Monsters in my House

Before I share the monsters in my house, I want to share with all of you that I have some resources in my hands that I am currently reviewing. If you are a homeschooler and you are interested in finding out the newest great resources out there that could add to your life, then make sure to subscribe via email to receive my updates.

I will also be doing some giveaways of healthy products that I use that have contributed to our better health . More information coming soon!!

Now for the monsters...

Created by DD9 these were funky, colorful monsters that she drew and colored to give as a gift to a friend who had a birthday.

Look 

how confident 

those 

lines 

are!!!

Do your kids 

amaze you 

like mine amaze me??

I forgot to ask her,

but

I bet each one

has a name!

The monster with pink eyes has a ball. 

It was supposed to be his stomach, but it didn't look the way 
she wanted so she turned it into a ball!

Are you scared yet??

Blessings,

Tereza

My Daughter's Newspaper

As I mentioned on my Learning Log of April 2012, my DD9 read THIS book and decided she wanted to write a newspaper too. So she came up with a list of stories she wanted to write. I was a good secretary and took her dictation. You can read HERE about how to encourage your children's desire to write.

DD9 also wanted to sell ad space on her newspaper. So she was able to talk to her karate instructor to put an ad on her newspaper in exchange for a discount when purchasing her new sparring gear. A homeschooling friend asked if he could put an ad on her newspaper for his handmade soap. DD9 accepted in exchange for a bar of some strawberry smoothie soap.

Of course, DS6.5 and DD4 also wanted to include their own stories, so they became Contributing Writers to the newspaper. We distributed about 40 issues and everyone enjoyed it very much.

I was thrilled that DD9 had the idea and was able to accomplish something she thought up and persevered to finish her project. Now, she is working on the next issue.

First Page

Second Page - a fun crossword puzzle included.

Last page - a soap ad and the contributing writers news!

Sometimes, as an Unschooling Mom, I worry they are not learning enough.

 Maybe, I shouldn't worry.

oh, yeah! She came up with the newspaper's name, the crossword puzzle,

the riddle and the stories. I was just the secretary.

Blessings,

Tereza

Learning about ART

 *** lots of links, lots of information ----->>>>> proceed with caution!!! ******

 I am a very curious person and always eager to learn new stuff. I love to browse on Youtube and watch Orchestras playing or artists sharing painting or drawing techniques. So I recently began sharing those with my children.

I also subscribe to The Crafty Classroom.  I found Valerie in one of my many surfs through the web. She was using Van Gogh (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) to teach her children about the artist and she did some cool projects with it. I had to jump in and play too.

 Here is my DD8 artwork. Instead of the pastels used in Valerie's tutorial, we used crayons. You can still see the details of Van Gogh's artwork because of the glue behind the crayons. click on the image to see the details and make sure to check Valerie's link.

I am always for using what I have in hands instead of running to the store and buying new supplies. I got my house overflowing with stuff. How about you?

So anyway, I requested the book at my library. They didn't have it so they borrowed it from another library. yes, they can do that! Check out in your library and see if they have this service available. It's free to you.
 
After working with Van Gogh we borrowed the DaVinci book. I had been researching a craft about Resurrection Sunday that did not involve eggs or bunnies but Biblical icons instead.  I was glad when I received Barbara Curtis' monthly newsletter and she had some very helpful links in there. 

 One of the links lead to a website that taught how to make the scene painted by DaVinci of the Last Supper. How appropriate and I had the book!! As soon as my DD8 saw the craft supplies she exclaimed "oh, we are going to do the Last supper! I saw that painting from that book that I just read!"


Here is our Last Supper craft using egg cartons and print out coloring pages. All of my children participated in making the scene: some coloring, others cutting the figurines, another checking the original painting to see where each disciple went. We also heard the account on audio CD. Click on the image to enlarge it and see the details.

Here is a close up of the craft. You can see the details of the actual supper on the table and the egg cartons behind the paper figurines.








 
 I have also purchased the book on the left. I am planning to begin using it with my children. As you might remember my children love to draw! Don't all children love to draw? LOL


I am learning to relax with my children. Messes still make me squirmish but I am learning to go with the flow. :) I hope you will take the time to play and do some art today. :)

Blessings,
Tereza

Beware of the Bengal Tiger!

Did you know I homeschool? Yes, I get to spend all day with my 4 blessings.

We are trying some new classes this Spring. We are doing Science and Art together at home. So this past Tuesday we studied about the Bengal Tiger. As part of the study everyone gets to draw the animal we are studying and the ones that know how to write will write down characteristics of the animal and other information they want to remember.

Here is my 7 year old's take on the Bengal Tiger. I thought she was very creative and unique at how she saw the tiger.



here's my 4 year old's drawing. The animal is definitely fierce. Don't you think?



here's mine. I tried to duplicate what I saw on the book. So not original! :( My 2 year old helped me color it though. :)



Now if you would like to try your creativity without leaving home with what you got at home you need to head to my other blog for Thrifty Thursday.

Love to hear your comments.

Be blessed,
Tereza

Children's original Art Work

I have a very precocious little girl. She is always in a hurry to grow up so she can do things like Mama does. She hates naps. I believe because she has so much on her mind, she does not want to waste time sleeping.

She is always painting, drawing, trying to sew, color, playing pretending, telling stories and other things. She is proud that she is only 5 years old but she can mop the kitchen floor. She helps Mama around the house and is a very good big sister. As any child she still has her melt downs. :(

Yesterday Bela drew some really cute little girls. Of course, I got them mixed up. I thought the one on the left was 10 years old and the one on the right was a 5 year old. But she told me it was the other way around.


I suggested we made cards out of them and sell them on Etsy. Every time I make a card, she wants to make one too and sell it. She was immediately sold on the idea. With her help, I digitally colorized her drawing and we mounted it on a pretty background.

Once we printed the cards' fronts we cut them out and added a gingham ribbon as an accent. We are selling the cards as a set of 2. Bela is very proud to be selling her first cards on her Mama's shop. Of course, she wants her own store. I told her that when her art takes off we will have to open a shop just for her. For now, you can find Bela's Art right here.




Enjoy. :)

tereza