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Maryan
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| Posted: Aug 05 2009 at 7:39am | IP Logged
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Becky, I'm with you. If it's not simple, it just doesn't happen. We just don't have the space to leave big projects out... and too many little hands to get at them! 
However art doesn't mean just projects. The simple drawings outside and finger painting at the table etc. all counts!!
Erin was it you who did a blog post about putting art supplies in a carry all or some sort of bucket? As I'm reading these suggestions, that seems perfect for moving narrations outside etc. I was thinking about putting our pencils in those pretty glass mason jars, but maybe I'll put them in pails which we can tote to wherever we are -- outside or in!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Aug 05 2009 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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I have wanted to jump into this thread for a couple of days, but I'm only just now getting a chance.
Are there two things we're discussing here? Art Appreciation and then working creative expressions into the everyday so that it is thoughtful and considered? I'm thinking:
Art Appreciation = Picture Study, Composer Study, Shakespeare studies, formal art/sketching/painting lessons. For our family, we tackle the academics of the arts on Fridays - offering lots of opportunities for expression, digging further into something, and immersion in a passion. Our Fine Arts Fridays aren't super contrived...they often spring from something discovered during the week, but I do like that they are set up and a part of the week because it allows me to consider them and be thoughtful about offering something on this day.
Creative expressions = harder to describe for me...it's like the air we breathe. I think it is such a part of our day that I fear I'm a little like Theresa, I don't state it explicitly because it just happens so naturally that I look at it with the eyes of familiarity and perhaps am not quite as clear or expressive of these moments in our day. But, they're everywhere! I love this quote and have it plastered on my lesson planning notebook as constant inspiration:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote:
| A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul. |
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The sense of the beautiful.
I want my children to grow up with memories of specific subjects studied, abilities and skills retained, but I want it all permeated with the sense of the beautiful. Without this sense, without the opportunity to create and express ones-self daily, without the opportunity to observe nature and God's creation routinely, without the exposure to beauty, senses are dulled and the ability to recognize and appreciate beauty is reduced.
Many great practicals are already here, and I can't add too much to them. I communicate the great importance I place on art and nature study by giving them pride of place in my spaces and in my philosophy. Fostering creative art opportunities are so inextricably tied to our nature studies that I cannot separate them. Many of my ideas spring from that philosophy. So...I'll brainstorm a few more ways to foster this as a part of the everyday...
:: Offer horizontal space for materials. This doesn't have to be any place specific, it doesn't have to be gigantic, and you don't have to overthink this...just provide room for displays - art displays, the children's work, the art image of the week, art supplies are out and accessible as much as possible (children won't create from the stuff that is stored under beds in bins), nature shelf displays (one of my favorites!!), science supplies. This is a takeoff on the "keep your supplies gathered and at hand" idea. Make them a part of your environment as well and you'll find opportunities to express yourselves throughout the day because it isn't a "subject" but a way of life!
:: Leave room in the margins of your day for creativity...did you read about the great pyramids? go build a replica with all the blocks in the house, or go outside and make mud bricks like the Egyptians, or grab the color pencils and sketch a pyramid. You don't need an activity book for this kind of thing. Just allow time for expressions with the hand and allow the imagination to unfold. Don't so overplan your day that there is no time for these expressions. I really like to think of my days with wide margins. I don't promote artistic expressions only at certain times of the day, our entire day is permeated with possibility. I do consider the most logical times for some expressions, for example watercolors are out around 2 in the afternoon here almost every day because the older children enjoy the quiet time in the afternoons when the youngers are napping and there aren't so many distractions.
:: Expand your idea of artistic expression from fingerpaint and watercolors to any creative expression...if your child builds a fairy house out of walnut shells and pinecones in the backyard that is a creative expression! I encourage expressions by providing as wide a variety of materials in as good a quality as I can afford, but sometimes the most exciting opportunities are found in the ferns and the moss!
:: Keep a naturalist bag packed and ready to go. This is similar to the beach bag Meredith spoke of. Theresa talked about the great importance of just **being** in nature each day. I can't underline that point enough! We keep a simple bag packed to take advantage of finds - sketchbook, hand lens, favorite field guide, specimen containers, tweezers, ziplocs, small bag of wipes. My daughter has asked for watercolors to work with in the field now. Prang is my favorite brand of very affordable art supplies - and they're perfect for taking outdoors!!! The boyscout motto is: "Be prepared". The same applies here for any type of creative opportunity outside the home. Your offerings need not be elaborate or expensive, they just need to be available and encouraged. Erin, your bucket of supplies idea is a great one and one that would travel out and about as well as have a home in your learning spaces! I think that's a great solution for those challenged with space limitations!
:: Consider your backyard or front gardens as your own private nature preserve. No matter how small or large your grounds - let them offer a large portion of your nature study inspiration. Sometimes, I think, "I don't have time to go to the Botanical gardens, or the park, or the nature preserve...I'm late getting dinner on, there's a mountain of laundry on the couch, and I feel the weight of a million other things!" This is *exactly* the time a short walk outside is needed most! Gather the children and tell them you're going on an adventure in the gardens. Challenge them to see something they've never seen before. My children call this using their "4-leaf clover eyes"  ! Whatever you call it, open your eyes to God's creation right there in your own yard. Release yourself from the pressure of thinking you must go somewhere special for each nature walk. I love taking special nature walks, but God never fails to provide magnificence right here in our own space! Spend some time and effort in cultivating a birding haven, small havens for wildlife, or add a pond or water source - these draw a wonderful amount of wildlife. My absolute favorite book for inspiration along these lines is Attracting Backyard Wildlife by Bill Merilees. From our front gardens have sprung a variety of opportunities for artistic expression along with building the skills of careful observation.
:: Allow yourself to see things with the eyes of a child. I think this is key for me. Perhaps some of it is my temperament, but when we read, when we go outside, when do something together, I look at things with fresh eyes, with the eyes of a child. I see so much more that way! If I'm looking at things with the eyes of a child, I can see the ant moving the huge leaf across the path and wonder aloud, I can see the big finger swooshes on the canvas, and I can hear what sounds like an elephant stomping through classical music.
Fostering the creative arts doesn't require great mystical powers of observation or immense talent in particular art genres, in fact, it almost flourishes in exactly the opposite environment - one in which childlike wonder is adopted and followed. And that is something every one of us can offer!
I hope I haven't been redundant or wordy because I love the other input offered on this thread and didn't want to take away from it at all. This is a subject very near and dear to my heart! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 05 2009 at 11:56am | IP Logged
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Jennifer! Exactly!You said what I wanted to say only so much more eloquently. I LOVE the Goethe quote and I am adding it to my art journal today!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Meredith
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| Posted: Aug 05 2009 at 12:02pm | IP Logged
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I was thinking that Goethe quote needs to be tatooed onto my forehead
Just lovely ladies!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 05 2009 at 12:04pm | IP Logged
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Meredith wrote:
I was thinking that Goethe quote needs to be tatooed onto my forehead
Just lovely ladies! |
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Yes, if only he had added "spend time in nature" it would be perfect!LOL!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Erin
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| Posted: Aug 06 2009 at 7:32am | IP Logged
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Theresa wrote:
This is just me, but I always get so sad when I see art and nature forever pushed to the back of our days.It happens here sometimes and when it does, I wonder what message I am sending my kids. Is it that we have no time for beauty in our lives? I sure hope not.
When I find that happening around here, I know it is time to stop and re-evaluate our days and what we are doing with them. Art and nature should be "core" not "electives." Because without beauty, what is the point of all of the rest of it?.....the priority of beauty in our days is something I wonder about from time to time and this thread sparked that thought and I wanted to share. (Maybe this post actually belongs in another thread, philosophy of homeschooling, perhaps?) |
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I originally took time to deeply ponder Theresa's thoughts as they said so well what I felt. In the meantime there was so much wonderful discussion happening here, so thought provoking, so many answers I wanted to write and now I don't know where to start.
When I was first drawn to Charlotte Mason it was her living books that drew me to her ideas. They resonated so well with me, our family. They were easy. Although due to factors; large age spread, low energy our read aloud times have fallen by the wayside and therefore so has my enthusiasm. Thanks to this discussion we are now reading a chapter first thing in the morning, my ds thanks you all 
I'll be honest, nature is not naturally me, actually neither is craft or fine arts  but I tried on and off. (Have I horrified you all too much?) So one day I decided 'maybe it is really not me and I just have to accept that' but my children are interested to varying degrees and I kept feeling that something precious was missing, a sense of peacefulness that only these things bring, a completeness. I can't really express it.
To answer your question Jenn, when I say creative arts I in particular meant, nature study/walks and craft/art and handicrafts. although I would love to succeed in the Fine Arts arena, but I was starting smaller 
Anyhow after all your many wonderful ideas (so many I also am printing them out) I jumped back into the arena today
We started our day with our read aloud, then after our Block 1 (Language Arts, Maths and Faith) we headed to the dam for a Nature Walk with our notebooks. Yes Maryan we do have an Art Center but I made up a bag with notebooks, water colours and sketch pencils; we'll leave that packed to go again tomorrow. (thanks for the tip) It was so nice to get out and enjoy the sunshine, spring is truly not far away now. Actually all the lillypads are pretty dead on the dam but that was interesting too. Tomorrow the children are planning on visiting 'waterpool fall.' We may have to make our rambles at lunchtime if they want to walk further.
Some one asked about quick lunch ideas to go; in the past when we were enthused, I'd throw a loaf in the esky bag along with a cutting board, knives, butter and spread and just make it out in the 'great outdoors.'
I even managed to have an afternoon craft session making paper crocodiles with my younger four, and made muffins with my ds3. Sorry this post is a little disjointed and I haven't addressed all your wonderful thoughts, so many!
I really think having the time outdoors made a big difference. I so want to thank you all very much for your ideas and support. 
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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Cherishedheart
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| Posted: Aug 06 2009 at 10:03am | IP Logged
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We have over the years had much success with read alouds over lunch.
We have a sit down luunch together at the table and I make my sandwich very quickly and eat super fast.
Then I read aloud the chapter or two if we are really going well,that is the baby not fussing etc.
I am finding that we need to spend more time doing creative arts for everyone. I especially need this to regroup myself, and I find when the children have not had enough of this time they tend to disintergrate.
I also find by incorporating a lot of the themes into a type of Unit study that it works well too.
Just yesterday we brainstormed for a Spiderwick Themed Literature Study. Of course this will have lots of making things in it.
God Bless
Gae wife to Stephen for 22 years
Mummy to
Kynan 89, Braedon 91, Autumn 93, Eden 95, Saxon 96, Vellvin 98, Rogan 00, Moran 02, Myffwyn 04, Corbyn 06 and little Arwen born 23/1/09
http://cherishedheartsathome.blogspot.com/
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 06 2009 at 11:59am | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
I really think having the time outdoors made a big difference. I so want to thank you all very much for your ideas and support.
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Well this just made me smile, as did the entire description of your day!It sounds wonderful!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Need Self Discipline Help - Creative Arts
