We had an amazing time in the Galápagos last month. We are still processing the images we captured (we took over 14,000 pictures and video clips). I know that the experiences we shared will be a part of our curriculum for months to come – there was just so much to take in. Undeniably, we will remember most the incredible wildlife of the islands.
We have been using nature journals in our homeschool from the very beginning and my children are both adept at recording their observations and sketching things of interest. As their skills have improved, I have been looking for something to instruct them on the finer points of art.
Art and Nature Study with CurrClick
Knowing of the vast resources available on CurrClick, I browsed the collection for materials specifically for instructional books or activities to help integrate art and nature study in our homeschool curriculum.
Creating Textures in Pen & Ink with Watercolor by Claudia Nice was the perfect tool. She does a wonderful job reviewing the tools of an artist (ink, watercolors, the color wheel, acrylics, brushes, etc.).
One chapter is devoted to the seven distinct texturing techniques: contour lines, parallel lines, crosshatching, dots or stippling, scribble lines, wavy grain lines and crisscross lines. This was the perfect lesson to connect our observations in islands with art techniques.
“Thick tangled foliage, flowing water, soft rabbit fur, weathered wood and the leathery folds of elephant skin could all be depicted with the stroke of a pen.” ~ Claudia Nice
The example illustrated in the text was a pelican; what luck! I thereby asked each of the kids to read the chapter independently, choose a bird from our trip Photostream, and then to practice each of the seven techniques in their nature journals.
Another fun resource that I found on CurrClick was Cranberry Dissection from the Kitchen Science Nature Study series by Roots and Wings Homeschool. I grew up in Bandon, Oregon where cranberries are a major agricultural crop.
A few years ago, we had the opportunity to observe how cranberries are harvested. Cranberry Dissection is a fun and simple activity that guided us through the physiology of the fruit. What I loved best was the inquiry activity, “The Cranberry Bounce”.
For Thanksgiving, my dad had brought up a bag of fresh organic cranberries from the bogs we had visited previously (he volunteers each year to help harvest the cranberries). The kids and I thereby spent some time bouncing cranberries as we awaited our turkey dinner.
Sorting the berries by hand is a hard, tedious process. Most growers today use devices that tumble and bounce the berries. The freshest berries bounce along the conveyer, but the damaged, poor quality berries do not bounce and are left behind.
12 Days of Christmas CurrClick Giveaway
Christmas is right around the corner and I am delighted to share with you the wonderful giveaway happening at CurrClick. For the next 12 days, some friends and I are partnering with CurrClick with the 12 Days of Christmas Homeschool Freebies and Resources.
Each day will bring a new post with how we use CurrClick in our homeschool. Then, we’ll share the love with you by giving you a new freebie each day, plus an opportunity to win a CurrClick gift certificate!
Start with this freebie:
From December 1 through December 3, you can download this Penguins lapbook for FREE with the code CC12Days2.
Then visit each of the participating blogs for another wonderful freebie from CurrClick and register to win a $20 CurrClick gift card. There will be 12 freebies and 12 gift cards given away in all!
Enter here and at the end of the 12 Days Of Homeschool Freebies and Resources, we’ll draw 12 names for 12 $20 CurrClick.com gift certificates!