Before FIAR Co-op: I am an Artist

This is a co-op based on the book, I am an Artist by Pat Lowery Collins.  This book highlights all of the ways you can find art in nature.  Its a beautiful look at the world God has created for us to enjoy!

Eliana came to co-op with her newest friend.  He has been following her around a lot for the last month of so!  Its Daniel's and he has generously shared.  

For our devotion, the story of creation was shared with the children.

After talking about what was made on each day ...

they were given a set of circles, each depicting a day in creation, to put in order.

There were all sorts of things to explore as the child in the book did.  We used our five senses to explore different things.  Like shells and hearing the sound inside of it.

And smells to see what they could recognize.

Even tastes to explore too.

Look at the rainbow that is made when light hits the CDs.

Eliana wanted Curious George to feel the softness of the cotton too.

And beautiful treasures from the sea to touch and take home.

This was the only picture I took of our snack.  Can you see the star in the center of the apple?  You only find it when you cut it across which it not the typical way that we cut this fruit.  I love the details in so many things that point to a Creator!

The children made cloud pictures using a cotton ball attached to a clothespin.  They dipped the cotton ball into white paint and made the clouds on their blue paper sky.

This is Eliana's paper.  She just wouldn't do it.  I'm not sure why she really does ever want to do the crafts.  THis was a perfect one for her to try.  I'll have to remember to do it at home.  She has loved when I followed up and repeated the craft just for her.

The children also had a chance to try their hands at spin art.  Just squeeze in color onto a spinning circle.  It was neat.  Again though, Eliana was not interested in joining in.  

The bigger kids did another chapter from the Mad Scientist Club.  Rebecca helped Daniel with this amazing project!  Its a paper mache' balloon complete with basket, aviator, flames, ladder, ballast, etc.  I'm not sure if you can enlarge it if you click on it, but it really is a neat project!  This was taken as part of the "show and tell" at the beginning of the morning.  Each child can bring something that ties in - in any way - to the story.  I love seeing Rebecca getting interested and helping in their projects too.

The kids were treated to having one of the Dads teach the co-op on this day.  What a blessing.

Fun science experiments abounding!

They all had a wonderful time.

Fabulous morning!  I'm thankful for friends to share this time with each month!

Blessings
Leslie

FIAR Expo

This was a fun outing with our homeschool group.  This started a number of years ago as a way to show off the art that the children did while using FIAR.  It has evolved to include music, drama and other talents as well.  

Sweet sharing of scripture by siblings.

We had piano, guitar and other instruments which were played.

The children enjoyed watching and hearing their friends.

Is this not the sweetest?  Mom and Dad joining in with their daughter while she sings an original composition!  Beautiful!

Isaiah did a stop action movie using his Legos.

A duet

Guitar playing and singing.

We also had tables around the room with lots of art!

Each was listed with the child's name so we knew who the artist was for each piece.

We had displays from children of all ages from 3 to 17.  I love the variety.

Can you see the detail in these tiny pieces of art?!

We have great variety in art too from pottery to drawings, legos to painting and more.

This is Daniel's Lego piece reflecting the story of Papa Piccolo.  I wish you could see the details he included like the cardboard box that the cats slept in and more.

This is Eliana's snowman to go along with The Snowy Day.  We did this in co-op though she actually really did hers at home.

These are some of the notebooks that my boys keep with the FIAR studies in it.

So much there and my pictures don't capture it all!

This is our group of participants.

This was just a fun picture at the end of the morning of a cup/clapping game that the older girls were playing.

This is a fun and low key way to share art/talent within a group.  I encourage you to try it if you  haven't before.

Blessings
Leslie

20 years ago ...

I was so excited.  And nervous.  And ready to meet our baby.  I had no idea how my world was going to change.  I had no idea that being a Mom would be the best job I could ever imagine.  I had no idea that this tiny little person would alter my life in such huge ways.

(Don't laugh.  Large, loose clothes were the style then.)

He made his appearance early the next morning.  Oh, it was love at first sight!  Our first baby.  A boy!

 Perfect in every way!

 This started a sweet journey of building our family.  I loved the days we spent together.  I still do.

Today is the last day of my oldest being a teenager.  20 years.  It seems so long ago in some ways and just yesterday in others.  Its true that the days are long and the years are short.

 Happy Birthday Christopher!   I am thankful for you and for the work I see God doing in your heart and your life.  I pray for you often and always will.  Looking forward to celebrating with you tomorrow!

I love you!
Mom

Beyond FIAR co-op: Saturdays 3

For our third meeting of The Saturdays, we focused on chapters 5 and 6.  The subject of Shakespeare was the topic of the day.  We started the day with a devotion.  

The students were each given some information on Shakespeare or the time period to share with the group.

Trying to match up the information that they were given with a picture that corresponds with the facts.

Here is an example of the fact sheet and the picture that went with it on actors.  Only men were allowed to be actors so they played both the male and female parts.  This profession was not one held in high esteem during this time period.

Pictures of the Globe Theater.  This was a fun way to share information.

Next it was time to learn more about one specific play.  Macbeth.

We watched some short clips of the story Macbeth from a production called "this is macbeth".  They use minimal props and costuming.  We watched some of the scenes in part on youtube.  You can go here for more information.

www.thisismacbeth.com

Next the children split into 3 groups to perform 3 different scenes.  Each child was given a role to play.

They spent some time reading and learning their roles, practicing and then sharing it with the rest of the group.

Group 1 did the banquet scene.

The second group did a scene with Lady Macbeth and her doctor and a servant.

They all really seemed to enjoy doing this!  It was a lot more fun than I anticipated it being as well.

And the third group had one of the final scenes.

Complete with a sword fight.

Anyone know what the ball is?  Probably only if you are familiar with the play.

It was fun seeing them get into their roles and have fun with it!

As always our "snack" ends up being a meal and is a fun way to finish the day.

Bottled drinks are a treat.

Our own banquet scene.  What a fun group!

Thankful for this hands-on way of learning with a fabulous group of friends!

Blessings
Leslie