Homeschooling Art: Pattern Project

This picture is an example of a scene partially rendered with patterns to be used as an example for students.

Regular Moms Can Teach Art!

YOU can teach this art project! Sure you can. . . your students like to do art projects and just need a little nudge in that direction. All of a sudden their creative talents will kick in and wow! some art will be happening.

Project supplies: Bristol board or some other sturdy paper, 8 x 10 size, pencils, erasers, Sharpie or other black markers in regular and fine tip

This pattern project is a nice place to start. It is a 2 week project, a total of about 1 hour each week.

This project starts with some talk about patterns. For the first class, the student is instructed to come up with 12-16 ideas for patterns. We used paper from our copier and drew these with a black marker. My pattern paper looked like this:

Then we chose a subject to draw. For younger students, a fish works well. For older students (4th grade and up), I allow them to choose the object or scene they want to draw. Of course, some ideas will work better than others.

The drawing can be a scene, an object like an ice cream cone, or a vase of flowers. They need to finish the patterns and their drawing in about an hour. This would complete the art class for week one.

Use bristol board or some other sturdy paper cut to 8 by 10 inches for their drawing. They can draw in pencil but then they should go over their lines with a black marker. *See FAQ’s below.

Teaching tip: At this time, use your copier to make two photo copies of their drawing before they start filling in any patterns. One copy is in case they want to start over and the other is in case they want to do a second project with colored markers.

The second class is for filling in their picture with the patterns they have drawn. The second class should last about an hour.

Use permanent black markers in various thicknesses to fill in their drawing with various patterns. I like to use regular Sharpies as well as the fine-tip version.

  • Do they have to use all their patterns? No, but they should use 9-12 patterns.
  • Can they use black and white spaces, too? Yes, I let them.
  • Can they use color? I recommend doing the first project in black and white. If they want to do a second project with color, use the copy of the picture they made. (See teaching tip above.)
  • What if it doesn’t look very good to me? I ask my students, Did you do your best? That’s what God expects! If not, let’s start over.
  • How can this be displayed? You can frame it or cut out the object and mount it on colored construction paper.

Last step: Have each student sign and date their picture: Susie Doe ©2022

Bonus:

I don’t know how your week went but my husband painted our main bathroom this past week. That means it was taken apart, moved around, got new trim and paint and is now being put together. I could say it was an inconvenient week but I’m going to say, “Wow! I love the bathroom with the fresh paint.”

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Isn’t it wonderful that we are new in Christ? We are not just painted over, but new from the inside out!

New Life in Christ by John W. Peterson

New Life in Christ! Abundant and free!
What glories shine, what joys are mine,
What wondrous blessings I see!
My past with its sin,
The searching and strife,
Forever gone, there’s a bright new dawn!
For in Christ I have found New Life!

Gym idea: The President’s challenge is a good February idea for gym class. With an emphasis on flexibility, strength, and coordination, the tasks for this challenge are different enough from most sport activities to capture students’ interest. You can find more information HERE.

Mom: Help! Any suggestions for activities for the kids to make it through the winter blues of February? or a muddy Spring?

Every. Single. Homeschooling. Mom. is wondering the same things . Seriously can’t wait for spring to get here so we can go outside regularly.

EVERY homeschool mom needs some extra ideas to get through February. Don’t get “blue” like this little pup! Click here for some new ideas to help you!

Bonus: If you or your child (junior or senior) is interested in learning free-lance video editing for weddings, make sure you contact my friend Sarah Rosendahl at SarahRose04@gmail.com to take her class. This class is good for a side-hustle for moms to bring in extra income or for students! If you want more information about Sarah, you can read here.

And just for FUN, here’s a couple of reels from this past week: Let’s RaceGiraffe in the Nursery, and The Puzzle.

If you need some homeschool mindset coaching, let’s chat! Let’s create a plan tailor made for your family. Email me at homeschoolchristianmom@gmail.com.

Homeschool Art: Personality Flag Art Project

Just like a state flag tells something about the state, your personality flag art project will tell something about you. If you are teaching a class, this is a great project to help you to get to know your students.

What will you put on your flag? An object? An animal? Your favorite dessert? A quote or verse? A picture of a musical instrument?

Materials:

  • Watercolor paper
  • Watercolor paint
  • Brushes
  • Water
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Magazines, pictures, calendar pictures, and books for ideas

Step 1

Use a light pencil line to divide your paper into 5 spaces like this:

This image visually describes the way to divide up the page for the flag art project.
What objects, animal, quote, or food will you choose to tell me something about you?

Step 2

Choose what you will draw in each space.

Beginning of layout for the flag art project. A chickadee picture and an apple are painted on the page.
Lightly draw your ideas and begin painting your flag.

I recommend starting with a favorite animal, as this is often an easier decision.

Student has painted a tiger eye for her flag art project.
This student is both bold and mysterious as shown by the tiger’s eye!

You do not have all 4 spaces drawn in before you begin painting. I have found that this project tends to come together best one space at a time.

In beautiful writing, the Bible verse Eph 4:32 is written for this flag art project.
This is one of my favorite verses.

For verses or quotes, you can use your computer to try out different fonts and arrangements to find a pleasing layout. I had fun finding this fancy “B” in a calligraphy book. I used a light watercolor wash behind it, to look like it was written on parchment.

Our finished projects:

Finished Flag Art Project
What a great job!
This flag art project shows what this student likes: art, sewing, strawberry cheesecake and tigers
Art, sewing, strawberry cheesecake and tigers!

What will YOUR flag look like? I hope you try this project at home and post your Personality Flag on FB in my Homeschool Christian Mom group, where I have more art projects as well as homeschooling tips and tricks and resources. See you there!

Bonus: Is teaching art important? Of course I think it is!

  • Art teaches you to look closely at the beauty around you. God’s magnificence is in every landscape, every flower, ever person.
  • Art teaches you to make decisions.
  • Art teaches you to learn something new, whether it is a new media (pencils, markers, watercolor or acrylic paint, etc.) or a new art project.
  • Art can be used to learn about different time periods and different cultures.
  • Because we don’t know how the Lord will use our children in the future, we need to have them prepared for whatever He calls them to do. Jobs that use art: teachers, preachers, missions, youth ministries, graphic art, design and marketing.
Homeschool Christian Mom Elizabeth Estelle is ready to help you!

I homeschooled our four children K – highschool. I managed the challenge. Let me provide resources in your “I’m stuck” moments so that you can get back to teaching your children and homeschooling happily.

Let’s connect:

Do you need some extra homeschooling help? Use this free link to get on my calendar and let’s chat! Move from being a hesitant homeschool mom to a happy homeschool family.

Youtubes videos you might also like:

Biblical Worldview 1 https://youtu.be/qPWAq95mV8k
Biblical Worldview 2 https://youtu.be/01Nc2Lq0kRA
Biblical Worldview 3 Salt and Light https://youtu.be/-F-ujTgVo5M
Biblical worldview 4 By Faith https://youtu.be/bJ3MX17wmNs
Biblical worldview 5 Don’t be intimidated https://youtu.be/aHXNj1hddKk

Review of With Art in Mind art textbook and with an example Porthole Project This is a fun and successful art project.  https://youtu.be/Mwlcx8HR4yg