It’s sort of ridiculous how often I’ve mentioned the Metropolitan page a day art calendar on this blog. (Here, here, here, and here.) But I’m crazy about it. I’ve already received my 2012 edition, and it’s packed away on the shelf, awaiting the new year.
That daily dose of beauty helps us keep our momentum with artist studies. Every day brings a chance to review periods of history with the visual reminder of the calendar pages.
Right now we are in the best part of the year as far as the art calendar is concerned. Each page of the calendar holds two dates — one on the front for the first half of the year and another on the back for the second half. That means that every day from July 1 on brings another page that is finished and can be used for art projects.
The only difficult part is choosing which one of the beautiful works of art to use? Front or back?
Here is a list of all the ways you could reuse the pages from a page a day art calendar in your homeschool. They aren’t just art ideas but span language arts and history as well.
- choose two pieces to compare and contrast
- tell the story you see in the art
- use descriptive language to describe what you see in the art
- arrange (a select group of) the art in chronological order like a timeline (don’t peek at the dates)
- illustrate history notebooking pages
- decorate a bedroom or homeschool area
- make artist study files for future use
- sort (a select group of) art into artistic styles
- sort (a select group of) art by artist
- add the art to your art notebook
- let the art inspire a haiku, limerick, acrostic, or other poem
- make your own board games or flashcards
- use the art for modpodge projects or for note cards
Great ideas! We love our calendar, too. Just shared this on my fb page. 🙂
We have enjoyed most of the art…my sons do NOT like the nudes but I just skip those to fit their taste…they haven’t noticed today’s painting 🙂
One way we used them recently was to make a sort of “wish list” for Amanda’s visit to the MET. She had picked out her favorites and was hoping to see them all….didn’t happen but it was a noble goal.
Love this entry! Love this calendar!
I’m going to repurpose the plastic holder to create my own “message-of-the-day” project. I find lots of fun and inspirational quotes and printables that live on my Pinterest boards. I thought it would be fun to print a bunch of them out, trim them to size, and enjoy them in real life. 🙂
We bought our first Metropolitan art calendar this year, thanks to you. Gillian and I love looking at and talking about the new art each day. I’ve been wondering what to do with it now that the year is almost over because the pages are too wonderful to just throw away. Thank you for the ideas.
I ran across this the other day: Art appreciation or Picture study (the Charlotte Mason way) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNcl4E2ifC8.
The calendar pages would be great for this!
Thanks for the wonderful ideas!
I brought my 2012 back with me 🙂 I’m SO glad you spoke about it here or who knows if I would have learned of it!
🙂
amy in peru
I just ordered my 2012. So glad you brought it up again because it takes forever for things to arrive here.
I think it is interesting how I’ve learned this year the kinds of art I do and do not care for. Seeing a painting brings me joy, when it is a clothing item I am mildly interested, but the pottery, swords or other items are completely meh to me. 🙂
I really want this! Again. Thanks for the reminder and all these great ideas!
With so many pictures of different kinds of art, you could group them according to art style(sculptures, oil paintings, ceramics, sketches, etc.) and try arrange them along an art timeline
I just ordered the 2012. I love your ideas and I will look forward to seeing a new art page every day next year. Thanks for the great ideas 🙂
I ordered mine based on your recommendation and it is also on the shelf waiting for a certain stocking to be filled.
I am looking forward to it!
Heather
I missed getting one this year. I just went and put the 2012 calendar on my wish list. Now I need to figure out where the old calendars went, because the really would be useful now that we’re trying to do more notebooking.
Mine just came today! I had not seen this before and I am so excited. Great recommendation!!
These are great. We love the calendar. I’ve already purchased our 2012 and have it shelved away.