Weekly Wrap-Up Experiment

I'm trying something new and posting for the Weekly Wrap-Up over at Weird, Unsosocialized Homeschoolers. I don't normally post much about our classroom, but have had some requests.So...here goes. :)
Highlights from this week:
ART

We started an art unit on Proportion. We've been covering Design Principles and Art Elements throughout the year. If you aren't sure what those are (or how to explain them to a child), I linked the words to a great webpage that shows a graphic representation of each.

This month we are going to create art that is OUT OF proportion.

Proportion is why it is SO HARD to draw a person and make it look like the person you are drawing. If we draw the eyes or the nose just a little too big or too small...the drawing doesn't look “right”.

What type of feelings does this kind of artwork create? Fearful, humorous, uncomfortable...

We Googled all kind of images to get more input from examples.

My boys had to produce three "thumbnail drawings" (mini-drawings that brainstorm possible ideas for their projects). The project will then be drawn in pencil, traced in pen or marker, and color will be added last (like a coloring book).

ENGLISH

I had the boys write about a pet they would choose to have if they could have ANY PET. Apparently, we would have a cheetah and a corn snake. (I didn't even know what a corn snake was before I read my oldest son's paper.) I love the things I learn from homeschooling.

Oh, and I've been getting my writing prompt ideas from this website: Super Teacher Worksheets

My two little musicians took on another English assignment in their own time. 

They composed a song. Lyrics and music. I wrote it down for school BECAUSE I CAN. It's a song about a crazy comet. It's pretty cheesy, so it should become a top forty hit any day now, right?

BIBLE

My church is spending 40 Days in the Word. We are on week three of the six week series. 

My pastor has been focusing his sermons on the Bible. 

This week, I had my boys listen to his sermon from week one (while they worked on their art project). He discusses archeological, scientific, and prophetic reasons  WHY the Bible is Trustworthy.

REVIEW

My boys take music and gym at the local elementary school. Because of this, they are required to participate in state testing.  So, we've been reviewing Math and English State Standards this week. There is also an odd little battle going on in my head. 
I tell my boys that the test doesn't matter, and that they should just try their best. (BUT I secretly hope they score higher than everyone else in the school so I am "validated." My oldest DID score really high last year...but little brother is up to bat this year - and I wonder if the teachers are watching to see if he will follow in his brother's footsteps.) *sigh* I KNOW what really matters in this world...and it is not test results. Now I just need to get my straight-A, honor roll, public-schooled mind to SHUT UP and focus on what it KNOWS.

MOM'S THOUGHTS

We had some great character-building moments this week (read that: highly tense, extremely hard moments - that had nothing  to do with state testing). I guess it was just time to learn some relational lessons.
I wouldn't change those moments. Each one brought opportunity to learn, quiet conversations where we could connect, and eye-opening ways for God to move in our lives. 

Thank you Lord for another good week.