Pointillism Sunflowers

Pointillism Sunflowers

What began as an afternoon lesson for three children on the style and technique of pointillism turned into an enjoyable family art affair of pointillism and more!

We began by watching an art student’s tutorial on pointillism – learning briefly about Georges Seurat, seeing how to make a color wheel, learning how to create a graphite transfer, and being inspired by an elaborate pointillism Taj Mahal.

Next, we practiced the technique of pointillism by using markers and following along with another tutorial.

1 -Pointillism Practice

We also experimented with various sizes of tips – ends of paintbrushes, Q-tips, erasers, and small stamp sponges.

Next, we got out our primary colored acrylic paints and set to work creating a pointillism color wheel.

2 - Pointillism Color Wheel5 - Pointillism Practice

 

After all of that practice, we were ready to jump into our main project (and grandma joined us, too).

Step 1- Choose a sunflower!

5.2 Sunflower Project

Step 2 – Create a Graphite Transfer

5.5 - Graphite Transfer6 - Graphite Transfer7 - Graphite Transfer

 

Step 3 – Ready to Paint!

8 - Ready to Paint

Step 4 – Add dots

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and dots…

11 - Pointillism

and more dots!

12 - Pointillism

We discovered that this type of painting requires a great deal of patience and perseverance! 

 

Up until this stage of our project, the kids were very focused and only wanted a few pauses for stretching and a snack.  They were highly engaged and motivated!

After an overnight break, we started up again the next morning

to add more dots!

 

13 - Pointillism

14 - Pointillism

 

At various points, the older kids in our family decided to join in on the fun, too!  One chose to utilize the graphite transfer technique with a different image, one chose to use the graphite technique followed by regular painting, and one used a combination of brush stroke painting and pointillism.

 15 - Pointillism16 - Just Paint17 - Just Paint

 

Our completed pointillism sunflowers!

18- Pointillism19- Pointillism

And more!

20 - Pointillism
We had a wide age range of artists – elementary, middle school, high school, mom, and grandma.  Above, are some of our artists’ completed works!  Each of us experienced such a satisfying and relaxing time with family and friends as we let our creative expression flow!

Missionary Resources for Families

Missionary Resources for Families

Our oldest daughter has had a burden and a desire to participate in missions ever since she was little.  I remember that when she was eight, she wanted to be a missionary gymnast. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I didn’t think there was a place for that particular field in missions, but I knew that God could use any gift and skill for His glory and I was just delighted that she wanted to serve Him.   In middle school, she explored the possibility of being in aviation.  As she entered high school, she studied biology and thought maybe medical missions would be a good path.  Then, she developed new interests in writing (forming and sharing blog posts about missions, scripting plays, and authoring a novel) as well as coming alongside and supporting friends who were hurting.  So, now she is praying about the possibility of teaching, writing, or biblical counseling.

DSC_4782 

At sixteen, our daughter continues to aspire to follow Christ wherever He may lead her, but she remains uncertain what that will look like.   I want her to realize that it is perfectly O.K. and expected that she not have it all figured out.   She shouldn’t.   She sometimes seems restless as she so eagerly wants to get started in the ‘real work’ and can lose focus on her current tasks (like, ahem, school).   But I want her to hold on to the truth that God has a plan, and in His timing, He will show her the way and make it clear.  Until then, it is a time of learning academically , maturing emotionally, growing spiritually, and serving joyfully as she is able right where God has placed her.  He is faithful and I know that He will use every aspect of her life events, even ones she may not currently see a purpose in, to prepare her for even greater service and joy.  God doesn’t waste anything.

Attending missionary events at church, praying for missionary families, reading updates from missionaries that our family supports, listening to missionary biographies at home, and even participating in a vision trip at a young age all have worked together to fuel her passion for Christ and to help her to be open to God’s call to go.  But, even more importantly than those experiences is God’s Holy Spirit working in her young life so that she could truly understand the Gospel at a young age, acknowledge her sins, and see her need for the One true Savior – Jesus.  I am grateful to Him!

 

Do you have a child in your life who is interested in missions? 

Below are various resources that our family has used over the years to support and encourage a love for God and a love for His people throughout the world.

 

Books & Videos about Missionaries

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  • YWAM Missionary Biographies
  • 10 Girls Who Changed the World/ 10 Boys Who Changed the World
  • Little Lights missionary books (for younger kids)
  • Hero Tales by Dave and Neta Jackson
  • Trailblazer book series
  • Around the World with Kate and Mack (Wycliffe)
  • Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith video series

 

Prayer Resources

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  • Window on the World: An Operation World Prayer Resource (info/prayer)
  • Kids of Courage activity booklets (from Voice of the Martyrs Downloads page –Print free from online.)

About How Children Around the World Live

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  • Passport to the World: Your A to Z Guided Language Tour
  • Children’s Atlas of God’s World
  • Children Just Like Me
  • Around the World Coloring Book (Dover)
  • Wonderful Houses Around the World

 

Curriculum

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  • My Father’s World Exploring Countries and Cultures (elementary)
  • Geography and Missions – free printable schedule and notebook pages! (elementary)
  • Heart of Dakota World Religions and Cultures (high school)

 

Discipleship Course

 

“God involves us in His mission not because He needs us but because He loves us and in His mercy He has invited us to be involved in His sovereign design for the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth.”

~ David Platt

Books, Books, Books!

Books, Books, Books!

 

Well, it’s finally happened.  We have five voracious readers in the house!  Books line our shelves, the library basket is overflowing, and the children are requesting to go check out more.  I asked my children which books have been their favorites over the years.  Here is a list of some of their
best loved chapter books .

From second grade through middle school, they’ve compiled a tremendous list of book choices for you.  And, it’s just in time for summer reading!

IMG_3338Let’s Dig In!

 

 

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2nd Grade Favorites
   

Our fifth child took off with reading during his second grade year.  Yay! He went from loving the Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel to Marjorie Weinman Sharmat’s Nate the Great series.  He then surprised me and began reading the Imagination Station series!  He has almost completed all of the books in the Imagination Station series.  He enjoyed them so immensely that he requested that they be incorporated into his 8th birthday theme!    I’m hopeful we can find another series that he enjoys just as well.  He has (somewhat reluctantly) moved onto Geronimo Stilton books, but I’m planning on introducing him to the A to Z Mysteries, Encyclopedia Brown, and the Boxcar Children soon!

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Frog and Toad
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Nate the Great
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Imagination Station
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Geronimo Stilton
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His sister, when she was 7-8 years old, loved the Amelia Bedelia chapter books by Herman Parish, the Critter Club series by Callie Barkley, The Magic Tree House series written by Mary Pope Osborne, the Thea Stilton series, as well as the seemingly endless Rainbow Magic Fairies book series by Daisy Meadows.

Amelia Bedelia
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Critter Club

Magic Tree House
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 Thea Stilton

Rainbow Magic Fairies

 

 

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3rd & 4th Grade Favorites
   

This past year, as a 9-10 year old, she has thoroughly enjoyed some classics like Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mary Norton’s The Borrowers series, and E.B. White’s books Trumpet of the Swan and Charlotte’s Web. She also enjoys the Winne the Horse Gentler series written by Dandi Daley Mackall, the Tuesdays at the Castle series by Jessica Day George, and the Magical Animal Adoption Agency series by Kallie George.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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The Borrowers
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Trumpet of the Swan and Charlotte’s Web
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Winnie the Horse Gentler
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Tuesdays at the Castles
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Magical Animal Agency

When our oldest son was her age (9-10), he took pleasure in reading the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell, The Moffatt series by  Eleanor Estes, and pretty much anything written by Andrew Clements. He also says that he enjoyed the Flashback Four series around that time as well.

How to Train Your Dragon
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The Moffats
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Andrew Clements’ School Stories
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Flashback Four series by Dan Gutman

 

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5th & 6th Grade Favorites
   

During his 5th and 6th grade year (aged 11-12), our son came across several books and series that he was pleased to devour!  He recommends…

C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series
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The Explorers series by Adrienne Kress
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The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart
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The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Copernicus Legacy series by Tony Abbott

The Hero’s Guide to Saving the Kingdom series by Christopher Healy

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen series by Eric Berlin

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
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The Wizards of Once series by Cressida Cowell

The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien
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The Mysteries of the Cove series by J. Scott Savage

Masterminds series by Gordon Korman

My second oldest daughter recommends Esperanza Rising and the Starlight Animal rescue series as well for late elementary and early middle school readers.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
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Starlight Animal Rescue series by Dandi Daley Mackall

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Upper Middle School Favorites
   

My oldest daughters (ages 14 and 16) love to read as well.  Although my oldest daughter has slowed down due to her course work load and her passion for writing her own book, I just can’t keep up with all of the books my 14 year old reads!  For middle schoolers (aged 12-14), she recommends the following books and series…

Viking Quest series by Lois Walfred Johnson

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
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The City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau
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A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Giver Series by Lois Lowry

Keeper of the Lost Cities  series by Shannon MessengerIMG_5386

Freedom Seekers series by Lois Walfrid Johnson
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The Mozart Season by Virginia Euwer Wolff

The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman
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Share this list with a child you love and see if they can find a new book or series
that they might enjoy reading this summer
 – either relaxing by the pool during those pesky safety breaks 
– inside sitting under a fan on those dog days of summer
– or staying cool swinging in a hammock enjoying the warm breeze! 

Best Loved Chapter Books

It’s the perfect time to delve into a great book!

 

Please note that the above links are NOT affiliate links.  They are there as quick links to help visitors learn more about each book or series.

A Summer Reading Adventure

Summer Reading Adventure

I recently pulled a gem of a book out of our book baskets as I was cleaning out our school room.  My Father’s Dragon is a story I remember our oldest two daughters thoroughly enjoying, but, I had somehow failed to ever share it with our younger kids. After they looked at the cover and quickly glanced through the book, their eyes lit up!  I knew we would have to embark on a summer reading adventure (AKA a boredom buster during the dog days of summer).  Won’t you tag along on our adventure?

My Father’s Dragon: Chapter 1

Print out a map of both islands from the inside cover and an image of Elmer.  Move Elmer as you read and follow him on his adventures!

Map

My Father’s Dragon: Chapter 2

After reading the chapter, grab a paper sack and send the kids on a hunt around the house for items similar to those that Elmer packed for his journey. (We added a stick of gum, lollipop, rubber band, compass, toothbrush and toothpaste, magnifying glass, pocketknife, comb, brush, hair ribbon, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and an apple.)  In each chapter, as Elmer encounters a problem, see if kids can predict which item from his knapsack he will use to form a solution!

KnapsackItems

My Father’s Dragon: Chapters 3 – 4

Let everyone peel and eat a tangerine (or clementine) as you read these chapters!  Then, let your children try jumping on the ‘rocks’ (paper plates, paper, napkins. etc) to cross from one side of the yard to the other.  

Rock Hopping

My Father’s Dragon: Chapters 5

After reading the chapter, learn more about gum or read a fun story involving gum such as Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by McCarthy or Lester Fizz: Bubble Gum Artist by Ruth Spiro.  Then, encourage your children to make large tiger faces however they desire.  Once their tigers are complete, cut a small round hole where the tiger’s mouth is.  Let the children insert a balloon.  And, there you have it, a tiger chewing bubble gum and blowing bubbles!

MakingTigers3TigersBlowingBubblegumTigersBlowingBubblegum2

My Father’s Dragon: Chapter 6

The fun activity accompanying this chapter comes from Frugal Fun with Boys.  Ahead of time, hard boil an egg for each child and then set it in a bowl filled with dark colored soda for an hour or more.  This will discolor the shells.  After reading, let the children use an old toothbrush and the toothpaste to scrub the egg (reenacting the cleaning of the rhino’s horn).Eggs1Eggs2

My Father’s Dragon: Chapter 7

Want to recreate the lion’s messy mane and then pretty it up?  Have your kids paint a small paper plate to resemble a lion’s face.  Then, they can hole punch all along the outer edge and attach strings of brown and yellow yarn.  Finally, they can braid the strands and attach colorful ribbons.

      LionsMane1  LionsMane2

My Father’s Dragon: Chapter 8

Using a magnifying glass, have your children go outside to explore!  Encourage them to look under rocks, on a tree, in the grass, etc.  What did they discover when they looked more closely at nature?  Have them draw one or two things they found.

LookClosely

My Father’s Dragon: Chapter 9

You just can’t read this chapter without letting your kids enjoy a pink lollipop!  After reading, encourage your kids to pretend to be Elmer and design/create a bridge any way they wish.

PinkLollipopsBridgeConstruction2Building the Island

My Father’s Dragon: Chapter 10

Elmer finally meets and rescues the baby dragon!  Celebrate by making and eating blue and yellow stripped cupcakes.  Then, refer to the description of the dragon back in chapter 2 to draw or craft the dragon!

CupcakeMakingBlue&Yellow Cupcakes    Dragon2Tracing   Dragon2Pieces
(printable pieces to trace and cut out onto your own stripped paper)Dragon2DragonPuppet

Our younger kids looked forward to reading My Father’s Dragon and doing the above activities each day.  You could easily make this adventure even more educational by creating a lapbook and/or adding Vocabulary and Discussion Questions for each chapter as well.

And, now we are off to continue our summer reading adventure, learning about Elmer and the dragon, as we read through the next two books in this series…Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland!

The Importance of Rhymes

Importance of Rhymes

Why is the use of rhymes so important during the early years?

Activities that involve children in rhyming help to develop their…

  • listening skills

    (paying attention to details, words, and sounds)

  • auditory discrimination

    (the ability to tell the difference between different sounds)

  • oral language expression

    (learning to use oral language to communicate wants, thoughts, and ideas, meaningfully within sentences and with correct grammar)

  • ability to manipulate language

    (making strings of rhymes, inventing their own nonsense words that rhyme)

  • vocabulary

    (expanding their use and meanings of new words)

Rhyming experiences
lay a firm foundation
for learning to read!

 

At a young age, children need to have opportunities to engage in rhyming experiences.  They need to be able to have chances to hear, recognize, reproduce, and manipulate the sounds of language in a playful manner.  Rhyming, and specifically nursery rhymes, assists in accomplishing this goal.  Nursery rhymes are short, funny (and sometimes nonsensical), usually have a repetitive beat, can often be sung, memorized, and easily acted out. Since they are oral, you can invite your child to participate in rhymes with you wherever you may be!

Below are two FREE Resources involving rhyming…

Letter and Rhyme Cover

While teaching Kindergarten, I implemented the use of Letter and Rhyme a Day at the beginning of our school year.  It was a quick, fun review for some children and an interactive way to introduce nursery rhymes and rhyming to others who had not been exposed to this foundational skill.  I’ve recently updated the printable Letter and Rhyme sheets.  They now have updated graphics and are easy to download in one document!  

Nursery Rhyme Charts Cover

I also created new Nursery Rhyme Charts!  There are over 40 colorful charts that you can print and enjoy.  Feel free to use them in your classroom or at home.  Maybe print them for ‘read the room’ or place them in individual nursery rhyme folders for kids to take home and share with their families.  

Please note that this Nursery Rhyme Charts booklet contains all of the rhymes used in Letter and Rhyme a Day as well as the ones utilized in our Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme preschool curriculum.

For additional free rhyme ideas at Hubbard’s Cupboard, please check out the following…
Nursery Rhyme Olympics – fun for a classroom or at home on a spring or summer day
Kindergarten Rhyme Time – a Nursery Rhyme themed Family Night
Nursery Rhyme Artwork
and, for children who are ready, Word Family Printables

 

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