Fine Arts

I just read your other post about school taking too long, and how you are doing your picture study – music study every other day (I think that’s what I read).  =)

Here’s what we do:

Monday – Hymn study, Picture study

Tuesday – Music Study, handicrafts

Wednesday – Hands-on Art (painting, drawing, clay, etc)

Thursday – Nature Study, Music Lessons

 Friday – Shakespeare (once a year for 1 term or less), computer time

We do scripture, literature, poetry, practice the hymn from Monday, and listen to the music study CD every day.  We listen to the audio books while we are doing our handicrafts.

I tried to spread it out so there was something “fun” or “special” everyday.  HTH

Our Fine Arts scheduling is like this for this year:

Wed and Thurs. -Poetry;

   children read aloud poetry and narrate; I read a poet bio if available

Thurs. -Music day;

   children read individual books on subject; I read Opal Wheeler aloud;

Fri.-Art and Shakespeare

   dd does Artistic Pursuits independently; both read books on artist; I read aloud a book related to the artist and his time period- we discuss the artwork.

   With Shakespeare, we just finished E. Nesbit’s book and am beginning the Lamb version, read aloud at lunch-time. Sometimes they are busted taking Shakespeare into their rooms to read in their free time.

I coordinate the artist and the composer with the time period in history we’re studying. We go to museums, ballets and plays, including Shakespeare, about 3-4x a year (I’d like to do more than that, but I can’t afford it). I play classical music regularly and they listen to it on the radio at night. I have the Nest videos series on artists and composers that have been helpful, too. PLus, I use my Netflix subscription liberally in ordering documentaries about the various subjects in our Fine Arts schedule. I schedule to watch them on their allotted day.

I haven’t made my schedule yet for next year since we won’t even be finished this year until Aug., but I am pulling my resources togther. I’ve decided to use Music of the Hemispheres from Micheal Clay Thompson’s Poetics Program one day a week while continuing the casual nature of reading aloud poetry for enjoyment.

HTH,

Rachel