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Helpful Homeschool Unit Study Spines to Plan in a Few Hours

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool unit study spines can make or break your unit study.

While you can use any living book for a great unit study, some resources are more helpful than others to help you plan quickly.

Helpful Homeschool Unit Study Spines to Plan in a Few Hours

Too, I’ve used many resources through my years of planning unit studies; choosing a spine is key to a successful unit study.

Before I jump into listing some helpful unit study spines, look below at the definition of a spine.

What is a Homeschool Unit Study Spine

A homeschool unit study spine can be a living book, magazine, mentor, reference book or chart, art or art object, play, musical piece, brochure, movie, encyclopedia, or any other type of book, object, or person which is the main reference or authority for your unit study topic.

In addition, a unit study spine is used to launch your lesson plans, topics, and sub-topics.

To easily plan, a superior spine will support additional ideas, projects, objectives, and concepts about the main topic.

It guides you down a trail to dive deep into the topic.

Look at my video How to Choose a Useful and NOT Useless Homeschool Unit Study Spine on my channel How to Homeschool EZ to understand what they are and how to choose them.

All research revolves around your spine; it is the backbone of your study and it is the main resource for your chosen theme.

Helpful Homeschool Unit Study Spines to Plan in a Few Hours

Additionally, depending on the type of unit study, some resources will be more helpful than others.

For example, if you’re doing a literature unit study, a beautiful dictionary is a must.

Also, as I moved away from all-in-one language arts, I used bar charts and quick study guides to zero in on skill subjects. To learn the difference between a skill and content subject read What Homeschool Subjects to Teach and When to Teach Them? Part 1 of 3.

Now look below at a few handy charts which promptly get to the nitty-gritty of language arts skills.

Further, while comparing and choosing books, here are features I look for when choosing a superior resource:

  • Background information about the topic in the text.
  • Ideas for hands-on projects.
  • Anecdotes.
  • Words for vocabulary.
  • Diagrams or charts.
  • Questions in the text or at the end.

With that being said, look at the breakdown for the different types of unit study spines which help you to plan in a few hours.

The very first reference books I started with were DK Eyewitness books.

They’ve improved through the years; they’re timeless. A wonderful collection is an inexpensive way to prep for a unit study beginner.

Science Homeschool Unit Study Spines

One of my favorite and timeless publishers is Nomad Press. They have many books which make for great themes. Look at some of them below.

Another set of books are the DK Smithsonian Encyclopedia which are keepers for science unit study spines.

Look at some of the timeless ones we have used below along with some new ones.

17 Favorite Unit Study Science Spines

I love to pair a living book about a topic with a reference book to use as spines. Sometimes, it’s easier to use a reference book as a spine and add living books as we go along. These are some of my favorite science spines.

Moreover, there are no shortages of books and references for nature; I prefer field guides which are concise nuggets while teaching a nature unit study.

Of course taking the guides to our outside classroom is the best reason.

Nature Homeschool Unit Study Spines

Further, many times I’ve used two unit study spines as companions.

For example, the resources I’ve listed above are reference books. I find reference books are extremely easy in helping me to plan a unit study because they put topics in a nutshell.

Living Books For Homeschool Unit Study Spines

However, along with a reference book, some unit studies are better taught alongside a living book.

I find when I add a living book, language arts becomes a natural fit and not a forced fit.

Living books contain two main important things.

  1. The book is written by an authority on the topic; and
  2. They are written in a narrative form meaning a book would explain events and give vivid details in a story form which engages the mind of readers.

In addition, a living book should stir a reader’s emotion and imagination even doing so in a picture book.

However, one of the best features of a living book is that a reader doesn’t realize that he is learning facts in a natural way. Living books are opposite of textbooks.

Lastly, I look for classic books, but they aren’t always living books. Foremost I look for a well-written book which has a high literary quality.

Adding a living book alongside a reference book has been the key to my family covering almost all the subjects in a unit study.

Below, I’ve listed just a few books we’ve used through years; I want you to have examples of living books for the various ages.

I’ve divided the living books into three sections or lower, middle, and upper reading levels.

Also, keep in mind I’m giving you examples of them and then you can decide where to add them to topics.

Living Books for Beginning Reading Levels

Living Books for Middle Reading Levels

Additionally, look at these examples of living books for middle school.

Living Books for Upper Reading Levels

Moreover, a series of books like the Shakespeare Can Be Fun introduces sophisticated literature to younger kids in a fun way.

Let a young learner’s introduction to Shakespeare be one he understands. There is plenty of time in middle and high school to learn about literary terms.

Next, I want to share a few more reference books which I’ve used plentifully. The books below are by Chicago Review Press.

Even though these resources are some of my favorite, they are by no means an exhaustive list. My focus in this roundup is to give you visual examples of unit study spines which ease lesson planning by giving you a plethora of examples.

How Unit Study Spines Are Cost Effective

In conclusion, but certainly not less important is knowing the value of unit study spines. Homeschool unit study spines are cost effective for several reasons:

  • spines cover many ages and that means I divide the price by how many years I’m using it or by how many kids are using it for one year,
  • there is less waste of resources because we choose exactly what we want to study,
  • because unit studies are a mastery approach, less money is spent on covering one topic for several years, and
  • spending less time on curriculum which may not cover our specific educational goals and focusing exactly on my kids’ needs is not only a huge savings, but an outstanding education.

What do you think? Are you ready to give unit studies a try?

You’ll love these other unit study helps:

Hugs and love ya,

How To Juggle Homeschool When You’re Coping With More Than A Mom Should

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I was going to create a long video on how to juggle homeschool when you’re coping with more than a mom should, but I didn’t. In my short facebook live video on my group, I do talk about it a little.

Although I’m not a weepy person, the truth of it is if I created a longer video, I couldn’t get through it without weeping and airing my raw emotions.

Why Juggle Homeschool During Extreme Stress

That’s not a negative for me; I want you to know what is working and not working for me. It’s important to me that you have some tips to ease your load and know that you’re not alone.

Read my words, but feel my raw emotions as I pour them out to you. I hope to encourage and lift you up in my transparency.

Circumstances are different for every mom, but the same raw emotions ebb and flow. You don’t have to feel the exact same pain as another to put yourself in another’s shoes.

What I went through years ago as far as crisis in my life pales into comparison to what I’ve recently been through and am going through. More on that in a minute.

How To Juggle Homeschool When You're Coping With More Than A Mom Should

Life wasn’t finished beating me or my family up. The longer you homeschool which is living life, the more stress can head your way.

When You’re A Control Freak But You Have No Control – None

So why keep homeschooling? More on that in a minute too.

Also, keeping things to your self is not always a good thing. You couldn’t possibly know what a very private person I am, but I am. I love my family and try to be dignified with their feelings and privacy.

It’s important for me to to not overshare. Know that there are things I must keep private; I’m walking a line here.

However, understanding what I’ve been through I hope I can reduce your stress and anxiety; I want you to know that sending your kids off to public school is not always the least stressful thing to do.

Life Can be Like the Cycle on The Dryer. Tumble, tumble, tumble. (Beat you up). Wait. Catch Your Breath. Hold on. REPEAT.

It was enough then and is enough now, but I have no choice as more is heaped on me.

First, look at what was heaped on me then.

One year my sister who homeschooled her kids got a staph infection.

First Sign of Homeschool Stress – What Will YOU Do

She had to be intubated because she couldn’t breathe and was unconscious for days. I cared for her in the ICU, comforted her kids and the whole family while taking care of my kids and husband.

Driving to get there when I first found out, I wondered if she would make it. Facing fear is not easy. It’s the kind of stress and sickness you feel that brings you to your knees and makes you puke.

Thankfully, she had wonderful doctors, the infection was contained and she was sent to a long-term facility for months.

Driving to see her and support her 40 minutes away from my house 4x a week or more was exhausting. My kids were with me the whole time. I thought that year would never end.

However, I had no clue what the next year held for me.

My husband had a massive heart attack. It was also the year my first son got to high school.

You know high school is scary enough, but it had nothing on what we went through that year. Yes, my husband beat the widow maker.

Vividly, I recall that day years ago. I shared with many of you who still follow me how I agonized over choosing the right words when you think they may be your last to your husband.

I finally made it to my husband’s side at the hospital in time to be with him while the doctors shuffled my husband off to surgery and saved his life. That night which I’ve never shared was one of the loneliest nights I’ve ever been through.

Knowing how close I came to life changing forever, I cried all night alone.

Some Stress Is Unavoidable

Next, the long year to recovery and hubs changing jobs was ahead.

Did I mention too that folks want to give you all kinds of nutritional advice assuming your lifestyle contributed to his heart attack?

I never shared before that he inherited heart disease from both sides of his family and his heart attack although happening while he was young, didn’t happen at 40 years old like his father and great grandmother before him.

Matter of fact, the doctors said it was our lifestyle which saved his life because of how stress free we tried to lead our life.

Life as I knew it went back to some kind of normal. However, my kids and I were forever changed.

Knowing the value of how you never know what the next day holds, we seized the time time together as a family and made a big change in our life.

We sold our huge home with pool and packed what we wanted in two cases for each of us and moved overseas to South America.

It was the BEST decision we ever made. Our years spent together in adventure was just what we need to get over what we couldn’t control.

Is Returning to Public School the Answer

Look at these four things that my kids and I learned from those years of hardship.

  1. We drew closer together as a family. If I had to put my kids in public school, we would have been separated at a time we needed each other. However, I weathered the storm remembering that it is just that. That means it’s temporary.
  2. It taught my kids to seize moments of friendship both in the family and with their friends outside of the family. You don’t know what will change this afternoon.
  3. Although I worried my sons may have grown up too fast, in fact teaching them to stand with me as we face feared helped them to set reasonable standards for themselves during our crisis. Even adults today don’t know when to stop putting pressure on themselves when under enough strain.
  4. Homeschooling is all about modeling how I want to my kids to learn meaningful things. What would I be teaching them if I didn’t set the example on what their focus should be when life hits hard? Everything I believe in about the homeschooling lifestyle came full circle. In life, sometimes we need to be a caregiver. I knew their academics wouldn’t be interrupted too long, but my kids’ education reaches far beyond academics.

Next, you want to take a self-check. Long term stress can cause terrible emotional and physical harm.

There is a difference between BENDING and BREAKING. You never want to get to the point of breaking.

With all of my heart I believe our emotional and mental health while homeschooling is not talked about enough.

There should be NO judgment or feeling like you’re weak or less if you send your kids to public school.

Choosing to Look on the Bright Side – A Choice

At this point, I’ve not had to seek professional help, but have not ruled it out if I need it. Seeking professional help is a sign of strength and not weakness. It means you care about your health and the health of your kids.

Bodies react differently to stress.

I allowed the stress to bend me although many days I feel like breaking. In my heart of hearts I knew what was right for my family.

But that wasn’t all I learned, I also learned:

  • If I sent my kids to public school that there was no way I could have the flexibility to care for my sister and husband on my terms.
  • You’re told to live one day or one moment at a time, but you embrace the true meaning when you experience extreme stress.
  • Control what I really had control of. That means I couldn’t let my mind worry about things that were not on my plate for that day. I saved my energy for what I’m experiencing NOT what I think I MAY experience. I was turning my load to anxiety and had to rein that back in. Do you know how REALLY hard that TRULY IS? There is a line between staying ahead of caring for all what is on your plate versus unnecessary worrying.

How to Power Through Homeschool During a Crisis (The Second Time)

Recalling all of what I just shared with you, I’ve been hit hard AGAIN.

Look at what I’m currently dealing with.

My husband is experiencing more complications with his heart. Each day is a precious day. For now, he is good, but managing his health is on my plate again.

My mother is now at end stage renal disease.

This is weighing heavy on my heart. Not only does she have to go to dialysis 3x a week, but she had a stoke and has continued to decline in health. Did you know seizures follow because of the stroke?

Although we’re managing my mom’s care daily, there is no controlling what you can’t control.

There is just letting my mother know what a treasure she is when she can understand me.

Seeing your mother go from an extremely intelligent, compassionate, and caring woman to almost a child is gut-wrenching daily.

But again, I remember whatever I feel is not anything I know my mother is going through. That keeps me going daily. All my mother knows right now is that I love her deeply and she loves me deeply. There will never be enough words to tell her how precious she is to me, but I try daily.

My mother-in-law now lives in an assisted living and my husband and I manage her care as well. Right now, she’s been exposed to Covid and with the onset of dementia, we constantly remind her daily of what is going on.

Did I mention my dad is now 80 years old and has his own set of health problems which needs to be managed while he helps care for my mom?

Any given day, I’m not sure which one of my family members will need help for the day.

Currently many days are not all my own to plan or juggle homeschool units.

How to Plan When You Can’t Catch A Break

However, I choose to trek forward. Look at five mindsets I’m utilizing now as I manage in STEPS.

  1. Ask: What TRULY is important to me today? That is my ONE goal for the day.
  2. Live today, not worry about tomorrow. This one is really hard for me because I’m a planner. Instead of worrying what may happen to any of the precious people in my life right now, I save my energy and passion for dealing with what is REALLY happening.
  3. Identify the difference between stress and anxiety. I’m still learning new things. Stress is unavoidable because it involves life. Stress turns to anxiety when I worry about things that may never happen. All I have done is add anxiety instead of keeping my mind and body healthy.
  4. Know when to stop homeschooling and when to cut back. I know now that my sons could have never gone to public school because they felt they would have missed what was going on at home. I had to think about their feelings. Knowing when to get help either online, by a tutor, or when to stop for a short time is paramount. Weigh EACH day as it’s happening instead of planning like life is normal until it is again.
  5. Self-care for the caregiver is necessary. (I know, but heart my heart. It’s NECESSARY). Passing out is not a good when you’re the caregiver. When so much is on your shoulders, you have to find time even if it’s a short time to rejuvenate. Many days I am physically EXHAUSTED, but waking up REALLY early when all is quiet has calmed my nerves and allows me to think. I spend the time thinking, meditating, and reading. Sure, I’m physically exhausted a lot of days, but my mental and emotional health needs the recovery. Not every day can I get up that early, but a few days a week it has become necessary. Find time whether really LATE or really EARLY to feed your mental health.

Adopt Compassion Over Compulsion

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is compassion over compulsion. Compassion moves a person to try to spare the suffering of others. Compulsion is what a person does by rote or grudgingly.

Deep in my raw and exposed heart, I know I can’t relieve any of the things going on in my family right now. But by me being there for all of them every day and my words, they know they are not alone as they face challenges every day.

When to Let Others Know And When to Let them In

Lastly, even machines are made with escape valves. I’m no machine, I’m not unusually strong, but I choose to share with others. Writing about this is self-help like one wise homeschool mom told me.

Life is precious and each of these people in my life didn’t ask for this to happen to them, but I manage each day as it comes up.

Yes, I would like to go back to a nothing but homeschooling life and blogging, but it probably won’t be for a while.

Tell me friend, can you relate? Has life thrown at you more than your fair share? Have you lost someone dear to you or have had a terrible setback? I don’t have all the answers, but know I TRULY care.

How To Juggle Homeschool When You're Coping With More Than A Mom Should

Look at these other tips on how to juggle homeschool when life hits hard:

Hugs and love ya,

Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family? Hear From the Kids!

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Is homeschooling right for your family? As parents we have one view of what is homeschooling, but children can have quite another view.

Instead of explaining why homeschooling has been a superior choice for many families, let the homeschooled kids tell you in their own words.

Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family? Hear From the Kids!

I asked the brilliant homeschooled kids in my facebook group and they responded. And yes, I have their permission to tell you their words because they want you to know.

Note: This was an informal and relaxed conversation on my group; I didn’t ask the kids to write their response with correct sentence structure and grammar. Enjoy their uncoached words from their heart.

Do Homeschooled Kids Like Homeschooling?

Again, my question was why do you like being homeschooled and the kids’ answers are:

  • Not having to deal with school drama, being able to sleep in and to work on what is best for me and my way of learning. – Age 17 –
  • Everyone’s much nicer than the kids at school. – Age 11 –
  • Because I get to be home more than before. I can do my schoolwork anywhere, living room, kitchen, Mom’s craft room, outside with my chickens and dog, park, anywhere. I can take a break whenever I need to get up and move. I get to spend time with Dad when he is off in the middle of the week. I don’t have to wake up really early. – Age 10 –
  • Not getting sick all the time. -Age 7 –
  • That it’s at home. – Age 6 –
  • Because it doesn’t take 8 hours. I also asked her if she felt like she needed more friends. She says, “No. I have enough. I love my friends.”
    -Age 7 –

Will Homeschooling Ruin My Child?

  • I don’t have to wait quietly while no one else is respecting the rules; I don’t have to sit feeling like “I don’t get it”. When I don’t get something when we are in school you kinda know that I don’t get it even before I realize I’m confused. I think it’s because you are actually looking at me; I like that I don’t have to be in a classroom and ask to go to the bathroom every time I have to go; I love getting to be with you (her mom) because who else is so worried about me and my future and what I’m learning; I love getting done earlier in the day as well as earlier in the year than other kids; A lot of the kids in summer camps are really rude and disrespectful, glad I don’t have to deal with that all the time. -Age 11-
  • My oldest (6) is in Kindergarten at a private Christian school – well until the lock down and everything. My husband and I went on vacation and my kids stayed with family friends that homeschool. My son took all his catch up work and did it while their kids did their work. When we got home, my son said he wants to homeschool! Soon after, everything got shut down and my son Loves it! He occasionally talks about one or two friends from school but otherwise has no desire to go back. He still wants to homeschool!

Deciding to Homeschool

  • Coz it’s better, I can study in peace and not have to deal with all the agro. -Age 16-
  • Because I can go at my pace. -Age 13-
  • Because I get to be with you mama and you kiss my hands when they hurt from writing, I wouldn’t want the teacher doing that. -Age 8-
  • No bullies. You are my teacher. We can take breaks when I need it.
    -Age 9-
  • Said that it is Saturday and she doesn’t answer homeschooling questions on Saturdays. -Age 9-
  • Architecture & Engineering & cause I love Mommy & Professor Bunny & Professor Mr Bear. -Age 4- (Mom’s note: His favorite stuffed animals learn alongside him.)
  • Because I don’t want to go to regular school for 6 hours a day with no room to run and play. -Age 8-
  • Because it’s fun and you won’t yell at us if we get something wrong. Also, the field trips. -Age 12-

New Homeschooler

  • It’s really fun and I like my mom as my teacher. We can go to really cool museums together. -Age 10-
  • Because I get to spend more time with my family. Because I like my teacher, I love her so much, because it’s you (her mom). Get to do lots of nature study. Get to spend a lot of time with my dogs. -Age 7-
  • Because I get to spend time with you and get a good education instead of being at the school where the teacher was rude and kinda didn’t know what she was doing, and I get to play outside more. -Age 10-
  • I don’t get thrown by the bullies like in public school. No active shooter drills every month. Those were scary. They taught me to hide and throw things at a shooter. I didn’t like that. I can call my teacher mom. I get challenged more; I like that. I can play with my own toys at recess. If it is too hot outside, I don’t HAVE to stand outside for half an hour recess like public school. I don’t get pinched and smacked like I did in public school. I don’t get sick all the time. The lunch food is better. No one threatens me anymore. If I forget something, I can just get it. I don’t get embarrassed if something embarrassing happens. In public school, if I had a question, sometimes the teacher wouldn’t call on me to answer it. -Age 11-
  • I get to be with my dog. Mommy is funny; she makes funny pictures. I do harder stuff and don’t get bored. At public school they kept giving me spelling words I already knew. I like learning new spelling words. I like that we do experiments in homeschool; they didn’t do science in public school. -Age 9-

Homeschooling the Family

  •  There are no bad bullies. Mom knows what I’m good at and bad at. I don’t have to rush to the bus. No one hurts me on the bus anymore. I can snack when I’m hungry. I don’t have to pack my lunch. I don’t have to wait for all the other kids to finish their work when I’m done. I don’t have to wear shoes. -Age 9-
  • Because she doesn’t have to deal with the mean kids or the teacher silencing her. She tested just under for the advanced placement so they placed her in a standard classroom and her teacher would never let her answer. She would be practically the only one with her hand up and then throughout the day she would get in trouble for talking because she was done and bored. She said I get to learn what I want in a fun way, take breaks and talk when I want. Lol She even said “I even don’t mind doing school on the weekends because we have weekends whenever we want. -Age 9-
  • I get to sleep in, I get more breaks, I can get ahead, mom knows what I know, mom knows what I need to know, I can ask questions whenever I want. -Age 11-
  • I love being homeschooled because I am smarter because I get to learn from my mistakes instead of the class just keeps going with you.
    -Age 9-
  • Because I like my freedom… I get more sleep… I’m safe from physical and sexual assault and I’m not bullied. I don’t have to put up with the constant drama from peers my age. I can have a job. -Teen-
  • Because it’s fun. -Age 7-
  • Because if I need a week off I can have it. And if I have a hard time finishing something I can come back to it in a couple days. And because I get more free time. -Age 13-
  • That I’m with my family most of the time. -Age 8-

New to Homeschooling

  • My kids like sleeping in, and they like having conversations with me about what they’re learning. They also like binge doing stuff they’re passionate about.
  • Every day is pajama day and I get to have class in my playhouse outdoors. No bully teachers or kids either. -Age 10-
  • I was scared at school and the teacher said I was dumb. You (her mom) make me understand and say I’m smart.  -Age 11-
  • I like it because I like being home, and you’re my mom, and I like having company from my mom. -Age 8-
  • I can do more crafts and get to be with my family more. -Age 9-
  • I get to play more. -Age 6-
  • I actually get to do stuff during the day. -Age 18-
  • Gets to sleep in. -Age 15-
  • I like that we get to do fun experiments and I get to spend more time with you guys. -Age 9-

Beginning to Homeschool

  • That’s a hard question. I guess because I get to see you guys more often. -Age 7-
  • Mommy is my teacher. -Age 7-
  • I like that I learn things they do not teach in public school. I get to do topics that interest me. I also can do things as fast as I want or take my time. I have time to do the things I want to do like work part time or volunteer at the food pantry and do trail clean up. I get to wake up late like at 7 a.m. -Age 14-
  • I like being homeschooled because I can learn at my own pace and not get made fun of or bullied. -Age 8-
  • I like being homeschooled because you (her mom) make learning fun and I don’t have to do boring worksheets all day long. I finish my work and I can go play. -Age 7-
  • Because then I can spend the rest of my day playing games. -Age 8-
Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family? Hear From the Kids!

You’ll love these other reads after homeschooling 20+ years:

There you go. Out of the mouth of babes about what it’s really like to homeschool your kids.

What do your kids say about being homeschooled?

Hugs and love ya,

The BEST Resources for Teaching Art at Home (K to Gray)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re like me you love art, but teaching art at home can be intimidating. Also, look at my page free Art Units Curriculum Grades 1 – 8.

Finding a quick starting point, resources for all ages, and working it into your full homeschool schedule is frustrating. So, I rounded up some homeschool art resources and organized them here so you have a place to start while keeping it easy.

Some resources are free, others are worth their weight in gold when I’ve paid for them.

The BEST Resources for Teaching Art at Home (K to Gray)

All of them will making teaching art at home a delight like it should be.

Worth mentioning at this point too is that your definition of what is art influences your teaching.

Whether it’s art history or pencil drawing, I’ve rounded up a bit of everything to give you a palette (corny pun intended) to choose from.

Homeschool Art Curriculum and Lessons

Art History  Kids is one I’ve used and loved because it’s thorough.

Also, I loved the fact that in the older grades art history is included.

If you’re overwhelmed with teaching and want to cover art with attention to basics and to be able to count it as art for the high school years, you’ll love this easy to use curriculum. It has been worth every penny I spent.

From free lesson plans for each age group to ideas organized by art period, you’ll find something fun.

You’ll have no shortage of ideas to go with your unit studies or ideas to stand alone.

Because there is so much to navigate on this site, one important tip is to click on the age AND then look at the art period.

Art for All Ages Bundle

Chalk pastel art rocks and You Are an Artist by a homeschool mom makes it easy to get started. I love the fact that you don’t need but a handful of supplies to get started.

We loved the chalk pastel sticks and through the years expanded our art supplies. But chalk pastel art allows you to quickly jump into art with minimal supplies.

This is good if you’re looking for a fun and fuss free fix.

More Art at Home Curriculum and Lessons

Also, some kids have a perfectionist streak which can be crippling when you want them to focus on the process instead of the product.

What I’ve learned through the years in teaching art (from a believe me I’m not an art mom) is that our kids need to know that art is self-expression.

Art is not copy and paste, but we can use models to express our creativity.

Looking at art galleries helped my kids to understand that self-expression comes in many different forms.

I used real life objects for my kids to draw so they didn’t always compare to another drawing or painting.

Reminding my kids constantly that we use other art as a way to learn how many different ways people self-express gives a child room to accept his artwork.

  • Art for Kids Hub.From the site: “Art lessons for kids, including how to draw for kids, even painting and origami for kids.”
  • Artful Parent. Ideas and lessons for younger kids
  • Kinderart. Not just for kindergarten. Lessons from K to High School.
The Best Resources for Teaching Art at Home at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Next, another homeschool fave of mine is ARTistic Pursuits. It’s been around for a while and there is a reason for that. Some kids especially older kids just love to pick up a book and learn without watching a video.

ARTistic Pursuits helped my boys as they got older to learn about technique, art appreciation, and art history. They wanted background information to round out their study.

ARTistic Pursuits has books from PreK to 12. You’ll love my review here of ARTistic Pursuits, Middle School 6-8: Book One -The Elements of Art and Composition

YouTube Homeschool Art

Art is subjective and I’ve tried my best to screen through channels that are appropriate for all ages, but ultimately you need to decide which channels work for your family.

I simply want to give you lots to choose from for every age because we love the school of YouTube.

Also one more tip – pause the videos as you go along. There is no sense in frustrating kids if they want to take art at a slower pace.

Look at the variety of art YouTube channels below:

  • Mr. Otter Studio. From the site: “We provide free tutorials for people of all ages and all interests. From watercolor painting to cardboard sculpting, our tutorials are broken down into simple steps.”
  • LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! Children’s author who gives drawing lessons.
  • Alphonso Dunn. Helping you develop and refine your drawing, pen and ink, and watercolor painting skills and techniques.
  • Emmy Kalia. Pencil drawings and watercolor paintings.
  • The Art Sherpa. Easy acrylic step by step painting tutorials for. beginning artists.
  • Bob Ross. Learn how to paint for older kids.

Homeschool Art History

If you love unit studies, history, and rabbit trails like I do, you’ll want to take a look at Art History For Kids.

It’s great for the non-artsy parents who wants art projects which tie into other subjects like math and science.

You’ll want to look at The Studio Art History which is a monthly membership that introduces you and your kids to a new (super fun and engaging) art history topic each month.

Want your unit studies planned? You’ll love this. The art projects are designed with 5-12 year old kids in mind, but they’re flexible to adjust up and down.

Art Games

We love the whole Professor Noggin series and the History of Art is no exception.

You’ll love the fun and printable art games at Artsology. From a Paris Street Art game, The Salvador Dali Surrealist Exile Game, and Andy Warhol Word Find to a Tjapanangka Desert Game, you’ll find something fun.

Learn about 30 of the world’s most famous paintings with these Famous Paintings Cards.

Homeschool Art Field Trips

  • Take your teens on an architecture walk.
  • An aquarium is a great place for ideas to spark art.
  • Another time when we lived in South America, we took our sketch pads to watch the street performers and musicians downtown. Look for opportunities to watch for street performers.

The Museum of Modern Art YouTube. From the site: Our goal is to introduce you to as many artists and artworks of our time as possible.

  • We lived near a very old courthouse and tons of historic buildings which are great to ignite an idea or two.
  • Of course nature has been one of our best art teachers.

Art Coloring Pages, Images, & Tools

Art Books, Reference, & Journals

Then of course there are lot of great art books, but a few make teaching art a bit easier.

This next book is a keeper too. It’s Vincent’s Starry Night and Other Stories: A Children’s History of Art. A great way to introduce art through stories. It starts with the earliest of times and goes through current times.

A Child’s Introduction to Art: The World’s Greatest Paintings and Sculptures is for kids ages 9 to 12 and another great book to introduce the most famous painters, styles, and periods.

Complete Book of Art Ideas. Lots of art ideas and how to keep art supplies too.

Journal Sparks: Fire Up Your Creativity with Spontaneous Art, Wild Writing, and Inventive Thinking.

Drawing With Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too is an easy-to-follow, lesson-by-lesson approach for drawing for children of all ages and beginning adults. 

Here is a really fun spin on learning art. ” This one-of-a-kind book, Art Fraud Detective, combines a mystery story, fun spot-the-difference puzzles, and a fantastic introduction to some of the world’s greatest art.”

Homeschool Much-Loved Art Supplies

Because art is about creativity, expression, and experimenting you want to have a good variety of materials to feed your children’s creativity.

As a matter of fact you don’t really have to spend a lot of money. I just purchased inexpensive ones to see what my kids liked best, but don’t do that for a long time.

Kids know good quality and if you buy something high quality it makes a difference in how artwork turns out. So if you have a budding artist be sure he or she has some great quality tools. Start with inexpensive materials, but add higher quality tools as the budget allows.

Look at the list below to get you started!

  • sidewalk chalk
  • popsicle sticks
  • glue dots
  • inexpensive construction paper
  • paper plates for mixing palettes
  • oil pastels
  • paint brushes
  • tempera paint
  • toilet paper tubes (empty of course)
  • coffee filters
  • soft pastels
  • scissors
  • colored art tissue
  • stencils
  • colored pencils

My only regret in teaching art through my 20 years of homeschooling is not doing more of it! I know this list will give you an easy starting point. If you see a link you want added, give me a shout.

The Best Resources for Teaching Art at Home (K to Gray) at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus. You'll love this AWESOME roundup of YouTube art lessons, curriculum, and games. CLICK HERE!

If you need more resources or ultimate lists, you’ll love my other topics:

Hugs and love ya,

Amazing Tracking Homeschool Core Subjects and Electives Form

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I have a tracking homeschool core subjects form today. Also, look at my page Homeschool Planner and my 7 Step Curriculum planner page for more homeschool planner forms.

I’m so excited about this latest homeschool planning page which is the amazing homeschool core subjects and electives form.

If you live in a state where you have to track core subjects (a.k.a skill subjects) separately from electives (a.k.a content subjects) you’ll love how easy this form is to use.

Before I go on to explain this form, you may want to be sure you understand the two different types of categories most subjects fall into. Look at Skill Subjects vs. Content Subjects: What’s the Difference.

Tracking Homeschool Core Subjects

Look at some of the features of this form.

  • This is 1 Form but you get 2 different color schemes because I love color. Three sections are editable on the form.
  • There is a place at the top right to fill in the Month and Year (editable).
  • There are two parts to the form. The top part has a part for CORE subjects to list with 9 EDITABLE lines. Add General subjects like Math and Language Arts OR add specific assignments.
  • The bottom part has a part for ELECTIVES to list with 9 EDITABLE LINES.
  • Your can use it or your child can. Give it to your child to track OR you add to your 7 Step Homeschool Planner.
  • You can print each month after you type in OR print one each month that changes. It’s a very flexible form.
  • The form is in landscape.
  • The days 1 – 31 run landscape across the top of the page. There is a space to pen in the abbreviation for the day of the week below the date and a place to put a check mark below that when the assignment is completed.
  • In addition, I’ve created it with space at the top and bottom so that you can turn the form portrait to bind your 7 Step Homeschool Planner.

You can grab it today!

Curriculum Planner Pages

You’ll love these other forms and my tips.

Hugs and love ya,