Catholic Free Video Collection

You may want to check out my free video collection it includes many Catholic subjects and saints. Plus other educational videos all free.

How to draw

How to draw for the Catholic Home School Child. Looking for good books is sometimes like looking for a needle in a hay stack. This year I chose CHC (Catholic Heritage Curriculum) Art Appreciation curriculum for my our main Art study. My ultimate goal was to find a religious art appreciation curriculum for younger (elementary) age group that takes them through all the many icons explaining the meanings behind the pictures as well as what type of medium they are painted on, era and a bit about the artist. CHC’s was the closest I could come to it.

I did run across Miraculous Images of our Lady 100 famous Catholic statues and portraits and use as a partial art study.

You may already have your Catholic religious arts book. But sometimes if your like me your looking for something more on the side. Here is a list of books that may be a useful resource for a child learning to draw (something other than Catholic art, which I have to admit I would love it if that were all my child drew.) Yet, it’s easy to stretch your budget by adding a few of these books to your collection.

Dover How To Draw ...as low as $2.47 This book makes it a snap to learn the basics of sketching familiar objects and animals. Simply by combining circles, ovals, rectangles, crescents, and other simple shapes, you’ll learn not only how to master the fundamentals of shape development, but how to produce remarkable likenesses of such common objects as a pear, grapes, a flowerpot, a tricycle, a sailboat, and a house, as well as portraits of a cat, a rabbit, fish, a turtle, and other animals. By combining several subjects on one piece of paper, you can even create a tableau of assorted fruit or a menagerie of animals. And once a picture is completed, of course, it is ready to be colored. Paperback, 32 pages.ISBN:486415392. DOVER

...as low as $2.47 This easy-to-follow book shows youngsters–and other would-be artists–how to use simple shapes to draw realistic likenesses of nature’s loveliest blossoms. Simple step-by-step diagrams make it easy to draw 30 flowers, including the sunflower, daisy, bluebell, Easter lily, rose, tulip, carnation, iris, and others. Once the flowers are completed, students can color them to create a lovely special effect. A brief caption for each flower provides such information as color, blooming time, and where it can be found. Paperback, 32 pages.ISBN:486413373. DOVER

Dover How to Draw Faces...as low as $2.47This easy-to-follow guide, with its step-by-step diagrams, makes it a snap to learn the basics of sketching the human face. By combining circles, ovals, squiggly lines and other shapes, would-be cartoonists can create realistic portraits of young girls modeling a variety of hairstyles; boys in baseball hats, curly-headed babies, older men and women, and more. Dover Original. Instructions. 30 pages of black-and-white illustrations. Paperback book measures 8 1/4 in. x 11 in., 32 pages. ISBN:0486429016. Dover Publications.

Dover How To Draw Insects ...as low as $2.47This easy-to-follow guide makes it simple for youngsters–and aspiring artists of all ages–to create recognizable likenesses of 30 different insects. By following clear, step-by-step illustrations, nature artists will learn how to use circles, ovals, and other shapes to draw simple, lifelike portraits of a grasshopper, monarch butterfly, tarantula, caterpillar, cicada, praying mantis, walkingstick, scorpion, yellow jacket, wasp, carpenter ant, moth, and other insects. Paperback, 32 pages.ISBN:486405893. DOVER

Dover How to Draw Aquarium Animals...as low as $2.47Easy-to-follow, step-by-step illustrations help developing artists of all ages draw animals commonly found at the aquarium. Use simple basic shapes to create accurate likenesses of the angelfish, octopus, penguin, clownfish, lobster, sea lion, starfish, whale, and 24 other creatures of the deep. Appropriate for ages 5 – 10. By Barbara Soloff Levy. Dover Publications, 2003. 30 pages of black-and-white illustrations. Paperback. Measures 8 1/4 in. x 11 in. ISBN 0486430588

Watson-Guptill How to Draw What You See How to Draw What You See ISBN: 0823023753...as low as $13.35When it was originally published in 1970, How to Draw What You See zoomed to the top of Watson-Guptill’s best-seller list—and it has remained there ever since. “I believe that you must be able to draw things as you see them—realistically,” wrote Rudy de Reyna in his introduction. Today, generations of artists have learned to draw what they see, to truly capture the world around them, using de Reyna’s methods. How to Draw What You See shows artists how to recognize the basic shape of an object—cube, cylinder, cone, or sphere—and use that shape to draw the object, no matter how much detail it contains. Book specifications: paperback, 176 pgs., 7 in. x 10 in. Publisher: Watson-Guptill, 1996.

Blitz Video Kits "How To Draw Cartoon Animals"...as low as $11.70All kits contain an easy-to-follow video tape, instructional wall chart, marker pen, sketch pencil, sharpener, drawing pad and art portfolio/lap top drawing board. Recommended for ages 6 to adult.

Dover How To Draw Wild Animals ...as low as $2.47It’s easy to draw charming renditions of 30 favorite wild animals with this delightful guide. Would-be artists of all ages will find it a snap to follow simple, step-by-step instructions that show you how to use basic shapes to draw a gorilla, koala, penguin, mustang, buffalo, alligator, cobra, ostrich, and 22 other wild animals. As you create a gallery of drawings you’ll be proud to display for friends and family, you’ll also receive a solid introduction to the fundamentals of line, shape, and dimension. Paperback, 32 pages.ISBN:486408213. DOVER

All the books listed below can be found new for as little as $2.47Dover How To Draw Dogs Dover How To Draw Cats Dover How to Draw Farm Animals ISBN: 0486451682 Dover How To Draw Birds How To Draw Birds

See All that You Can Do With Notebooking and Lapbooks

Just what is notebooking?

That was my question the first time I heard about it.

Grab a cup of coffee sit back with you kids and watch these videos on lapbooking or notebooking they should help explain and give you a better understanding of the concept.

If you already know about notebooking then click the free resource link to find out all about what my homeschool mom friends are talking about. Free resources for Notebooking pages

Sample of States, Insects

First Lapbooking Adventure Doing Lap books with themes.

OKAY so how do I start. The kids can go play now, mom get another cup of coffee.

Raggedy Ann and Andy Books and Movie

If Raggedy Ann and Andy are of interest to you and your children and part of a your reading book curriculum, here are some links to free books and a free movie to watch. The movie is on youtube and called Raggedy Ann and Andy’s Musical Adventure. Perfect for someone who just turned 7 year old’s. It’s split into 10 parts.

You can also read the following books for Free. They are Raggedy Ann read aloud audio and reading book with interactive reading exercises included at the end of the story. All the following books can all be viewed at the bottom section of One Step Higher website with best English stories, all free to read.

Raggedy Ann Learns a lesson
Raggedy Ann and the Chickens (19 pages)
Raggedy Ann and the Washing
Raggedy Ann and the Kite (no questions at the end of the story) 19 pages.
Raggedy Ann rescues Fido

Raggedy Ann and Andy Musical Adventure Movie

This movie is split into 10 parts to view the video in full screen – click the square box next to the speaker icon to expand – then when the video is over click the X on the bottom right of the menu. Enjoy.

Part 1

Part 2 Click the box to the right of the speaker to expand the movie to full screen.

Table and Chairs - Raggedy Ann

GUIDECRAFT Raggedy Ann & Andy – Table & 2 Chair Set
From: MyToyBox

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Raggedy Ann and Andy Toy box
GUIDECRAFT Raggedy Ann & Andy – Toy Chest
From: MyToyBox

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10 Short ending with credits

How to Educate yourself about Homeschooling

As Pope John Paul II says: Do Not Be Afraid

Everyone who begins homeschooling has some type of phobia. Either afraid they won’t socialize their child or fear that they don’t have the brains to do it.

I had those same fears just as most do. What’s the old saying, the more you know the more you know that you don’t know! Get yourself some support friends, either through Catholic Homeschooling yahoo groups, websites, or your church. I can’t believe what a difference it has made in my families life.

Still don’t think your educated enough? If you can read and you like to learn, your educated enough. Seek assistance from those with positive homeschool experiences to help you.

Take a Grammar Refresher or Keyboarding online course from Ed2go they have a wide selection of Online Courses.Even though I have a bachelors degree, I have taken continuing education courses through this establishment. They are very reasonably priced. The experience was great. I never had to leave my home. Maybe you have a child in high school that may benefit from one of these courses or one that is college age but, not ready for college. In our area the price of a course runs approximately $99 – 105.00 and run every 6 weeks. You work at your own pace as it fits your schedule. There are message boards that share class discussions, emails, and other ways to communicate. Hold on to this motto: You are never too old to learn something new! It’s life changing!

Find the key to making through your first year without spending a mint.

Find out about a Catholic Home Study Program.

Learn about Scope and Sequence for each grade and where to find them.

Go to the library and read books like

Charlotte Mason Education is not a Catholic Curriculum however her vision for education was not one to be overlooked. So a number of women came up with a totally free Catholic Version of the Charlotte Mason Curriculum. You can find it at Mater Amabilis.

You can join their Yahoo Group, Mater Amabilis (which means Mother Most Amiable) to find out more about their style of homeschooling.

Another well known author in Catholic homeschool circles is Maureen Wittmann. She has written a number of books one of which is on my recommended book list, Catholic Homeschooling Companion, and another book called For the Love of Literature. She has also started Webinars help homeschooling families. You can visit her blogspot maureenwittmann

The best advice I received from a friend when I was investigating homeschooling was that I was already homeschooling my daughter; with all the schoolwork/homework she was bringing home because she wasn’t doing it in school, what difference would a few more hours on my time schedule make. That comment opened up a whole new world for us. I can’t say there aren’t days that my daughter wishes she were with the kids at school or I wish I had a bit more time to myself however, overall it’s changed our lives for the better - Especially with our Catholic Education.

Homeschooling With Gentleness: Catholic Discovers Unschooling

Editors Note: I have had personal experience with Fast Web, it really works. It’s not a gimick.

Museums, History, Art, free Days and Homeschool Days

Find a Museum Close to You

Many of museums offer “free days” or “homeschool days”

Go to museums in the USA All types of museums to choose from. Art Museums, Science Museums and many more.

Visiting and Learning about Ancient Egypt, Greece and Italy is no farther than a click away.

Atlanta, Georgia has Michael C. Carlos Museum said to be one of the best Ancient Egypt Museums in the US. Admission is $7 per person. See Mummies Egyptian time periods. Items from Greek, Roman and Ancient American time periods as well.

Totally Tut Pyramid Game $17.98

Exploring never got better than with the fascinating Michael Carlos online Ancient Greece Museum there is no explaining this one, it a fun way to read and learn all about Ancient times. Enter into a Flash multimedia presentation with lots of features and choices for teaching things such as architecture, living, geography, battles, God’s Goddess’, heroes, names, and Greek Democracy.

Art Institute of Chicago

View an entire multi-media guide to the Ancient World and choose from Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Italy when visiting the the Art Institute of Chicago. Cick the stories button (link) if that option is available that goes along with the images. The story runs a quicktime movie that explains the history surrounding the image. For example, here is a video telling about the Ancient Boats used in the time of Cleopatra in Egypt. Explaining how the boats sailed up and down the Nile River. These would make great history lessons for younger grades as an introduction to Ancient History.

Lesson Plans for the Ancient Studies are also available at the Art Institute of Chicago for teaching Math, Fine Arts, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. These look like they would make great unit studies. Note: these lesson plans are main focus includes those in 4th and 5th grade.

Then go and learn about Ancient Egypt at the British Museum in the UK learn about hieroglyphics writings.

Vatican Online Museums

You don’t have to go any farther than the tip of your fingers to find loads of Ancient history. Here at the Vatican Online Museum you will find quality Christian history, art history and more.

St. Louis Art Museum

The St. Louis Art Museum is a spectacular Museum if you ever get the chance to go there. It’s free every day and on Friday’s their special exhibits are free too. They have beautiful Ancient Art and quite an extensive collection of religious and Chinese art. They also have educational programs some for free depending on the time and season.

Parthenon in the USA

One of the most awesome things I ever saw in the United States was a life size replica of the Greek PARTHENON – in NASHVILLE, TN!! It was unbelievable. I felt like I was in Greece. Inside there is a Colossal statue of Athena holding Nike It’s located in down town Nashville and at this time it cost $6.00 for adults and $3.50 for kids 4- 17, if your younger than that you get in free. they are open year round from about 9-4 except Sunday it’s 12:30 – 4:30. View the photo gallery

Free Living History Books and Stories

The following Stories can be found on the Baldwin Project they come from a book called Heroes Every Child Should know. You can click the link to view the entire book online or you can choose one of the titles below and read only that story. Baldwin Project also offers this 379 page book for sale as a reprint. Perseus Hercules Daniel David St. George King Arthur Sir Galahad Siegfried Roland King Alfred The Cid Robin Hood Richard the Lion-Hearted Saint Louis William Tell Robert Bruce George Washington Robert E. Lee Abraham Lincoln Father Damien

Stories about Saints

Can be found in this book called In God’s Garden Once again you can view the entire book free online or just read about the individual Saints. One thing I notices about this online book – while the stories are easy to read their are not many pictures. A suggestion might be to print out the individual stories and make your own book with Saint pictures out of it. Or better yet make a lap book with it. Here are the Saints and their stories. (these stories are in the public domain.) Saint Ursula Saint Benedict Saint Christopher Saint Catherine of Siena Saint Augustine of Hippo Saint Augustine of Canterbury Saint Cecilia Saint Giles Saint Nicholas Saint Faith Saint Cosmo and Saint Damian Saint Martin Saint George Saint Francis of Assisi

Comprehensive History book called On the Shores of the Great Sea

You can read this book free on line thanks to the Baldwin Project. It has stories in it that include everything from the home of Abraham to the rise of Carthage and more. Some of these stories may be a bit too advanced for 2nd and 3rd grade learning. The Home of Abraham Into Africa An Old Trade-Route Joseph in Egypt The Story of the Nile Flood In a Strange Land The Children of Israel Back to the Fatherland The First Merchant Fleet Conquerors of the Sea Early Pioneers Hiram, King of Tyre King Solomon’s Fleet The Story of Carthage Out of the Shadowland The Story of the Argonauts The Siege of Troy The Adventures of Ulysses The Dawn of History The Fall of Tyre The Rise of Carthage Hanno’s Adventures Some More About Greece A Cloud in the East The Battle of Marathon King Ahasuerus How Leonidas Kept the Pass Victory for the Greeks Some Greek Colonies Across the Blue Waters The Beauty of Athens The Death of Socrates Retreat of the Ten Thousand The Story of Romulus and Remus How Horatius Kept the Bridge Coriolanus Alexander the Great King of Macedonia Conquest of the East Conquest of India Alexander’s City Back to Rome Again A Great Conflict The Roman Fleet Hannibal’s Vow The Adventures of Hannibal The End of Carthage The Triumph of Rome Two Young Romans Julius Caesar The Flight of Pompey The Death of Caesar The Empire of Rome Pax Romana

Also included in the Baldwin Project resources is this Catholic history book on

Saints to the End of the Middle Ages

It includes a host of well know Saints. Here is the table of content list from the book. When you click on the link you will go directly to that saints history story. Cyprian, 200-258 Athanasius, 296-373 Ambrose, 340-397 Chrysostom, 347-407 Jerome, 340-420 Augustine, 354-430 Benedict, 480-543 Gregory the Great, 540-604 Columba, 521-597 Charlemagne, 742-814 Hildebrand, 1020-1085 Anselm, 1033-1109 Bernard, 1091-1153 Becket, 1118-1170 Langton, 1170-1221 Dominic, 1170-1228 Francis, 1182-1226 Wycliffe, 1320-1384 Hus, 1373-1415 Savonarola, 1452-1498 Here is another book on Saints from the Baldwin Project call

Stories of Saints

Here are titles from that book. Click the link and go directly to the story. The Palace of Gondoforus St Mary of Egypt The Gentle Giant St Patrick St Bridget of Kildare St Elfleda’s Ale The Saintly Friends of Assisi St John Gualbert’s Crucifix St Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins St Edward’s Smile and the Seven Sleepers St Zita’s Pilgrimage St Nicholas St Herman-Joseph’s Apple St Louis of France The Patience of St Frances the Roman St Margaret of Scotland The Silence of St John of Nepomuk St Charles Borromero St Ruadan’s Protection St Gudula’s Lantern St Anthony of Padua The Roses of St Rose The Good Almoner’s Hat St Gonsalvo’s Bridge Saints Stephen, Lawrence, and Hippolytus St Clothilde’s Banner St Bernardine of Siena St Raymond’s Boat St Elizabeth of Hungary The Dedication of St Francis Borgia St Jeanne D’Arc St Francis and the Birds St Roch and His Dog St Rigobert and His Goose St Deicolus and the Wild Boar St Giles and the Hind St Corentin’s Fish St Oringa and the Hare St Spiridion’s Mules St Umiliata and the Weasel St Felix and the Spider St Luanomar’s Cow St Kentigern and the Robin The Friend of St Gerasimus Chronological Order of the Saints

Ancient History

Here is a simple Ancient history link on Teacher’s Vision secular based on the 7 Wonders of Ancient History.

Good link to a fun Hieroglyphics site. Get as detailed as you want with Egyptian writings, numbers, fractions, downloads and links.
Totally Tut Pyramid Game $17.98
Good site, claims to be a kids site on Mummies of Ancient Egypt but I think it may be a little advance for 2nd and 3rd grade without parental guidance and interpretation. It includes a timeline, what mummies are, who they are and how they are made. Even includes what they thought about afterlife. With your guidance through this site it definitely has potential.

Another fun site I ran across are mummy projects; one is, How to Mummy a Chicken!

A very nice 4 volume collection of World History books is called “The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child” they deal with all types of history from Ancient to modern. These books are not free however, you can find them on Amazon.com for really good prices. This collection even offers test books for each of the volumes with the answer keys

Volume 1, Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the last Roman Emperor Volume 2, The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance Tests and Answer Key (2: The Middle Ages) Volume 3: Early Modern Times Volume 4, From Victoria's Empire to the End of the USSR

On to the Free Books and Stories online

Greek Mythology:

Looking for a Greek Mythology book? Here is one to investigate. It was written in 1896, yes, 1896. It claims to be the best introduction to Greek mythology for children and it is free to read online. The book is called Gods and Heroes It includes all the prominent gods of mythology such as Neptune, Mercury, Isis and heroes such as Hercules and his twelve labors. Done very well as a narrative.

Book with a mix of Greek Mythology with historical stories of the Ancient Greece

Book is Called Stories of Ancient Greece

The Gods of Greece
The Fire from Heaven
The Magic Box
The Voices of the Gods
Deucalion’s Flood
In the Woods
Under the Waves
In the Moonlight
Among the Stars
The Kingdom under the Ground
Sowing Dragon’s Teeth
The Race of Atalanta
Men Turned to Stone
Black Sails or White
Wings of Wax
The Good Ship Argo
The Golden Fleece
Lost by Looking Back
The Horse with Wings
The Singer and the Dolphin
A Fiery Runaway
What a Strong Man Did
A Golden Girl
How Death Was Conquered
The Shepherd Prince of Troy
The Trojan War
The Wooden Horse
The Giant’s Cave
The Enchanted Island
Dangers of the Sea
A Friendly Land
The Wanderer’s Return
The Splendid City
The Boy and the Fox
The Olympic Games
The Great Lawgivers
The Ring of Polycrates
“I Will Be the Greatest”
The Poets
The Three Orders of Architecture
With Chisel and Pencil
The Battle of Marathon
The Greatest Army
The Brave Three Hundred
The Wooden Walls
The Seven Wise Men
The Richest King
Glorious Days
The Wise Man with the Snub Nose
A Wasted Life
The Retreat of the Ten Thousand
False and Cruel
The Theban Pair
Philip of Macedon
The Man with the Silver Tongue
The Man Called “The Broad”
The Faithful Friends
The Wise Man Who Lisped
The Man Who Was Called “The Good”
Alexander the Great
The Wise Man Who Lived in a Tub
The End of Glory
The Great Mechanic
Conquered by Rome

Stories from Greek History:

Alexander the Great Free to read online book.

Lapbooking on the subject of Ancient Greece Videos

Part 1 on Lapbooking about Ancient Greece

Part 2 Ancient Greece homeschool Lap Book Explained.

Telling Time

PharmaOmega Learn is designed for school-aged children who need omega-3 to help them focus and do their best in school.

Ambleweb has got lots of wonderful teaching aids. The link to their site is found on amblesideprimary.com

A teaching tool I like to use is their analog clock. It tells time from 5 minutes, 15 minutes and hour increments. It’s a fun way to explain time and for your child to learn with or without your assistance.