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FREE Unit Study e-Newsletter, June 2006
In This Issue A Word from Your Editor Folk Art Unit Study Karine Bauch of Masterpiece Art Instruction shares projects you can do with your kids that will enrich their knowledge of folk art from different parts of the world. Julie's Picks of the Month!	Homeschooling the Highschooler... E-Book packed with answers, encouragement, and resources, this e-book will equip you to homeschool through high school with confidence! To order your copy for only $12.45!
A Word from Your Editor: Summer has finally arrived! Yippee! It's 90 degrees outside right now! I'm sweaty and stinky and the kids are having a water balloon fight! Glorious! "Mom, what are we doing today?" "Mom, do I have to do math over the summer?" "Mom, can't we take the summer off from chores?" "Mom, I'm bored." "Mom, can I stay up late now that it's summer?" "Mom, can I have extra computer time?" Do those phrases sound familiar around your house over the summer? Maybe you school all year and the routine never dies. I've been tempted to do that, but there's just something about hot days and lazy summer nights. I enjoy the more relaxed state of summer, but the loss of routine is hard. Summer seems to be the perfect time to try some art projects. Why? Well, some of them can be done outside. When you're done, you can just spray the surface and the kids with the water hose. I bet they would like that! What kind of art, you ask? Well, Karine Bauch from Masterpiece Art Instruction is here this month with a unit study on folk art. When I think of folk art, I usually think of the American kind. But wow - it goes much farther than that. It extends beyond just visual arts too - dances, songs, and stories are also forms of folk art. So, are you ready for that journey around the world? Put on your dancing shoes, get out the art supplies, and get the hose ready! Enjoy! Julie Nott, Editor www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/Julie www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/FreeStuffForHomeschoolers Unit Study: Folk Arts   By Karine Bauch of Masterpiece Art Instruction BACKGROUND Folk art is defined as "Art originating among the common people of a nation or region and usually reflecting their traditional culture, especially everyday or festive items produced or decorated by unschooled artists." 1 Every culture has its folk arts - music, visual arts, stories, and dances. These are the expressions of the common uneducated man. Understanding the folk arts of a people group is essential if you are seeking to understand the heart of the people. Elements of their religious and moral beliefs are often expressed through these creative means. Today, with the increase in technology and globalization, very little folk art is produced and practiced in highly developed countries, while more traditional cultures still honor and practice these arts. We have to look back several decades to see the heart and spirit that made many of these countries strong. Absolute Light/Gourmet Soy Candles Mia Bella’s Gourmet Candles Start up under $50.00!! Be one of the first to introduce Mia Bella’s Gourmet Candles and Body Products in your area. Check out this unique, FUN new business! Find the marketing style that best fits you through retailing, fundraising, and residual. You choose! No company quotas! Visit them at: http://www.homewithsoy.com Bright Ideas Press Maggie Hogan likes to start things. In 1992 it was Bright Ideas Press. Soon, she and her husband Bob began having way too much fun writing, creating, and finding practical, fun, and affordable homeschool resources. Visit them at: www.BrightIdeasPress.com - Home of the award winning series: The Mystery of History and the Christian Kids Explore science books. TYPES Music: Many kinds of folk songs are sung by every culture, but the most common kinds are love songs ballads sea shanties gospel or religious songs songs of war songs of sadness children's songs Visual Art: includes many types of decorated objects created by unschooled people, including pottery painting glassmaking jewelry decorative arts rugs and housewares textile designs Stories: Heroes of each culture are captured in their folklore and legends. Various types include Fables Epic poems Holiday tales Tall tales Tales of origins (how something got its start) Cautionary tales Fairy tales Nursery rhymes Dance: The traditional dances of a culture that are performed in public and passed on to each generation reflect the energy and vivacity of the people. These dances are performed by the common people and are learned informally by watching and participating. Some familiar traditional dances include: Irish jigs Italian tarantellas Square dances Sword dances Ceremonial dances LEARNING ACTIVITIES Learn more about the specific folk arts of the USA, Jamaica, Japan, and Scotland by clicking on the links below. Try some or all of the art projects at Masterpiece Art Instruction for each folk art! USA -- FOLK ART NAMES EXAMPLE LEARN MORE or DO A PROJECT Music Americana, country, gospel, jug bands, Appalachian, blues, Tejano, Cajun, Native American music, war ballads "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" Listen and learn about more songs at www.contemplator.com Visual Art Rug braiding, woodworking, quilting, stenciling Amish Quilting Try a simple stencil project. (This Mother's Day card project can be made into ordinary greeting cards) Dance Square dancing, clogging, line dancing, tap dancing, step dancing Virginia Reel Learn to do the Virginia Reel here. Stories Tall tales "Paul Bunyan" Read the story of "Paul Bunyan". Jamaica -- FOLK ART NAMES EXAMPLE LEARN MORE or DO A PROJECT Music Mento, calypso, reggae, ska "Mento" is the original folk music created by Jamaicans using saxophones, flutes, bamboo fifes, PVC pipes, banjos, violins, bamboo fiddles, guitars, rhumba boxes, double basses, rhythm sticks, shakkas, and drums. 2 Learn more about the history of Jamaican musical styles here. Visual Art Painting, batik Intuitive painting. Click here for some examples Try a simple mock batik project. Dance Ceremonial, group dances, ballroom dance (quadrille) Maypole (of European origin) Learn more about Jamaican dances at jcdc.org. Stories Animal fables, fairy tales "The Pea that Made a Fortune" Read the story of "The Pea that Made a Fortune". Japan -- FOLK ART NAMES EXAMPLE LEARN MORE or DO A PROJECT Music Gagaku, saibra, kokufu kabu Kokufu, or Japanese Song Dance, is vocal music with instrumental accompaniment. It is based on very ancient music performed at shrine rites as well as Court ceremonies." 3 Learn more about the history of Japanese music here. Visual Art Origami (paper folding), calligraphy, ink painting Sumi-e painting Make a Japanese fan with simple Sumi-e designs. Dance Hat dances, fan dances Geisha Learn more about Hat and Fan Dances. Stories Shinto and Buddhist mythology, animal fables "The Two Frogs" Read the story of "The Two Frogs". Scotland -- FOLK ART NAMES EXAMPLE LEARN MORE or DO A PROJECT Music Love songs, ballads, sea shanties "Blow the Candle Out" Listen and learn about more songs at www.contemplator.com/scotland. Visual Art Clydesdale horse harnesses, plaid textile designs, pottery Tartan plaid Make your own Tartan plaid design with this simple project. Dance Highland and country dances Sword dancing Learn more about Highland and country dancing. Stories Sea monster tales, mermaid tales, Arthurian legends, hero tales "Big Young Donald and the Glastig of Buinach" Read the story of "Big Young Donald and the Glastig of Buinach". NOTES 1. http://en.wikipedia.org 2. http://www.jcdc.org.jm/folk_forms.htm 3. http://asnic.utexas.edu/asnic/countries/japan/japmusic.html Julie's Picks of the Month! List of Folk Art Museums www.folkart.org/links/linkmain.html Folk Art & Lore Virtual Museum www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/BAT/magindex.html US Subsciptions: Whether you are new to our magazine or a long-time subscriber... The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has an incredible offer that you won't want to pass up! In the past, we couldn't offer the renewing subscribers the 19 free gifts - those were only for new customers. But for a limited time only, RENEWING subscribers get all 19 gifts (over $200 value), too! I'm a new subscriber…what do I get? With your paid two-year subscription to TOS you'll receive: •A 2-year/3-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine •19 FREE gifts for you All this for ONLY $39 for 2 years and ONLY $59 for 3 years Click Here to Purchase Online Or, call 1-888-718-HOME Already a subscriber? Renew now and receive: • Two or Three more years of your favorite homeschool magazine and 19 FREE gifts (valued at over $200)! All this for ONLY $39 for 2 years and ONLY $59 for 3 years Click Here to Purchase! Or, call 1-888-718-HOME The first 3,000 two-year or three-year new subscriber or renewing your two or three year subscription, you will receive (by USPS mail) NINETEEN free homeschooling gifts. But you don't get four gifts - you get 19! And yes, even the shipping is paid for - and you are not required to buy anything again - EVER. Hurry! Promotion will sell out fast! - TOS Staff (US Residents Only) Click Here to View the FREE Gifts International Subsciptions: Whether you view your subscription as a gift for yourself, a homeschool conference delivered to your door, a professional journal, or simply a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with other homeschool families around the world, subscribe now to insure that you are in the first 2,000 and receive this incredible International Subscription Homeschool Gift Pack! One-Year International Subscription: Receive four issues of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine delivered directly to your door and 19 FREE gifts from our generous sponsors. Subscribe now! Only $38! And we have an additional gift for two-year and three-year subscribers! Two-Year or Three-Year International Subscription: Receive eight issues of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, the 19 free gifts, AND our Secrets of Successful Homeschooling e-book! Subscribe now! Only $69 for 2 years and $83 for 3 years! These special offers will expire soon, though. Subscribe or renew today so you don't miss out on this opportunity! We have three easy ways to subscribe! Subscribe online Call 1-888-718-HOME Mail your order to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC PO Box 10 White Pine, TN 37890 Hurry! Promotion will sell out fast! - TOS Staff (International Residents Only) Click Here to View the FREE Gifts Thank you for reading the TOS FREE Unit Study e-Newsletter this month. We'll have another exciting unit study for you next month! You may forward this e-Newsletter to your friends in its entirety. If you have any comments, email me at FreeHomeschool@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com with your feedback.

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