Latest Masterpiece

Here is what Lovely came home with today – they have been working on the horizon line – making their backgrounds more realistic. It’s painting/collage. I may be biased, but I think it is pretty awesome!

I love how her teacher lets them be creative while exploring the type of art. She welcomes their individuality, learns from them while guiding them. She's awesome! Lovely wanted to add some collage pieces to it, and she let her, and Lovely wanted purple mountains "unique leaves" (?) and she did. I appreciate this so much. The grass could be purple and I'd be thrilled because she's thrilled. 

Creatures of Myths and Legends

Our local natural history museum is hosting an exhibit on creatures of myths and legends. We went last weekend, and it was really awesome. We're actually going back today (for a sneak peak at a new permanent children's exhibit opening next week) so I may get better pics than the ones below if we revisit the mythical lair, but last week was so fun for the kids (and the adults)!!

It was a mixture of true creatures mistaken and turned into legend, and great legendary figures we all know and love. You can bet we came home and read some great myths!!

Learning about rocks at a learning station

Unicorns - a huge hit!

Narwhal horn (or...a unicorn horn??? lol)

Trusty Pegasus

Fantastic dragon!

Mermaids....or Manatees?

Bigfoot, or ancient prehistoric gorilla?

Chinese Dragon

More Dragon Lairs

The Griffin

The Kraken!

A true animal - the largest bird

VERY cool!! Can't wait to go an explore the new children's area today!!!! We are so blessed to live near such great places to learn and explore!

The Scream

Last week, Lovely learned about expressionist Edvard Munch. They studied one of the versions of his famous work, "The Scream." They learned about expressionism, did some work in his style, then did their own versions.

Here is a close up of Munch's work:

Here is Lovely's interpretation of herself in the work:

I REALLY loved this. On top, Lovely drew things that made her scream, such as:
~ a cobra
~ a vampire (????)
~ a spider
~ a dragon roller coaster.

On the bottom she drew things on the bottom that don't make her scream, such as bumblebats (??) and guinea pigs.

I love her creativity.

Learning Multiplication

The tray is full of shapes to group to answer the fill in the blanks.

Lovely figuring out the answers.

She did it! Time to practice more!

This semester we are starting to learn about groups, and "of". 5 groups of 2. 4 groups of 4. You see where this is leading....multiplication!  We started this last week, and work on the vocabulary as we do manipulatives. We are grouping everything! I was/am a bit nervous teaching this stuff. I have such a struggling background in math. But, this has been, and is, wonderful for ME. I'm seeing things differently, feel less threatened, and love learning these concepts again. Lovely is enjoying learning with me which makes this all worth it!! She's a lot smarter than her momma!

Feast of St. Blaise

We hosted a learning play date at our house in February that fell on the Feast of St. Blaise. So, for snack time we made little candles out of pretzels, marshmallows, and orange colored sugar.  It was a lot of fun and tasty too!!!

dyeing the sugar orange

mixing the color in

Science Center Visit with Friends

We were also lucky to take a trip to the science center again while the water exhibit was there with amazing friends. It was so nice for Lovely to learn with other friends and special moms. I learned too - I'm always learning! I sat back and learned from the great moms in my company.

Playing in the water carved canyon

Reviewing the properties of water

What happens downstream when a river is dammed or unleashed

salt water formations

Super Mom!! Seriously! My hero!

Firld Trip - Nature Rescue

We were able to take our children to a local nature preserve/rescue park. It was so much fun! We could see the animals up close (including a male peacock working it for the ladies - Lovely got a great lesson in what male birds, with all their color and dancing, do to attract a mate!).

New Art Class

Art is such an important part of learning. It is also a strength of Lovely's, and while we do our own home art studies, Lovely wants more, and other teachers in her life last year commented she needed more guidance and learning from a professional if we could do it. We enjoyed our 1st semester location (a drawing class), but I wanted a something more rounded, but nearby our home. We found the perfect place that opened at the start of the semester. The teacher is wonderful, we're supporting a local business and artist, and the location is perfect. I love her lesson plans and goals for the class. Lovely is THRIVING. 

Here Lovely poses with her teacher and her cave painting which was done on the wall.

This was their cave fire, where they learned how the earliest artists got their painting materials from ash, etc.

Her teacher is so accommodating. One of her class times worked best for me, but no one had signed up for it. Her teacher said "No problem! Lovely gets my undivided attention!" How awesome! In the last 2 weeks, another girl has joined this class time - but Lovely really enjoyed that special time, and still does with her new friend!

Ms. L's plan centers around either an artist, or type of art. They learn the history together, the characteristics of the art, the artist (if possible) and do an example of the art as the artist would have. Then, the children do their own version of the particular art or genre. It is fantastic! 

Though I love educating at home, I love being able to take Lovely to a place to get an education suited to her needs, skills, and challenge - something we just didn't have time for previously or could be given to her at school. I don't mind sharing the home educating job!!! :)

We've been learning - I promise!

Man - it has been a busy semester!I am so behind recording some of our activities here!  I'll do a catch up and then hopefully share some thoughts in the next few days on how our home educating days are shaping up (lots of changes from last semester).

First - a quick wrap up from December - the end of the semester. Below was Valiant's preschool Christmas show. She was so cute! Everyone did a great job!!

2 year old classes: Yes, the smallest 2 (mine) is next to the tallest 2 lol

After Val was done, the girls cuddled up for the rest of the show.

Happy Sisters! Both girls are wearing childhood outfits of mine!

And here are some pictures of the girls doing some of their Advent unit - like the Lenten Adventures:

And here is Lovely working on Christmas crafts - we used her home art time to make gifts for family:

and now....speaking of art - the next entry will be about our new art class!!