creating all this fabulous art.  The "textbook" is set up into three-page lessons.  The first page introduces the topic, the second page showcases a famous painting that demonstrates what the lesson is talking about, and the third page has the student assignment plus examples of the assignment done by kids.  

In our family it works like this: when the kids get their regular work done in a timely manner I tell Miriam to get down the art textbook.  She pulls it out, reads the lesson to everyone, they all study the famous painting, Miriam reads them the assignment and gets out all the materials needed.  Then the kids sit around the table and do the assignment.

I have a very important job in this process!  I am the official ooher and aaher.  When the kids show me their completed assignment I ooh and aah and tell them how wonderful they are.  And I mean it!  All of my kids produce better art than I could and I am impressed.

Another thing I like about this program besides how straight-forward it is and how well organized is that all the materials needed for every single assignment in the book is listed in the front.  You can buy a pre-put together bag with everything you need for 1-2 students from the website and I think I will do that next time, but I was able to take my list to the store and buy what I needed for 4 kids.  Now I don't worry about whether or not I have the supplies on hand.  I do!  And Miriam knows where they are!

Here is a small sampling of the artwork my children have created this year in conjunction to this art program:

Miriam's "Cyclops": Lesson 2, Artists Imagine.

Miriam's "Elf": Lesson 1, Artists Compose.

Miriam's "House": Lesson 3, Artists Look.

Cowen's "Bug".  I don't remember what lesson it goes to but it is very awesome.

Emeline and Cowen exploring soft pastels.

Cowen's "Ninja"--Lesson 1, Artists Compose.

Emeline's "Cat and Two Kittens": Lesson 4, Artists Communicate.

Emeline's "Giraffes": Lesson 2, Artists Imagine.

Emeline after creating with soft pastels.

Eli is three and already playing with watercolor pencils.  Love it.

Our system for showcasing art work.  The wire and clips were purchased at IKEA for roughly $10.

In short, I really, really, really love this curriculum.  I love that there is a famous painting for the children to examine with each lesson.  I love how short and focused each lesson is.  I love that art history is also incorporated (we bought this book out of the series because it has lessons on ancient art so it fits in beautifully with what we're doing in history).  I'm a very satisfied customer.  And so far, my kids seem pretty thrilled with the program as well.

Book on Tape: Odysseus

I don't know if you can see it but the little blurb on the side of this audio book states, "The world's greatest adventure story!"  My seven-year-old son would certainly agree.

Since we were studying Ancient Greece and I love The Odyssey, I tried to find a simplified version for my kids.  I found this audio book at our library.  The adaptation was written by Geraldine McCaughrean and the recording was directed by Bruce Coville (read some of his books to your youngsters if you haven't already).  I've already mentioned that I usually don't like full cast productions, but this one is really well done.

The adaptation, titled Odysseus covered all the main points of The Odyssey.  The cyclops was a highlight for my children, as were any gruesome and disgusting parts.  I was surprised by how much my children enjoyed the story and how well they understood the theme of pride.  I cringed a few times at just how gory things got and how arrogant Odysseus was, but I didn't find anything inappropriate for my children.  The years with the water nymph were glossed over without great detail.  It just said that the nymph wanted to kiss Odysseus all the time and he tried to avoid her.

If you have kids about the ages of my oldest children (9, 7, 6)--especially if you have boys--I highly recommend giving this one a listen.

Ancient Greece Books for the Independent Reader

 I keep meaning to post more coherently about what we have done for Greece.  It probably won't happen.  I apologize.  What I can do for you is show you what Miriam read for her 4th grade special project extra readings.  She read two Magic Tree House books: Ancient Greece and the Olympics and Hour of the Olympics.  I really like Magic Tree House books.  Yes, they are below her reading level.  Yes, she's read most of them before.  However, the info is good, the writing engaging, and it gives Miriam more info than the rest of my kids are getting with the books I read out loud.

 We tried to cover the "classics" while studying Greece.  I did not read either of these books so I cannot vouch for them in any way shape or form.  All I can say is that Miriam read them and declared them, "Awesome."  The picture above shows the cover of Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad.  

This is the cover of Penelope Lively's In Search of a Homeland: The Story of the Aeneid.  

Miriam didn't do an extra project for Greece.  We did so many other projects, including the Parthenon, that I had her do the reading and called it good.

Davis Sewage Facility Field Trip

It may sound really gross, but the Davis Sewage Facilities was pretty much the most awesome field trip ever.  Ever.  The first part is the grossest, so bear with.  See that gunk in the top picture?  The first building we went into was where the toilet paper and such is removed from the rest of the waste stuffs.

Yeah, some of the poo didn't wind up where it was supposed to.  I'm a little pregnant (ha) but I still didn't think the smell was that bad.  Nothing like a dairy farm.  However, you have to focus your mental energies on not thinking about what you're looking at.

They add a bunch of chemicals to the paper waste and smash it down and haul it away.

The above pic is water waste that is in the process of being treated and sent to the Great Salt Lake.  Yep, the recycled, treated water goes back to the Great Salt Lake so evaporation can take place, clouds form, rain fall, etc.

More of the water containers.

There was a lot of walking involved in this field trip and I couldn't find a babysitter the day before Thanksgiving.  So.  Have I mentioned Harriet is not light?

This is the "natural looking" river comprised of treated water.

A bunch of crazy homeschoolers.  It was so fun to meet so many of them!

That man in the blue shirt.  He noticed Harriet on the other side of the fence and rescued her.  Thanks!  I was too busy taking photos to notice my child.  Those toddlers move quick!

That is Antelope Island in the distance.

That is sludgy stuff.  I can't remember everything about this part because I got there late due to trying to carry Harriet, then putting her down when she twisted her body around to get away from me, and then chasing Harriet when she ran the wrong direction, and then trying to carry her again.  I'm sure you all understand.  What I do know is that the sludge is very gross looking, but the process is pretty cool and Miriam was jealous that other people had already invented all those machines.

That is poo, my friends, mixed with some other stuff to make it more firm.  Then it is given to farmers who use it to fertilize their fields.  Notice the sign.  I giggled a lot at the different signs.  At one point our tour guide talked about keeping close tabs on the age of the sludge.  The bacteria has to be just the right age to reproduce.  Sludge reproduction--how do you get a degree in that?

That is the dummy they use to practice safety measures.  Eli was very frightened of him.

This is where they grow the bacteria to do the cool sludge thing.

One of the neatest parts of the plant is this building that houses these big engines.  50% of the power used to run the place is produced in this building using waste gases.  They are building new engines in the next two years that will produce 90% of the power necessary for the plant using only waste gases.  That is pretty awesome!

Our favorite part of the tour was the science lab building.  It was just so . . . sciency.  First there was a short presentation that I quite liked.  I'm a fan of Albert.

Then this man, who is clearly passionate about science and getting kids excited about science, taught our kids a magic trick using static electricity.

Then he walked us through the lab.  There were beakers and really terrible smelling chemicals, and people in lab coats.  My children were entranced.  So was I.  I think it was the first time in my life that science looked remotely interesting.  As one fellow homeschool mom suggested--maybe I just need to invest in some cool looking science things and then I might like it more.

The men who showed us around the plant were clearly excited to have us there and that made a big difference in the interest level of the kids.  Sewage does not seem glamorous and Myron, the plant manager, once pointed out that he didn't get his degree thinking he'd be taking care of poo.  But he is really enthusiastic about his job--how it helps the environment and helps so many people and uses all the newest science and technology.  I was really impressed with the quality of the information, the cleanliness of the buildings, and the attitude of the employees who showed us around.  Bravo, Davis Sewage--you guys are fabulous!

So fabulous that we are currently planning another field trip to the plant just to spend more time in the science lab.  I can't wait!  (But I'll definitely be getting a babysitter.)

Christmas Excitement: Harriet

I don't know if it is just me but I find shopping for babies extremely difficult.  Harriet turns two in February so she is old enough to be excited to open a present and find something new within, but she's not old enough to care very much about what the item is.  Also, we have enough toys around the house that she never wants for playthings.  Or playmates, as that goes.  

On the other hand it is extremely fun to shop for the very littles because they don't complain about what they receive and never ask for anything.  Besides that, Harriet squeals with delight--I kid you not--and I'm looking forward to hearing that on Christmas morning.

Fortunately, Harriet does have some very decided interests including balls and babies.  We already have plenty of baby dolls so we decided that Santa would bring Harriet a ball.

It had to be bright and cheerful looking and be small enough that she could handle it without being small enough to lose.  I really like the one we ended up purchasing; the 7 inch Crocodile Creek Playball.  We got it off amazon.  

Harriet's book, Babies, is by Gyo Fujikawa, a favorite childhood author of my husband.  The illustrations are unbelievably sweet and as Harriet loves babies, I'm pretty sure it will be a winner.  This is an extra-long board book.  You should find it at the library to see the page of babies being naughty and the page of babies being nice.  So, so, so, so cute.  We purchased it at amazon.  (I don't like going to stores.)

I'm making Harriet this fabric doll for her stocking stuffer.  The other two girls are getting the same doll in different colors.  I purchased them all from quilthome.com.  Just search for dolls or doll.  So far I have cut out the fabric.  I'm a little (lot) intimidated by sewing but as Christmas draws nearer I will have to bite the bullet and pull out the sewing machine.  Wish me luck.  

I think I mentioned before that I pick the children's present from their great-grandma.  Great-grandma is giving Harriet this Hohner Kids Glockenspiel this year.  We have a lot of musical instruments, but no glockenspiels yet.  I'm hoping this is a hit (ha) but we won't know until she's had it awhile.

Now--that is all we're giving Harriet.  Her sister Miriam picked her name for Christmas and is giving her a stuffed pumpkin she is sewing.  She's almost done and it is going to be pretty cute.  

Since that isn't very many ideas I thought I would share some truly awesome gifts that we've given in the past to this age group with great success.  

First, the beloved Sweet Pea.  We gave Sweet Pea to Harriet last Christmas when Harriet was almost one and Sweet Pea has been Harriet's most beloved object ever since.  She sleeps with her every day for her nap and every night.  I'll say, "Harriet, time for a nap," and Harriet will pout a little and then say, "Sweet Pea."  Once Harriet has Sweet Pea, all is well.  

Sweet Pea is very soft and cuddly and comes in a pod.  Harriet never cared much for the pod, but for kids who like to put things in and take things out, the pod might be a bonus.  There are other versions of the same idea including a snuggle bug and other more boyish looking dolls.  I think babies like them so much because they are so soft and simple.  Search for Manhattan Toy Snuggle Pod.  They cost $10 at amazon.  In real life the green isn't that bright.

Next in the list of tried and true toys is the ever popular rocking toy.  We bought the Little Tikes Rocking Puppy for Miriam's 2nd Christmas (so she would have been about 18 months old) and Harriet and Eli still play on it constantly these eight years later.  We no longer have the black nose, but nothing else comes off so the rest is in perfect working order.  It isn't even discolored or awful looking as some plastic toys tend to become.  We're big fans of the easy-on, easy-off feature as we don't have to help the small ones at all.  Eli, age 3, can rock himself across the room and do little "tricks" on it.  You can get it at amazon.

Another favorite is the Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes.  It plays really pretty music, it isn't too loud, it  is easy for tiny hands to push the button and change the songs, and it is easy to hold.  Harriet loves hers.    She dances.  

And that's it.  Like I said, this age group is hard.  A few years ago I would have wholeheartedly recommended the Playskool gloworm but they've changed the design and the last one we purchased stunk.  The first one we bought for Miriam lasted forever and was an absolute favorite.  I'm a little bitter about the changes. :)  For Harriet's birthday I'm considering a little baby stroller as I know she would love it.  My hubby is hesitant though because we've purchased those before and they've all broken within a few months.  Any ideas are welcome.  Harriet's birthday is in February.

Merry Christmas!