Product Review "See The Light: The Easter Story"

Product Review "See The Light: The Easter Story:"

See The Light Shine consists of a team of Christians. The ARTISTS provide "specialties that include teaching a large variety of techniques, art history, chalk artistry, performance art, gospel chalk art (with black light), crafts, creative lettering, and more; MUSICIANS whose talents include songwriting, musical performance, arranging, and producing."

In this DVD Bible Story Crossmaker Easter Story and Art Lesson, Heidi Shorts (See The Light artist) teaches on the art of Creative Lettering. (28 minutes) Gloria Kohlmann (chalk artist and commentary) draws her interpretation of the Easter story. See The Light Art Teacher Pat Knepley provides students with a step-by-step drawing lesson using chalk pastels. At the end of the lesson, the student is able to create her own black light reveal. (32 minutes) And "Jim Pence gives a tutorial in water colors as young artists discover The Joy of Art." (25 minutes) As a bonus, "REVEL in the original contemporary music per- formed by “Breathing Room” recording artists Jan Roper and Kevin Dukes while watching Gloria Kohlmann draw her remarkable art expression of the Easter Story." The story is for children 3 years old and older and the art lessons are for 6 years old and older.

THE CROSSMAKER story starts with an older man "grandpa" telling a group of children a Bible story of a boy named Dominic. Dominic was asked by his father to deliver crosses. The young boy is not thrilled to comply. He is embarrassed and is concerned because his friends will ridicule him. His father shares that the crosses are going to be for three men. Two were criminals and the third.... we know He was not. (16 minutes)

Cost of DVD
$14.99
Contact

Our Homeschool Experience:

My daughter and I loved watching the story of the little boy named Dominic. Watching him go through struggles with feelings of embarrassment and concern for what others think is a daily issue for some of us. We also loved watching Gloria's interpretation of the Easter Story. And we loved the usage of Scripture during the art lessons.

I loved the utilization of mixed media. For example, my daughter learned about Creative Lettering, water colors, and using chalk pastels. The step-by-step instructions were easy to follow. The website included all of the information needed to find out what supplies would be used for each project. The "big reveal" was pretty awesome to see.

My daughter's big reveal

One of the techniques that we learned was how to use tissue or a cloth to control the shade of a color. By using a tissue, you are able to pull some of the pastel making a softer shade. By using a light a dark version of the same color, one may make the illusion of a rocky surface. We also learned how to lift a piece of paper when using water colors to make the colors blend.

My daughter and I love, love, love The See the Light Bible Stories collection. 

"The SEE THE LIGHT team is dedicated to bringing scripture and biblical principles to viewers in a fresh, engaging way. . . and promising to teach some exciting art skills along the way!"

I have been given this product free of charge for review purposes. 

Homeschool Mega Giveaway

A Child's Geography Book Launch: Explore the Classical World

Prize List:

A Child's Geography Volume 3 with Wonders of Old Timeline Book ($59.90)

NotebookingPages.com Treasury Membership ($99.95)

Philosophy Adventure Physical set ($89.95)

Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries Intro Pack from Diana Waring ($64.95)

Writeshop Primary Level (winners choice of A, B, or C) ($51.85)

Raising Real Men prize package ($100) Raising Real Men Book, My Beloved and My Friend Book, A Cry From Egypt Book, Boot Camp 9-12, Hero Tales Complete set

A Journey Through Learning $50 Gift Certificate

3 Months A+ Tutorsoft ($49.95)

Lilla Rose (2 Flexi Clips) ($32.00)

See The Light (2 DVDs) ($30)

King Alfred's English and Baktar (Laurie White) ($25)

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Back to School Giveaway

Back to School Giveaway

Have you heard of Awana, Study Smarts, Classical Composers, Institute of Excellence in Writing, Music Together, and See the Light? For this month's giveaway, the vendors mentioned have kindly donated items for me to giveaway.Thank You!!!!

"Whether you attend a public school, private school, homeschool, on-line school or a combination of a few, Study Smarts will help you maximize your education."

"While the DVD cover and workbook are the same for 5-8 and 9-12, the content and the delivery is age appropriate in the DVD presentation. We figured high school students could have a little fun with the characters because the content is college preparatory!"

See the Lightshine brings artists with different specialties together to bring a variety of techniques, art history, chalk artistry, performance arts, gospel chalk art (with black light), crafts, and creative lettering. Musicians include songs they have personally written, performed, arranged, and produced. "The SEE THE LIGHT team is dedicated to bringing scripture and biblical principles to viewers in a fresh, engaging way. . . and promising to teach some exciting art skills along the way!" See The Light offers 5 Bible Stories that incorporate hands on art lessons.

Read more about See The Light on my blog. 

"Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age 7—and the grownups who love them™. First offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement."

"Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning."

Now families may enjoy learning about fine art. Fine Art Pages Collection 1 provides an easy and inexpensive way to introduce your children to amazing artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and Claude-Oscar Monet. With this collection you will receive a printable collection of 25 famous paintings. All you would need to do is print out the fine art pages onto regular paper or card stock. Then stick the art pages anywhere in your house.

Read more about the Fine Art Pages Collection on my blog. 

 

Excellence in Writing Teaching the Classics uses short stories and the Socratic approach as a model to teach about character, plot, theme, and other elements of fictional and literal analysis.

Read more about the Institute of Excellence in Writing on my blog. 

    "Looking for a complete ministry for preschool to high school
    or seeking a program for a specific age group?
    Needing curriculum that changes young lives through God's Word
    And interested in reaching the community with the gospel?"

Read more about one of the products Awana offers.

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Review on "The HomeGrown Preschooler Teaching Your Kids in the Places They Live

About The Homegrown Preschooler:

Gryphon House is an award winning resource site. One of the resources that the site provides is the book  The Homegrown Preschooler. This how-to parenting book offers organizational tips, recipes, and over 200 hands on activities for your preschooler. The resource book helps one to find learning experiences in everyday occurrences. "As straightforward as a parenting how-to book and as easily applicable as a set curriculum, The Homegrown Preschooler will inspire parents to use their homes as classrooms and take advantage of the naturally rich learning opportunities existing in everyday life!" The site also provides hundreds of  free activities and free crafts for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school children.

$29.95

Gryphon House, Inc.

PO Box 10

6848 Leon’s Way

Lewisville, NC 27023

ORDER PLACEMENT: 1-800-638-0928 (US only)

Fax: 1-877-638-7576

Our Homeschool Experience:

Both of my daughters loved the activities in this book. Even though the book is designed for younger children, I was able to include my 7 year old in many of the activities. For example, both girls love to paint. One particular morning, I had them paint to music. I played a variety of music and encouraged the girls to paint whatever they felt the "music sounds would look like." Another activity that they were able to do together was playing with the sensory table. My father in law built one and the girls have not been able to stop playing in it. They have taken their toys and hid them in the sand. I hid different shapes and asked my 3 year old to try to find them. Once she did, she had to try to tell me what the shapes were. Another activity that the girls did together was the "Salt Dough." Once they made the dough, my youngest created some shapes and my oldest spelled some of her spelling words. Learning how to sort was another activity in the book.  A few days ago, I was doing the laundry and I had my girls help me sort it out. This daily mundane task became a teaching moment for the youngest.

We also made some of the recipes found in the book. "Sweet and Crunchy Chicken" was the best. We all loved it. The recipe called for chicken breast, honey, spicy brown mustard, olive oil, salt, garlic, black pepper, panko, and pecans or almonds. The day before we made this recipe, I had cooked a whole chicken and had some left overs. I saw this recipe in the book and decided to try it out. Even though the recipe called for strips of chicken, I used shredded chicken. For the breading, I did not have enough walnuts (recipe calls for pecans or almonds) so I added peanuts and panko. It was really good!!!!!!! Another recipe that we tried was the "Chicken Bundles". The ingredients needed were chopped chicken, salt, cream cheese, chives, peas and carrots, milk, crescent rolls, butter, and crushed croutons. We did not enjoy this recipe as much as the other one but I'm not sure if it was because I used ground beef instead of chicken.


Gardening was another activity in the book. Coincidentally my oldest was involved in a summer gardening camp at the same time I was reviewing this book. One particular day, after the gardening camp, she came home with seeds in a paper towel. Because of this, we were able to do the activity "The Root of the Process".  Once the roots started growing both of my girls were able to see them  and I was able to explain how the roots receive their nutrients. This was a fun and really educational book. We all loved it and we would recommend it.

 

 I have been given this product free of charge for review purposes. 

"Read what the rest of the Crew had to say about The Homegrown Preschooler"

Schoolhouse Review Crew

Review on Fine Art Pages Collection 1

 

Now families may enjoy learning about fine art. Fine Art Pages Collection 1 provides an easy and inexpensive way to introduce your children to amazing artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and Claude-Oscar Monet. With this collection you will receive a printable collection of 25 famous paintings. All you would need to do is print out the fine art pages onto regular paper or card stock. Then stick the art pages anywhere in your house. For example, the children's bathroom, the front door, their bedrooms, etc. Once the kids are walking around the house, they will notice the art pages. What an opportune moment to discuss who the artist was, the name of the piece, materials used, etc. While having lunch at the table or even taking a shower. You might ask the kids questions about the piece of art. Art becomes a "part of life" experience. You might decide to go over one art piece a week or go over more if your child is able old enough to retain the information so quickly. How ever you decide to do this, it is totally up to you. "Because however you do it, using these Fine Art Pages is going to introduce your children to art like never before. They are going to grow up knowing the names of some famous works on art and know which artist created them."

We really enjoyed learning about the famous artists. I taped the art pages all over the house and whenever my oldest and I would walk by one of the art pages, I would ask her questions about it. She would answer them and we would continue on our way. I loved how easy the art lessons were. They did not require any planning, research, or time.We loved this program and we would recommend it.

$14.95 For Complete Set

Price subject to change without notice.

I have been given this product free of charge for review purposes.

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Review on Classical Conversations: PreScripts Cursive Sentences and Art Lessons

 

 About PreScripts:

Classical Conversations provides resources for homeschool families that are interested in using Classical Education. The book that I was given to review was PreScripts Cursive Sentences and Art Lessons. In this book, students ages 7-12 are taught how to write sentences in cursive and learn drawing techniques. The sentences provided for the students are about the medieval and world history. "The book is divided into four sets of six history notes each, so upon completion, your child will have had the opportunity to master twenty- four history notes about Charlemagne, the Magna Carta, and the Hundred Years’ War, among other topics." The drawing opportunities will not only help your child learn how to use a grid, map, and many other techniques but also assist in developing fine motor skills. Once the child learns the drawing techniques, the book provides practice in working independently so she may experiment with the different techniques that she just learned. These sample pages will give your student an opportunity to experience the  PreScripts Cursive Sentences and Art Lessons.

 

$12.99

Our Homeschool Experience:


I was really excited when I was selected to review PreScripts Cursive Sentences and Art Lessons. We have been learning about the Medieval Times so I was able to incorporate many of the sentences and art techniques provided in this book. The first section of the book, helped my daughter try to learn how to write her letters in cursive. Since I'm wanting to use this book with my second child, I had my oldest use tracing paper to write her letters in cursive. I would place the tracing paper on top of the page with the cursive letters and tape the paper to the front cover of the book. This would prevent ripping when I would remove the tape. My daughter would then trace the letters. We did this for a few days until she became a bit frustrated. Her frustration had nothing to do with the program. I thought she was developmentally ready to learn how to write in cursive at 7 years old but maybe I was being a bit too overzealous. Since we then skipped the whole cursive lesson, I would read the sentences provided in the book and have my daughter complete the art assignments. One of the sentences that I read to her was " In 800 AD during the medieval period, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor of Europe." Since we had been learning about this particular era, we had learned about Charlemagne, the Crusades, and the Magna Carta. With this particular sentence, the art technique that we learned about was pattern. " An artist creates a pattern by repeating an element." In the drawing provided in the book, Charlemagne was being crowned Holy Emperor.Another art technique that we learned about was foreground, middle ground, and background. The drawing told the story of a battle during the Crusades. The sentence provided for this art technique was " Eleanor of Aquitaine and her son Richard the Lion - Hearted, fought the Turks for Jerusalem during the time of the Crusades, which occurred from 1095 to 1291." Depth was the next technique that we learned about. The drawing provided to illustrate the technique showed King John signing the Magna Carta. The history note provided for the handwriting lesson stated " English King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215 limiting the king's power. Later, England's King Edward III claimed to be king of France and began the Hundred Years' War in 1337." There were many other art techniques that we learned about such as illuminations and point of view. I'm sure that you have noticed me using the pronoun "we" a lot. Yes, I also learned about history and many art techniques. We really loved this book and we would recommend it.

 

I have been given this product free of charge for review purposes. 

"Read what the rest of the Crew had to say about IEW PreScripts Cursive Sentences and Art Lessons"

Schoolhouse Review Crew

Review on See the Light: Shipwrecked Story & Art Lessons

About Shipwrecked:

See the Lightshine brings artists with different specialties together to bring a variety of techniques, art history, chalk artistry, performance arts, gospel chalk art (with black light), crafts, and creative lettering. Musicians include songs they have personally written, performed, arranged, and produced. "The SEE THE LIGHT team is dedicated to bringing scripture and biblical principles to viewers in a fresh, engaging way. . . and promising to teach some exciting art skills along the way!" See The Light offers 5 Bible Stories that incorporate hands on art lessons. The one that I was selected to review was Shipwrecked. In this story, Giovanni accompanies his dad on a journey full of hope and fear. The boat is destroyed but one prisoner that knows God changes everything. While the child is experiencing the story, she is seeing the Biblical tale of the Apostle Paul through the eyes of Giovanni. After the story ends, chalk artist Gloria Kohlmann draws her interpretation of the story utilizing black light. Artist Heidi Shorts teaches the art of Creative Lettering by helping the child create letters that look as though they were built with weathered wood and nails. "Master Artist Pat Knepley leads budding young artists in a step-by-step drawing lesson using chalk pastels. Turn on the black light to see that it is the cross of Jesus that saves!" Jim Pence gives a mixed media tutorial as children learn how to create a lighthouse. While watching Gloria Kohlmann draw, you would hear the original contemporary music performed by “Breathing Room” recording artists Jan Roper and Kevin Dukes.The story is for ages 3 and up and the art lessons are for children 6 and older. The cost for Shipwrecked is $14.99.

Contact

Our Homeschool Experience: 

My daughter and I loved watching the story of the Apostle Paul while learning how to use different art media. We used pastels, extreme colored pencils, and water colors to name a few. My daughter learned how to draw a lighthouse, make letters look as though they were made of wood and nails, and draw a ship with the silhouette of Paul pointing to a cross in the sky. When she completed the drawing of the Apostle Paul in a ship pointing to the cross in the sky, she was able to use a black light and see the cross glow. That was pretty amazing. She also learned how to utilize masking tape to keep the water colors from running. We had so much fun learning about the Bible and using art to depict certain scenes. Shipwrecked was an awesome DVD and we would recommend it. 

 I have been given this product free of charge for review purposes. 

"Read what the rest of the Crew had to say about See The Light"

Schoolhouse Review Crew

 

Activities in a Bag

Activities in a Bag

Crafts

About Activities in a Bag:

Activity in a Bag Crafts, provides self guided and fun hands on activities for children from kindergarten through 6th grade. The activities are very engaging. Each craft is contained in a one gallon zipper bag. There are a total of three craft kits. The activities may be used by a single family or in a swap. The cost for each Craft Book is $15. This includes instructions on how to coordinate a swap and 32 sets of instructions on  how to put together crafts kits. Many of the supplies needed for the crafts are items you will already have available.

 Activity Bags
8090 Downing Dr.
Denver, Co. 80229
303-288-0948
info@activitybags.com

Mosaic

Necklace

Daisy

 Our Homeschool Experience: 

My daughter and I would recommend Activities in a Bag and we LOVED it. We really enjoyed the hands on projects. It was so much fun to be able to complete the activities together and involve my 2 year old daughter. The instructions were easy to follow and I really appreciated that some of the supplies needed I already had. If I did not have an item, I was able to improvise. For example, with the bean mosaic, I did not have any dry beans so instead I used dry pasta and pom poms. My daughter also enjoyed making a mirror out of cardboard. At times while they were completing an activity, I played classical music in the background that I found on You Tube. My favorite experience was being able to complete some of the activities with my 2 year old. With her being so young, it's a bit hard to complete many of the lessons that I teach my 7 year old. Some of the crafts were a bit too young for my 7 year old so it was nice to be able to complete them with my youngest daughter. For example, she was able to color the template of the daisy and helped to glue the dry pasta and pom poms. Activities in a Bag is not complete for its purpose since some of the items might have to be purchased but I would recommend it.

I have received this product free of charge for review purposes.



 

Monks Illumination

Illumination Manuscript

Yesterday, my daughter and I (Yes, homeschool parents learn as well.) learned about the Medieval Times. We discussed the early monks of western Europe. We read about the monks who were leaders of the church in Rome. She learned that the monks lived together in special buildings called monasteries and they went to church eight times a day. During this time, they would pray and worship God. Monks also spent a large part of everyday reading the Bible. Many of the monks would work all day in special rooms called scriptoriums. In these rooms, they would make copies of the Bible and other important books. The monks started using a special paper called parchment out of animal skin. 

parchment paper

They would carefully decorate the pages of the books with beautiful colors which I'm sure was pretty time consuming. 

 

She really enjoyed learning about monks and Illumination Manuscript.

BookShelf Central: Artistic Pursuits

 

Artistic Pursuits:

BookShelf Central "is a one stop shopping for homeschooling with Tapestry of Grace." The site provides one with books that may be implemented with the curriculum. Artistic Pursuits is one of the books used with T.O.G.year 2 unit 2. This book is geared towards children in grades K-3 and the cost is $42.30. It features Gothic, Renaissance, and Academy Art of the 18th Century. Artistic Pursuits provides colorful illustrations and prints that depict the artist's life and work. The 32 lessons with projects provided by the workbook use art supplies one would already own. For example, the supplies are watercolor, tempera, oil pastels, sculpture, and mixed media. If you do not have the supplies, a trip to the hobby store will be in the near future. If this is not an option, Bookshelf Central can special order the supplies for you.

 

Bookshelf Central
1133 North Eastman Rd.
Kingsport, TN 37664
USA

David@BookshelfCentral.com
 

 

 

 

 

 My Experience:

 

Since this school year my 6 year old daughter is learning about the 1800's, I decided to introduce her to Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) and Jean -Francois Millet (1814-1875). The workbook Artistic Pursuits includes stories and the art of these two painters. In Project 29 Rubbings, my daughter was shown how to create texture in her picture. Turner was known for creating texture in his art work."He began to make paintings with heavy layers and texture in order to show wind, rain, and steam" He was also recognized for painting ships, steam locomotives, and sunsets. My daughter drew a picture of a church and added texture to the building. She place a sheet of drawing paper over a group of quarters. She then rubbed the paint onto the piece of paper. Aluminum was another texture she experimented with. In Lesson 30, there was a painting of the artist and a few questions for the student to answer in order to engage her in the conversation. "The Fighting Temeraire" was the painting we discussed. She loved looking at the picture of the painting and discussing the colors used by the artist. Another activity she enjoyed completing was Project 30: Mixed Media. With this particular assignment, she layered tissue paper in order to create a colorful and hazy affect. My daughter glued and layered the tissue paper onto construction paper, waited until it dried, and then she cut out a light house and glued it onto the tissue paper. 

Millet enjoyed painting the countryside of France. He used water color resist painting and techniques such as stand-up sponge painting. In Lesson 31, my daughter learned how to set up a painting area. She used water colors to create her master piece. "The Gleaners" by Millet, was one of his painting pictured for lesson 32. Millet painted people that he knew when he was a child. "This painting shows some of the poorest workers he knew." On the bottom of the page were questions pertaining to the painting? The questions helped my daughter engage in the conversation. For lesson 32 Stand-up Sponge Painting, my daughter drew a scene of the out doors and then drew objects onto construction paper. With a sponge she added foliage and leaves to the objections on the construction paper. Once everything was dry, she cut out the objects, folded the bottom edge, and glued it onto the base. She created a stand-up sponge painting. 

Layered Tissue Paper
Light House and Boat

Pop-Up Art
Girl and Trees

Overall Thoughts:

BookShelf Central made it really easy for me to find the books I needed. The selections were broken down into Year Plan, Units, Levels, Subjects, and List. All I had to do was click on the desired option and the books would be down loaded. My daughter and I really enjoyed using the work book Artistic Pursuits. We enjoyed learning about the artists and looking at pictures of their incredible pieces of work. Imitating some of the techniques used by these individuals was so much fun. We learned how to make a watercolor resist, use tissue paper to create a certain affect, texture, and stand-up sponge painting. Artistic Pursuits gave us the opportunity to not only learn about artists from a certain era but also use techniques that they utilized to create their master pieces. "What a great way to learn about the lives of artists that inspired generations!" We really loved completing the activities together and we would recommend it.

I have received this product free of charge for review purposes.