Additional Learning Resources for January’s Friendship and Art Learning Pack with Read, Paint, Cook Activity Calendar, Lesson Plans, and Art Appreciation and more with The Build Your Masterpiece Class.
Lesson 1: New Year's Resolutions
“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” - Vern McLellan
We will be focusing on what our new goals and resolutions will be this year over the next three days, from January 1-3.
Read:
Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller
Paint:
Resolution craft, printables included in unit.
Cook:
January 3rd is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day!
Lesson 2: Friendship
“Share your smile with the world. It's a symbol of friendship and peace." Christie Brinkley
We will be focusing on friendship for the next 3 days! January 4th, 5th and 6th.
Read:
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel - Read Aloud Chapters from Frog and Toad are Friends: A List, Cookies, The Garden, The Letter,
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
You Are Friendly by Todd Snow
Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon
A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
Paint:
Friendship Rainbow Craft, included
Art Appreciation:
"Kids Eating Grapes" by Ivan Mrkvicka, Realism, Post-Impressionism
Art Discussion Questions:
What are the children doing?
Are they being kind to each other? How can you tell?
What do you like about this painting?
Optional: While looking at this art, pair this lesson with come fresh grapes, fruit, or snacks to share.
Cook:
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies
January 6th is National Shortbread Day. Watch this baking tutorial below to learn how to bake this type of cookie:
Lesson 3: The Canada Goose
We will be focusing on the Canada Goose for the next 3 days! January 7th, 8th and 9th.
Read:
The Trouble With Geese by Vi Hughes
The Canada Geese Quilt by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Gayle the Goose Goes Global by Natasha Peterson
The Canada Goose and You by Jennifer Burrows
Honk, Honk, Goose! Canada Geese Start a Family by April Sayre
Toulouse, The story of a Canada goose by Priscilla Cummings
Canada Goose Cattail Lane by Janet Halfmann
Paint:
G is for Goose Coloring Page
Art Appreciation: Geese and Hoar-Frost by Charles Tunnicliffe, British Painter, Naturalism, Wildlife painting, 1901-1979
Art Discussion Questions:
Does the painting look hot or cold?
Can you see any pictures in the frost?
Do you think the geese are happy? Why or why not?
What do you notice about this painting?
Cook: Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Lesson 4: Cows + Milk
“All the good ideas I ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.” - Grant Wood
We will be focusing on Cows and Milk for the next 3 days!
January 10th, 11th and 12th. The 11th is National Milk Day. Pair this lesson with our Adventures in Russia Art + Baking Unit Study, week 1.
Read:
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
The Cow That Laid an Egg by Andy Cutbill
Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin
The Cow Said Meow! by Pam Scheunemann
The Cow That Went Oink by Bernard Most
The Cow Tripped Over the Moon: A Nursery Rhyme Emergency by Jeanne Willis
I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi
The Milk Makers by Gail Gibbons
Milk From Cow to Carton by Aliki
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw
Educational Videos About Cows:
Paint: M is for Milk Coloring Page and Magic Milk Art
Art Appreciation:
The Cow by Wassily Kandinsky
Art Discussion Questions:
Do you like the colours in this painting?
How many cows can you see?
Do you think this painting is realistic?
How does this painting make you feel?
Cook: Hot Milk Cake
Lesson 5: Polar Bears
We will be focusing on Polar Bears for the next 3 days! January 13th, 14th and 15th.
Read:
Polar Bears by Gail Gibbons
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin, Jr.
Little Polar Bear and the Husky Pup by Hans de Beer
Polar Bear Patrol: Magic School Bus Chapter Book by Judith Stamper
Paint: P is for Polar Bear coloring page and a fork painted polar bear craft.
Art Appreciation: Three Polar Bears by Richard Friese, Naturalism, 1912
Art Discussion Questions:
Do you think the Artist's name matches this painting?
Do you think this painting is realistic?
How does this painting make you feel?
What does this painting remind you of?
Cook: Snowball Cookies
Variety of snowball cookie recipe options:
Lesson 6: Honesty
We will be focusing on friendship again, but this time focusing on honesty for the next 3 days! January 16th, 17th and 18th. The 18th is Martin Luther King Day.
Read:
The Color Thief by Gabriel Alborozo
The Empty Pot by Demi
The Value of Honesty: The story of Confucius by Spencer Johnson
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth by Jan and Stan Berenstain
The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Timeless Fables) by Teresa Mlawer (or your favorite version)
Paint: H is for Honesty Coloring Page and Positive Honesty Synonyms Poster.
Cook: Garlic Knots
Here is a fun video tutorial of a ‘cheesy’ version of garlic knots.
Lesson 7: Solar System
We will be focusing on the Solar System for the next 3 days! January 19th, 20th and 21st.
Read:
The Solar System by Gail Gibbons
There's No Place Like Space! by Tish Rabe
Meet the Planets by Caryl Hart
Hello World! Solar System by Jill McDonald
Our Stars by Anne Rockwell
A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky by Michael Driscoll
Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole
The Kuiper Belt (Part of the The Universe Series) by Fran Howard
Hello from Planet Earth! KUIPER BELT - Space Science for Kids by Professor Gusto
Learn more about the Kuiper Belt here, from NASA, and in this video below:
Videos about the Planets, to watch while coloring each Worksheet included:
Learning about the planets starting with the Sun with the Video Series from Professor Dave Explains on YouTube:
We have created another QR Code for these extra videos for you to easily watch while working in the solar system workbook. You can skip to that page HERE if you would like, but I have included the links to those science lesson videos, below.
The Formation of our Solar System: The Sun, Milky Way
The Terrestrial Planets:
Mercury: Learn about the 1st planet from the Sun.
Venus: Learn about Earth’s Sister Planet, the 2nd planet from the Sun.
Earth and it’s Moon: Learn about the 3rd Planet from the Sun, our Planet Earth, and it and it’s moon’s formation.
Mars: Learn about the 4th Planet from the Sun, Mars as we continue to learn about all the solar system.
The Gas Giants:
Jupiter: Learn about this 5th Planet from the sun, which is a large gas giant.
Saturn: Learn about the 6th Planet from the Sun, which is a large gas giant.
Uranus: Learn about the 7th Planet from the Sun, which is a gas giant.
Neptune: Learn about the 8th Planet from the Sun, which is another large gas giant.
Pluto, Comets, Asteroids and the Kuiper Belt: Learn about dwarf planets, and the outer solar system.
Paint: The Solar System + The Planets Coloring Pages + worksheets, plus check out a selection of optional craft ideas below.
Optional Solar System Crafts:
Solar System Craft | LearnCreateLove.com
18 Solar System Projects | 123Homeschool4Me.com
Art Appreciation: Several Circles by Wassily Kandinsky, 1926
Art Discussion Questions:
What do you think this painting looks like?
Which circle is your favorite and why?
How does this painting make you feel?
Cook: Solar System Snacks
Check out the variety of snack options for this lesson:
Solar System Treats | Rice Krispies.com
Sugar Cookie Solar System | Simple Living Creative Learning.com
Lesson 8: Writing a Letter
We will be focusing on writing letters to friends for the next 3 days! January 22nd, 23rd and 24th. January 23rd is National Handwriting Day!
Read:
The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
Dear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale by Josh Funk
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta
Dear Teacher by Amy Husband
XO, OX: A Love Story by Adam Rex and Scott Campbell
Paint:
Write a letter to whoever you want!
Art Appreciation:
"Young Girl Learning to Write" by Camille Corot, French Painter, Realism, 1796 -1875
Art Discussion Questions:
Where is the little girl learning to write?
What era does she live in? How can you tell?
The Painter liked to paint things very realistically. Back then this type of painting was used to document life, like how we use photographs and cameras now. What details can you see?
Extension Activity: Pose you student writing, and take a picture of what it looks like to write a letter in 2021, then make comparisons to this painting from the 1800’s. You could also pose to match her entirely.
Cook: Graham Cracker Pencils
Lesson 9: Chocolate Cake Day
We will be focusing on three optional topics of chocolate Cake for the next 3 days! January 25th, 26th and 27th. The 27th is National Chocolate Cake day! Pair this lesson up with our Learning Pack for the book, What is your Favorite Food? by Eric Carle and our Chocolate Adventures and Life Cycle of a Cacao Tree Unit Study.
Read:
When You Dream of Chocolate Cake Tianna Gawlak - Book Trailer
The Chocolate Cake by Dawn McMillan
Chocolate Cake by Michael Rosen
Chocolate: A Sweet History by Sandra Markle
Paint:
C is for Cake Coloring Page, and cake inspired painting!
Art Appreciation:
"Silver Teapot and cake on a plate" by Giorgio de Chrico, Neo-baroque, Italian Painter, 1888 to 1978
Art Discussion Questions:
What fruits can you see in this painting?
Where do you see light in this painting?
What do you notice about this painting?
Cook: Chocolate Cake, recipe included
I wanted to included a few video tutorials on how to make Chocolate cake.
This recipe is slightly different, but fun to watch
Lesson 10: The Color Wheel
We will be focusing on creating art, and learning about the color wheel for the next 4 days! January 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st. January 31st is National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day!
Read:
Let’s Paint by Alborozo
Mix It Up by Herve Tullet
Mixed A Color Story by Herve Tullet
The Wonders of the Color Wheel by Charles Ghigna
What's Your Favorite Color by Eric Carle
The Color Wheel Kids by Travis A. Thompson
Kids Color Theory by Spramani Elaun
Paint: Inspire your heart with art coloring page and a selection of Color Wheel Lessons.
Watch the following videos to gain more understanding of how to create a color wheel in a variety of ways, levels and styles. Once you learn the basics, you and your kids can create many different types of color wheels if you are interested.
Guitar Color Wheel Art
eye color wheel:
Optional Project Ideas with Primary Colors that are fun:
Art Appreciation: Yellow-Red-Blue by Wassily Kandinsky, Russian Abstract Artist, 1866-1944
Art Discussion Questions:
How many different colors can you see in this painting?
Do you think this painting is realistic?
What do you think the artist was trying to paint?
What can you see in the painting?
How does this painting make you feel?
Can you see the primary and secondary colors? Can you spot any tertiary colors?
Cook: Unicorn Sugar Cookies