Thanksgiving Math & Literacy, Art, Science & More….
Do you ever wish someone would just plan out your entire homeschool year for you….then maybe bundle it all up and email it to your inbox on Monday morning?
Yeah….me too.
Well, I don’t have an entire YEAR of curriculum to send you, but I do have something that will make your homeschool planning super easy this November.
SMART: Science, Math, Art, Reading & Take Home activities for Thanksgiving! This helpful set is filled with a week’s worth of fun, educational math games, hands-on activities, science experiments, art projects, early readers, writing prompts and a Bible memory verse. Everything you need to add a little holiday fun to your kindergarten classroom this year!
Thanksgiving Science: This set includes five simple science experiments and challenges. Each thematic activity guides students through a fun, hands-on science exploration with very little prep-work. Students work their way through the scientific method using the step-by-step science journals. Each experiment includes a follow-up activity for added learning.
Thanksgiving Math: Each day students will play a fun game or activity then follow up their learning with a lesson sheet to show mastery. Games focus on learning to frame numbers to ten, basic addition, counting to 100, and counting by 10’s.
Thanksgiving ART: We include five stunning autumn art projects that are perfect for Thanksgiving. Each project comes with a full photo tutorial, printable templates and easy to follow materials list. Students work with oil pastels, paint, textures, blending and more. 
Thanksgiving Reading (and Writing): This set includes three early readers covering social studies and history. Each story includes a carefully controlled word list and incorporates key vocabulary for extended learning. Students are provided narrative and comparison writing prompts that are not only simple to follow, but would make wonderful educational keepsakes. 
Take Home/Review Work: T is for Take Home Review Sheets. These sheets can be used as review work in the homeschool classroom or as homework in a standard classroom. Each page features reading, writing, vocabulary, and scripture memorization activities. Character thinking points are available instead of Bible memory for those using this resource in a public school setting.
SMART: Science, Math, Art, Reading & Take Home activities for Thanksgiving! This helpful set is filled with a week’s worth of fun, educational math games, hands-on activities, science experiments, art projects, early readers, writing prompts and a Bible memory verse. Everything you need to add a little holiday fun to your kindergarten classroom this year!
Patterned Polar Bear Art Project
This is a dreamy way to create a beautiful Arctic sunset or Northern lights backdrop for your winter scenes.
Materials:
- Polar Bear Template
- Oil Pastels
- Sharp Object
Ice Bear: The Arctic World of Polar Bears
This simple yet evocative book explores the polar bear s Arctic home and life cycle. Playful cubs, hungry boars, and intimidating sows Kazlowski’s photographs capture this fascinating species in all its beautiful and fearsome glory. More than 100 full-color images reveal the polar bear s world, as well as the entire Arctic landscape: rugged ice floes, magical aurora borealis, walruses, seals, Arctic foxes and rabbits, beluga whales, and a variety of birds including the snowy owl. Kazlowski also captures the Inuit people and their culture in which the polar bear plays a significant part.
Step 1
Print your polar bear template as a guide. The template includes grey lines separating each shape.
Step 2
Choose cool colors (blues, greens, purples) to color in the shapes of your polar bear.
Step 3
You want a good variety of colors and try not to have the same colors touching eachother.
Step 4
Choose warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) and start filling in the shapes of the background.
Step 5
Color in every shape leaving no white space. Make sure you pressed hard enough with your oil pastels to ge a thick layer of color on your paper.
Step 6
You can stop here and frame on black construction paper if you like
Step 7
Or you might want to add in some patterns. Oil pastel can be scratched away to reveal a lighter hue of the same color. This is a great way to add texture and patterns to your polar bear.
Step 8
You can even add in things you might see in an Arctic landscape; iceburgs, winter trees, a full moon, inukshuk, etc....
Northern Lights Igloo Art Project
This is a dreamy way to create a beautiful Arctic sunset or Northern lights backdrop for your winter scenes.
Materials:
- Igloo Template
- Bleeding Tissue Paper
- Watercolor Crayons
- Watercolor Paper
- Paintbrush, Water
Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights
Alaskan storyteller and artist Mindy Dwyer has created a magical story of a young girl whose seeking and dreams lead her to a great discovery. The bright, luminous illustrations that accompany the story magically portray this tale of the origin of the Aurora Borealis, the glorious northern lights.
Step 1
Cut out your igloo template a glue lightly to your art paper.
Step 2
Cut your bleeding tissue paper into thin strips.
Step 3
Using water and a paintbrush, begin to wet your paper and lay down strips of tissue paper. Wet the top of the tissue paper as well.
Step 4
Layer your tissue paper to blend the colors. Continue to wet the paper as you go.
Step 5
Fill your paper with tissue paper strips. Allow to dry.
Step 6
When dry, carefully peel back your tissue stips to reveal the color patterns below.
Step 7
Use Watercolor Crayons (or simple watercolor paints) to add some color to your igloo.
Polar Bear Art Projects
If you’ve been following us on Instagram, you’ve already gotten a glimpse of these new art projects while they were in the works, but today I’ve finished the photo tutorials to show you how to make your own with your children. These polar bear art projects are stunning and aren’t as difficult as they look. I would recommend using these with late elementry or early middle school aged children…..but really you can adapt these for children of all ages and abilities.
Polar Bear Landscape Art Project
Based off the beautiful arctic landscape scenes by Ted Harrison, this project is fun for children of all ages and definitely adds a color pop to your classroom!
Polar Bear Paw Print Art Project
This stunning Arctic craft uses a bear paw print template. Children use watercolor, ink and oil pastel to create a beautiful winter scene of a polar bear and her cub.
A harbor seal is depicted across the pads of the polar bears feet, foreshadowing the end of this Winter hunt.
Find more Arctic Art Projects Here
Fall Leaf Art Projects for Kids
Today I’ve added two different Autumn leaf art tutorials for kids. Both include templates and full photo tutorials, and they can easily be adapted for multiple ages. These turn out stunning and can transform your classroom walls within an afternoon.
Fall Leaf Art Project for Kids
Texture Pattern Fall Leaf Art
Materials:
- Fall Leaf Template
- Oil Pastels
- Sharp Object for scraping (Cuticle File or small wooden stick)
- Scissors/Tinfoil (optional)
Step 1
Print your leaf template above. Color in each section of the leaf using a different color of oil pastels. Press hard to get a nice thick layer down.
Step 2
Add a variety of Fall colors to your leaf. Don't forget to add in a few purples, they always look stunning with Fall colors.
Step 3
Usins a sharp wooden stick (I'm using a cuticle stick), scrape away the top layer of the pastel to begin to make designs and textures into each of your leaf sections.
Step 4
You can make patterns, checkerboards, leaf veins, strips, swirls, triangles etc.....try to make a different pattern for each section.
Step 5
Once you've added in all your patterns you can mount it to colored construction paper for a great background. I cut out the same leaf shape in tinfoil to make a shadow first.
Step 6
All done! If you added a tinfoil shadow, you can continue the pattern by gently pressing into the foil with your stick.
Zentangle Fall Leaf Art Project
Materials:
- Oak Leaf Template
- Black Pens
- Oil pastels
- Watercolors
Step 1
Draw in your zentangle designs. Choose a different design for each section, and try to fill in every other section or so, leaving space to color in later
Step 2
Using your Oil Pastels, begin to fill in the blank sections of your leaf. Start with two different hues of the same color.
Step 3
Add in different colors of yellow, brown green and red. You'll notice that I'm using the Red very sparingly, just to highlight certain edges of the leaves.
Step 4
When your leaf is completely filled in, you can stop here, or cut out and glue to black construction paper. If you have time you can paint a watercolor background to really make your colors pop
Step 5
I chose to start with a light purple background, using lots of water, and making circular strokes with my paintbrush I begin to fill in the background
Step 6
For each side and edge I chose a different color to blend into the purple. I used blue on the right side of the paper, pink in the top left corner, and orange in the bottom left. This is a great way to add some character to your background.
Step 7
I finished my background by taking a very light blue and filling in the remaining white on the left side of the leaf....sort of like a shadow.
All Done!
Your leaf is complete! Mount to black construction paper for an instant frame, or hang in the classroom,
Homeschool Art Supplies
Over the years we’ve had the opportunity to try out MANY different arts and crafts supplies. Often we’ve been surprised that an off brand has a better quality product then some of the more popular, well known brands.And with other products we’re happy to make the investmentfor a quality product that will last. Read about our favorite art supplies and where to find the best price. Find more of our favorite Homeschool Tools and Machines. Read about our Favorite Homeschool Curriculum Here
Simply Art Watercolor Cakes
I was surprised at the value of this watercolor set. Normally, I stay away from off brand watercolors but this set can't be beat! The colors are bright, and vivid and because these are cakes they last much longer then traditional watercolor packs. We have used this set through many art projects over the years, It took almost 5 years to run out of yellow so we finally bought a second set....but for the price....AMAZING!
Crayola Oil Pastels
Pastels were one of my favorite mediums when I was a kid. I used to love drawing on the paper, then blending the colors with my fingertip....the possibilities were endless for the colors I could create and I felt like a young and undiscovered Picasso. That's why I keep pastels in my classroom for my children to work with....I love the ease of color blending with them and we work on shading with them
Sunworks Construction Paper
Again, another deal you can get online is this heavy weight construction paper from SunWorks. One pack keeps your classroom stocked up for almost the entire year
Pro Art Chalk Pastels
Chalk pastels are fun to have on hand as well. We've recently started to use them with this curriculum and this set really gave us a wide varitey of colors for a good price. Another deal that is better online then in store
Caran d'Ache Watercolor Crayons
This was one of our more expensive craft room purchases, but they have held up quite nicely over the years. Watercolor crayons are a great way for children to experiment, and this set comes with a handy tin for storage. (the tin is one of the reason I believe this set has held up so well)
Melissa and Doug Triangle Crayons
I usually don't purchase much Melisa and Doug unless I can find a coupon or an online deal, but these triangle crayons have been a blessing in our house. My three year old love them, it feels like his own art set he can use and they don't roll away!
Fiskars Gel Pens
If you can't stand glitter in your house, you might take a peek at these glitter pens! We purchased this set for my daughters birthday, and I had a hard time keeping my hands off of them. This is a good deal online and you get over 48 pens!
Dixon #2 Pencils
If there were a World's Greatest Pencil Award, we would give it to Dixon Ticonderoga hands down! After years of dealing with broken tips and erasers that pop off (or worse leave streaks across your paper instead of erasing) I've decided that the investment in Dixon is well worth it
Glitter Shakers
Glitter shakers are much easier for younger children to use, as you don't end up with the dreaded pile of glitter on your table. The lids come off so you can pour back the excess.
Our Favorite Homeschool Tools
Have you ever wondered what a laminator is? Or how about a binding machine. Are you on your seventh pencil sharpener of the year? Come on in and read about our favorite homeschool tools. We'll show you how we use them, why you'd need them and where we found the best price.
Famous Artist Crafts for Kids
Learning about famous artists can be lots of fun and a great opportunity for children to explore different techniques and mediums. Follow along with us as we explore the different masterpieces and create ourown artistic interpretations! For each famous artist we include a suggest reading as well as a printable reference guide for the back of your child’s art. We suggest framing your creations with black construction paper for a finished look. Paste the famous artist reference card on the back of your project
Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:
What Makes a…..Series is published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They are perfect for grades 6-8, or as a read aloud with late elementary students. I would recommend this set as a purchase for your classroom, it will last for years to come. We personally own these and they are filled with information about each artist and feature many colorful photographs and explanations of their work.
Van Gogh Art Project
Van Gogh is the name every young child knows, and Starry Night is the title they remember! Uses this fun technique to create movement on your canvas!
Claude Monet Art Project
Claude Monet is well known for his beautiful water scenes! This is a fun (and messy) finger painting craft that will leave children with beautiful results.
Andy Warhol Art Project
Children who love to use bright colors love to create Warhol inspired artwork. You can use our pre-printed Warhol artist cards, or use this activity to teach children how to transfer and copy images.
Miro Art Project
Miro has an amazing surrealist quality to his work, making him a fun artist to study. Children can get creative with their doodles and have fun with this easy project. Give children a black sharpie marker and encourage them to explore lines and shapes. Show them how to make shapes inside of shapes and color block.
Piet Mondrian
Here are three different ways your children can create beautiful representations of Mondrian's artwork. This is a great beginner craft for young children.
Georges Seurat Art Project
Pointillism is a fun artistic technique for any age level! Children enjoy making these representational pieces of artwork. This is a great craft for children who like to work on details. arranged on canvas to create
Jackson Pollock Art Project
Okay, what kid doesn't love to splatter paint? We're using a bit of splatter and a bit of blowing to make our Action Jackson paintings!
Henri Matisse Art Project
Matisse had a very colorful style to his artwork, and in his later years he used paper cut-out arranged on canvas to create
Van Gogh Art Project
The Potato Eaters is not only a great painting to study context but also to study light and shawdows. Children can recreate this hanging oil lamp with oil pastels.
Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:
Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists is a great series for younger children. Each book features a different artist, showcasing their work, their life, and sometimes their quirkiness! There is just enough here to give children a good idea of who the artist was and some ways to identify their work.
Homeschool Art Curriculum
As a kid I loved Art.
It was my favorite subject.
Besides Recess and P.E. of course.
Art is something I try to include in my homeschool curriculum every year, but it always seems to take the back seat when life gets busy.
(If you follow my blog you may notice that I post TONS of art projects over the Summer when we actually have time for art. Â I call it Summer Art School)
Anyway, this year I found an amazing drawing curriculum that is ONLINE and requires NO help from me.
Let me repeat that.
NO HELP FROM MOM.
I provided art journals, #2 pencils, and when asked a drawing stump.
But that was it.
I set up their username and password and let them be for a couple of weeks. Â (i.e. Take it over Mark Kistler, this Mama is tired!)
Imagine my surprise when I picked up my daughter’s art journal and found this. (Continue Reading)