I love art and have never shied away from teaching art in our homeschool. Art is a wonderful form of self-expression and can easily be added into your homeschool days by having activities such as drawing in journals or times for painting.
As important as it is to allow for free creativity, it’s also critical that children get exposed to creating while using assorted mediums and techniques. If you don’t have any personal art experience, this task may be daunting.
Fortunately, the internet has made art instruction much more accessible to homeschool families. With a few taps on the keyboard, you can have the world of art at your fingertips!
While I love teaching art, sometimes I need a bit of inspiration. One of my favourite ways of including art in our curriculum is through online art classes. I love the creativity, diversity, and flexibility of online learning.
Overwhelmed by the idea of adding art to your #homeschool curriculum? Check out this solution! Click To TweetHere’s how we make online art instruction work for us!
Clarify the purpose of online instruction.
Before you start looking into online instruction, clarify the reason why you’re seeking it out. Perhaps you’re wanting to fill a curriculum gap. Or maybe you’re unsure of how to teach a particular technique? Or perhaps you want an online course to add diversity to your day’s instruction. Or maybe you’re wanting to explore art history?
Establish your purpose before you seek out your curriculum. This step will help you choose the best online curriculum to meet your family’s needs.
Purchase a quality program.
Make sure that the program you’re purchasing is high quality, offers lifetime access, and provides a variety of materials. I love Flourish/Alisha Gratehouse’s online classes because of how much they offer. Most of her sessions include:
- lessons using various media (sketching, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, etc.)
- usually, 18-20 art projects are taught per course
- detailed, high-quality instruction
- “extras” such as poetry, printable PDFs study guides, etc.
- lifetime access to the course
Gather supplies.
Most online programs provide you with a supply list. Before you even embark on your first lesson, take the time to gather all the supplies for the course.
Also, art doesn’t have to be expensive. Be creative with where you purchase your supplies. I get the majority of my supplies from dollar stores, by using 40% off coupons at craft supply shops, and by watching for sales on Amazon.
Preview.
I like to watch each online art class before my children actually engage in it. This way, I can prepare for any obstacles or challenges to the lesson.
Teach.
When it’s time for my children’s art lesson, I gather the materials ahead of time and prep a space for creation.
I like to stream the lessons through the television, so I often set up an art table in the middle of the living room. It works for us and keeps the kitchen table clear for the remainder of our homeschool work.
Display.
I think one of the most important aspects of art creation is displaying the final product. I frame many of my girls’ artwork and use it to decorate their rooms and our hallways.
Celebrate.
We your children complete an online art program, why not celebrate? Perhaps you could host an “art show” and invite extended family members and friends to come and view your children’s creations. You could serve hors d’oeuvres and beverages too!
Reflect:
Have you ever done an online art class with your children? What was your experience like? Please take a moment to comment below and then share this post with your homeschool community.
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