Aug. 4, 2008

Picture Study - Creative Writing Activity

Posted in Art and Music

 Red Canna, by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

This past week, Hannah and I came up with a creative way to do picture study and also get in a little creative writing at the same time.  You know how I love to combine lessons, right?!!

 

I handed Hannah a few books featuring artwork by Georgia O'Keeffe, our featured artist this month, and had her look through them in another room.  Then she secretely picked out her favorite painting, she chose Red Canna as you see above.  However, she kept this a secret from me.  I then told her to independently study her chosen artwork for several minutes and write up a short, but vivid description of the painting.  And Mom was going to have to guess which one was her favorite just from her description.  Here is what she wrote up for me:

 

"The colors were so wonderfully put together.  Beautiful purples and red were so wonderfully put in a burst of color.  Waves pour out with color.  Splashing on a canvas is a flower with grace and beauty.  Oils shine red, orange, yellow, white and purples."

 

Then she handed me her description and the book from which she chose it.  Her description was so beautifully written and very accurate, I was able to find her favorite painting in just a few minutes!  And I quickly agreed with her that Ms. O'Keeffe's Red Canna painting is truly breaktaking in beauty.

 

 

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Comments

Aug. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by OldSchoolMarm
Beautiful and descriptive writing, Hannah! Great job. We too love O'Keefe's art work. Great writing lesson too!
Our first day of school was great and the nature walk so freeing, we all enjoyed it. I hope to be posting about it this evening unless the computer dictates otherwise (we're having some problems with it).
Blessings, Julie
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Aug. 4, 2008 - Perfect

Posted by Anonymous
Isn't that better than any "canned" writing assignment? I love narration of what is important to our children. Such gems, and it didn't feel like pulling teeth like it did when back when we were struggling with the workbooky sort of writing curriculum.

You have saved yourself a lot of frustration by discovering this so early in your children's homeschooling life. Believe me....some of us it took many, many years to figure that one out. :)

Barb-Harmony Art Mom
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Aug. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by westward
GREAT IDEA! Stealing it..... :o)
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Aug. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by jiffy11
Oh, this is a fun idea!! I think we'll have to play this "game" sometime.
Jennifer
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Aug. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Dana @ School For Us
What a beautiful description! And a creative idea! :-)
Dana, www.alexml.blogspot.com
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Aug. 5, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous
Beautiful description! What a great activity! TFS

Makita
4twinklingstars.blogspot.com
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Aug. 5, 2008 - Great idea!

Posted by rreitsma
That's such a neat idea Melissa! I will have to try that one, particularly when we have pictures that are difficult for the girls to copy.
Thanks for your congrats on our new baby boy, we are loving him!

Rachael.
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Aug. 5, 2008 - another great lesson idea!

Posted by JamieLee
I just love your creative ideas, and I sure am glad you share them! Hope you don't mind that I'll be "stealing" quite a lot of them! {grin}
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Aug. 5, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by happycamper
She did an excellent job and that is a great idea!
Jenn
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Aug. 5, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by kimalita
Whelp, you did it again......terrific idea!
I'm impressed with Hannah's words.....way to go!!!

I'm on the hunt to see if you posted about the habitat that Alex built for his toad......
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About Me

Welcome to our blog home! My name is Melissa and I am a homeschool mom of three beautiful blessings ages 11, 9, and 2; and blessed wife to my husband for 15 years. Our homeschooling style is eclectic, but we love Charlotte Mason's educational philosophies and learning the natural, everyday hands-on life way! We especially see daily opportunities to learn and grow closer to God through His amazing creation in nature!

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•11/21/08
The artic chill is on! Temps haven't been out of the 30's for days. Brrrr! The woods in back have been cracking as if moaning with pain from the cold. But already, the beauty of winter is emerging as well: birds have been overly plentiful at the feeders, the sky is so clear the stars are like shining beacons in the night, the morning dew is frozen into millions of crystals on the grass that reflect the rising sun, and now that we have a clear view into the woods again we are daily seeing wild turkeys and deer passing by.

Close encounters of the "chipmunk" kind! Hannah was out on the patio watching the birds at the feeders and in a split second a little chipmunk ran around the corner obviously unaware of her presence. That was until he came face to toes with her in a standoff! Then, cheeks puffed full of bird seed, he proceeded to zip like lightning right between her legs and dashed into safety. Hannah exclaimed, "Mom, I can't breathe, that was so cool!"

•11/17/08
Our first snowfall!! The kids and I couldn't wait to wrap up warm and get outside for nature time. The flakes were so big and wet AND yummy! We had such fun dancing and spinning around in our winter wonderland!


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"The earth has music for those who will listen."
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"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."
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"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God."
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For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:20

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? ~ Job 12:7-9

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Handbook of Nature Study
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Pocketful of Pinecones
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The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
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Nature in a Nutshell for Kids
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Girls Who Looked Under Rocks
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i love dirt!
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