DIY Homeschooler

Ages ago we played a game where players would observe an image on a card (a painting, for example) for 20 seconds. Then they would answer a number of questions to check their powers of observation. You can do the same: observe a painting.

Choose quality paintings. (We have dozens of suitable resources). Have your student stare at the painting for 20 seconds. Then ask them questions.

An Example

Let’s take an example. Have your students view “The Country School,” a painting by Winslow Homer.

Set a timer for 20 seconds. Then put the painting away. How many of the following questions can they answer?

• What type of building is shown?
• What are the people in the building doing?
• Which direction is the teacher looking: to her left or to her right?
• How many people are in the building?
• How many windows are shown?
• What type of floor does the building have?
• And a toughie, where is the building located? (Look outside the windows.)

You can develop questions like this for any work of art.

To make it even more challenging, have your students tell the story of what is going on in the painting.

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Additional Resources

Write Something Every Day: 366 Pencil Sharpeners for Students of Writing
Our book will get you started. This huge 554-pg. resource provides carefully crafted writing prompts and challenges for each day. We use nearly 20 different forms of writing to keep the student engaged. Also included are writing instruction, tips for modifying assignments for “younger writers,” and other resources. Learn more.

Discovering Great Artists
Discovering Great Artists can be the basis for designing your own art program or a supplemental addition. Read our full review.