BookShark Science

Performing their electricity related experiments with foil wire they made themselves. 

As a homeschooling parent, I have to work around my own weaknesses as a teacher. Historically, I have never been one to plan out a detailed homeschooling schedule as I find it to be a giant waste of time when I know life "stuff" happens and I won't be able to keep up to my good intentions. All this causes particular angst when the subject is something I, as the teacher, don't feel particularly knowledgeable or excited about to begin with. Science has been that subject for me. When the kids were younger, I made up for our lack of science learning at home by taking them to lots of science centers and exhibits, having various science related books about for them to read, and watching lots of NOVA's and other science documentaries that intrigue them. I have been using a Math and history curriculum for years that works well for me, but I have never found a science program or curriculum that would fit my criteria.

This year though I was motivated to look harder given that I have two middle schoolers literally begging me to do science. Kids this age are naturally curious and I do not want to hamper their curiosity. Who can say no to a kid begging to learn and curiosity is a valuable asset when it comes to learning science. So.... enter BookShark Science. 

BookShark offers boxed curriculum that pulls from many different resources and best of all has a teacher schedule and guide all laid out. All of their curriculum regardless of subject is strongly literature based which my husband and I really appreciate. Homeschoolers can purchase curriculum for an entire grade level or by subject. Looking through the options under science, I chose to start with Science 4 on Electricity, Magnetism and Astronomy. We are three weeks into this curriculum and I have to say I am very pleased. Once again I find myself learning right alongside my children. I don't have to have a full understanding before we dive in and it includes nearly all the materials required for each week's experiment. Therefore any pre-planning on my part takes less than 15 minutes a week.  So it seems that I finally found a good science curriculum fit for our family thanks to BookShark.

Elisabeth learning about current, circuits and cells in a series.

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Art Inspired by Maud Lewis

An original work by Elisabeth Rose

For Art Appreciation this week, the kids read "Capturing Joy: The Story of Maud Lewis." Maud Lewis lead a very simple life in small Nova Scotia hamlet and suffered from debilitating arthritis. Her works are beautiful in their simplicity and bold in their use of color. My 12 year old son made the observation that so many artists seem to more clearly see beauty and recreate it in their art as a result of suffering in their life. I found this to be a profound statement coming from one so young.

My daughter, the aspiring artist in the family, was tasked with creating something of her own (shown above) inspired by the works of Maud Lewis. I am fairly flabbergasted by the result! I'm hoping she lets me hang this one somewhere special. 

"Maudie" is a very good movie about the life of Maud Lewis starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke. 

Related Links:

• Art Appreciation: Frida and Friends at the Frist (shannafern.com)
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Art Appreciation: Frida and Friends at the Frist

A self-portrait by Frida Kahlo (@Frist Museum Aug 2019)

While on an impromptu stay in Nashville, we visited the Frist Art Museum where an art exhibition representing Mexican Modernism was on display. The works of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were prominent pieces of this exhibition and through the interpretive displays we learned much about their lives and the context of their work. 

Clothes representing the dress and style of Frida Kahlo (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

A mural by Diego Rivera (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

Another exhibit "Monsters & Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s," included some rather morbid themes. There were a couple of iconic pieces by Salvador Dali- "Apparition of Face and Fruit Dish on a Beach" being one of the most recognizable. 

Apparition of Face and Fruit Dish on a Beach by Dali (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

When asked to point out her favorite work in this exhibit, my aspiring 11-year old artist to selected a piece by Wolfgang Paalen shown below.

"Paysage totémique de mon enfance" by Wolfgang Paalen (In English: Totemic landscape of my childhood) (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

We have had other opportunities to learn about works of art over the years mostly from a historical context. My almost 13 year old son indicated that he is not a fan of surreal and modern art styles and prefers more realistic works like those we have learned about in our European history. My daughter, on the other hand, said that she likes different things about all art genres - spoken like a true artist I suppose.

Related Links: 

• Art Inspired by Maud Lewis (shannafern.com)
• Van Gogh Inspired Art (shannafern.com)