Pentomino Tessellation {Virtual Fridge}

This Week
Whew it's been a busy month around here!  I am finally finding some space to catch my breath and do a little bit on my blog.  Last month we did a few projects from ArtAchieve {Read my Review here}.  I first heard about tessellation three years ago when we did a Tessellating Tile Art project.  Here is a tessellation project with a difference.  This one is based on Pentomino.  To be honest it was a lot harder than either of us expected. This particular art work was from Level II-Lesson 8: Tessellations: Repeating a Pattern to Create Original Art

Tessellations: Pentomino

Art Books

Are you looking for Art Books to use in your Homeschool ?  Annette is currently hosting a weekly book series where she shares all things Art in books for your homeschool.  Be sure to take a look and leave her a comment or two and some bloggy love. 


This weeks Feature

This weeks feature is a tutorial from over at Our Unschooling Journey Through Life. Woven CD Garden Decorations
Your Turn

I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.

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<a href="http://www.everybedofroses.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Virtual%20Fridge" title="Virtual Fridge Link Up"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFRuKzbG64XIfLDMuJdComs6rqcIcV6BGcgZneHQNmTP3wfi3lxy4Lwa9otGZ24EMKJKaGYOSL1lRktyZUHVgst2o2Y7642mJq81E0CBEzOAW-FggTUlt4pFQ01T9ugFg8PU_LsEKet4/s1600/virtual+fridge+2017+button.jpg"height="125" width="125" alt="Virtual Fridge Link Up" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Blessings
Chareen

Connect with me

 

Your hosts are

Add YOUR LINKS from your BLOG or INSTAGRAM

Please NOTE by adding your links to the Virtual Fridge link up YOU are giving the hosts of the Virtual Fridge link up permission to use a photograph from your blog to feature 

your ART along with a link to your art/tutorial.

An InLinkz Link-up

The Mysterious Benedict Society Collection {Tuesday's Treasures}

One of the hardest things to do is find books for boys that are not filled with potty humour!  I was very pleased when I heard about The Mysterious Benedict Society on a Charlotte Mason Facebook Australia Group and decided to see if our local library had it.  Much to our delight they had all four books.  When they first arrived Nathaniel looked at the thick books and promptly assigned me the task of reading the books out loud to him.

Filled with page-turning action and mind-bending brain teasers, these wildly inventive journeys are sure to delight. - Book Depository

How do I KNOW these are good books?
At this stage Nathaniel was only attempting to read 200 page books (with large type) and these 400 page books containing much smaller print just overwhelmed him.  He finished one of his own books and I suggested he attempt book number two in the series and after much encouragement took the book to bed with him.  It was only a couple of days and each time we came to say lights out he would beg for five more minutes in order to finish one more page!  I was shocked at how enthusiastic my son was to read these books.  In the space of time it's taken me to read book one out loud to him he has completed book 2 and book 3 in the series (Nearly 900 pages in less than a month). We are now patiently waiting for book 4 to arrive from the library. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society Collection

• Format: Paper back
• Number of Pages:1872 
• Publisher:  Little, Brown & Company
• Publication Date: 
• ISBN 10: 0316368873
• ISBN 13: 9780316368872
• Author  Trenton Lee Stewart
• Illustrator: 

What is it all about?

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society.

We are still reading book one out loud and both of us are loving every page.  In book one we are introduced to the five central characters of:  Mr. Nicholas Benedict, George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon and Constance Contraire.  Each day is a journey to discover the secret on Nomansan Island.  The children are in a race against time to find the island's secret and save the world.  Each of the four posses a special talent and each day they are learning to trust each other and discover things about themselves they didn't' know.  The names are all very clever and full of hints to help you solve the puzzle of the Island.

(Watch a trailer of the movie on YouTube) and explore the Mysterious Benedict Society on the web.

There are four books in the series:

1. The Mysterious Benedict Society
2. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
3. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma
4. The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

Nathaniel has really enjoyed this series so much he is saving his pocket money to purchase the boxed set for himself!

What are some of your favourite books for boys?
Blessings
Chareen

Connect with me

 

**All the links to Book Depository on this page are my Affiliate Link. If you click on these links and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. This does not cost you any more, and it helps cover costs associated with purchasing books for our homeschool. I am very picky about the products I recommend and the companies I support. I would never recommend a product I would not use myself.**

Lessons in Charcoal: Sailing Adventure {Virtual Fridge}

This Week
We only have a few weeks of access left with Creating a Masterpiece so we've decided to try our hand at a few more of the projects!  This week we did a Beginners Level project: Lessons in Charcoal: Sailing Adventure.I love seeing each ones expression in their unique presentations.

L - Nathaniel --- R - Chareen

L - Ethan -- R - Laura

Are you on INSTAGRAM ?  You can now use your IG account to link up an show us your art adventures.


This weeks Feature

This weeks feature is a tutorial from over at Homeschool Coffee Break.  This beautiful Chinese Horse was done by Kym's daughter who followed a project on ArtAchieve.

Your Turn

I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.everybedofroses.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Virtual%20Fridge" title="Virtual Fridge Link Up"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFRuKzbG64XIfLDMuJdComs6rqcIcV6BGcgZneHQNmTP3wfi3lxy4Lwa9otGZ24EMKJKaGYOSL1lRktyZUHVgst2o2Y7642mJq81E0CBEzOAW-FggTUlt4pFQ01T9ugFg8PU_LsEKet4/s1600/virtual+fridge+2017+button.jpg"height="125" width="125" alt="Virtual Fridge Link Up" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Blessings
Chareen

Connect with me

 

Your hosts are

Add YOUR LINKS from your BLOG or INSTAGRAM

Please NOTE by adding your links to the Virtual Fridge link up YOU are giving the hosts of the Virtual Fridge link up permission to use a photograph from your blog to feature 

your ART along with a link to your art/tutorial.

An InLinkz Link-up

Aspergers Syndrome - What Teachers Need to Know {Tuesday's Treasures}

We have a few families in our homeschool group and within extended family who have been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.  One of my missions has been to find books that assist in understanding Aspergers Syndrome.  There are so many books out there these days that it's difficult to find books that give encouraging information without technical information overload!

Asperger Syndrome What Teachers Need to Know

• Format Paperback | 128 pages
• Dimensions 138 x 212 x 12mm | 181.44g
• Publication date 15 Jun 2011
• Publisher JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHERS
• Publication City/Country London, United Kingdom
• Language English
• Edition Revised
• Edition statement 2nd Revised edition
• ISBN10 1849052034
• ISBN13 9781849052030

I love this book for it's simplicity and the way it elevates the positives of children with Asperger Syndrome.  Matt has spent hours reading through many books, speaking to families of children living with Asperger Syndrome and taught children with Asperger Syndrome.  He was encouraged to write a condensed book about what he has learned.  His aim is to provide the reader with a summary of the information currently available about Asperger Syndrome.  His book gives quick tips and practical ideas as well as thought provoking questions with insights to consider before you answer them.  His aim is to give the reader a good initial grounding on the subject of Asperger Syndrom and he definately has.

Table of Contents
Introduction.
1. What is Asperger Syndrome?
2. What signs might a child display?
3. What are some general strategies for the classroom?
4. What are some individual strategies for the pupil?
5. How can I help the pupil with AS to learn?
6. What about homework?
7. How do I help the child's stress?
8. What should the Teacher Aide be focusing on?
9. Who else in the school needs to know?
10. What should happen before the child changes class or school?
11. How can the wider school help?
12. Am I qualified to teach this child?
I want to know more - where should I start?
Further Reading. References. Websites. Resources.
Some common conditions associated with Asperger Syndrome.
Index.

If you have a child that you know with Asperger Syndrome or if your own child has been diagnosed, this book is well worth reading. This book is a quick and empowering read.

Blessings
Chareen

Here are some other resources we have been encouraged with:

• Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome? A Guide for Friends and Family
• The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius and Autism by Kristine Barnett

ArtAchieve {Review}

We are having a fabulous time exploring different parts of the world and expressing our exploration via art tutorials from ArtAchieve. 

What we received
The Crew have each been blessed with a year long access to different levels of ArtAchieve to work through.

• Entire Level I
• Entire Level II
• Entire Level III
• Entire Level IV

As a Crew leader I was blessed with access to all four levels for this review and as such today I will be sharing a few samples from different levels.  To read more about a specific level please read reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew which can be found here:  Art Lessons Inspired From Around the World {ArtAchieve Reviews}

How we used it
After logging in you will be taken to the lesson page which is arranged in levels.  In each level you will see the lesson number followed by the lesson name.  Each lesson name contains the country and name of the picture you will be making followed by a plus sign on the right. When you have selected your project, clicking on the plus will open a drop down menu.  In the menu you will find everything you need to do a project (PowerPoint Version, Printouts, Video Lessons)

For this lesson we used the PowerPoint version. Once you have loaded the lesson John shares a photo demonstrating the lesson in real life applications.  For example for this lesson he shows a picture of an owl and explains what the word Tessellation means. He encouraged students to find tessellations in real life around them and gave examples.  He then gave them a simplified lesson followed by an explanation of a Pentomino. One of the best parts of the program is how each lesson is fully expanded upon for Cross-Curriculuar Connections.  You can see an example here: Level II-Lesson 8: Tessellations: Repeating a Pattern to Create Original Art

Tessellations: Pentomino

 Here is another sample of some work we did with ArtAchieve. We decided to try our hand at a level III art lesson.  We did The Woodcarving from Kenya.  This one involved doing a silhouette and a background pattern. Here is the Cross-Curriculuar expanded lesson: Level III-Art Lesson 7: The Woodcarving from Kenya

It's okay not to like everything you draw.  Even famous artists do not like everything they create.
Remember to draw for yourself, not for your teacher or your classmates.
- John (ArtAchieve)

Here is a sample of the step by step instructions:

Here is Nathaniel's completed project:

Level III Woodcarving from Kenya

 Within the Cross-Curricular Connections John shares a number of things.  For example in this lesson he supplies links and ideas to cover:

• Social Studies
• Cooking
• Writing
• Science
• Literature
• Dance

Level 1 Dragonfly from Ecuador.

 Here are a couple more of the projects we did:

• German Nutcracker Drawings
• The Plate from Nepal
• The Dragonfly from Ecuador
• Four Suns and Four Faces  

For the Parent

The Czech Cat (Level 1-2)

Be sure to try a FREE lesson with ArtAchieve: FREE Level I-Art Lesson I-2: The Czech Cat

Cost of ArtAchieve
There are numerous options available for purchasing art lessons from ArtAchieve..

• Entire Curriculum
• Entire level (Currently Level 1 to 5)
• Separate Bundles (3 lessons in each bundle)

Connect with ArtAchieve.

@Artachieve
+Artachieve
@artachieve
@ArtAchieve
@johnahofland

Over All I thought ...
I love the variety of lessons and the fact that I do not need a lot of resources to accomplish beautiful art with ArtAchieve. I also appreciate the detailed step by step instructions for each and every lesson.


Blessings
Chareen

There is no right or wrong way to draw. One drawing is not better than another.  It's just different - because the people who are drawing are different - John (ArtAchieve)

German Nutcracker Drawings Level II

Nathaniel and I drew these

Laura, Belinda and Ethan drew these