Why Art Makes Me Smart is My Go-To for Art Education
If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about Art Makes Me Smart (AMMS). It has been a longtime favorite in our homeschool!
For those new to AMMS, it’s an art education resource packed with art classes, around-the-world studies, artist and composer studies, imaginative play prompts, math projects, and nature, science, and holiday unit studies and they’re all centered around creating. And the best part? It keeps growing! Every category also includes art projects using a variety of mediums, recipes, book suggestions, and pre-screened videos.
Why We Love Art & AMMS
Learning Through Art & Creation
Hands-on learning is incredibly effective. It encourages deeper understanding and invites kids to take ownership over their learning. And a simple art project can layer in history, geography, culture, math, and even literacy. For example, last March, we wanted to do a study on Ireland. Through AMMS, we explored Celtic knots, learned about Celtic traditions, discovered Ireland’s geography, read some themed picture books, and studied some of Ireland’s cultural symbolism…all while having fun with art.
Instantly Available Resources
I’m often asked how I pull together so many eclectic resources, and AMMS is a big part of the answer. With the lifetime membership, I can pull from the curriculum anytime, all year long. Some days we’re in the mood for a quick project; other times, we dive into a deeper study. Having the full library at our fingertips makes planning easy and I can just browse and choose what fits our current rhythm.
Art as an Emotional & Spiritual Outlet
I’ve made art a priority in our home because I want my kids to have healthy emotional and spiritual outlets and art is such a natural way to provide that. Creating taps into the heart and mind in ways worksheets simply can’t. When my twins were only six and struggling in public school, a simple drawing by one of my girls gave us some insight into the emotions she was experiencing. Art offers a safe, nonverbal way for children to express themselves and regulate their nervous systems and, in fact, her little picture was a key factor in our decision to homeschool. Ever since, I’ve been committed to teaching and supporting my children in developing the skills to express themselves and AMMS has been a wonderful tool in helping them do just that.
Created by a Homeschool Mom
Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of fantastic resources out there, but there is just something that other homeschool moms “get” when creating resources for families. Hannah, the creator of AMMS, has done an amazing job at supporting other moms. I am someone who draws stick figures and has very little artistic talent so trust me when I say…anyone can use this resource no matter your art skills! I feel like I’ve learned so much helping my kids and also starting to dive into some of the art projects myself. In fact, I don’t talk about this enough, but inside the membership Hannah has an entire e-book on managing the mess that art will inevitably create AND tons of content on creating your own art habits and how that is just as important for mothers to do.
FAQs
What ages is AMMS best for?
With sections like Nursery Rhymes and Paper Dolls, AMMS can be used from preschool through adulthood. Most art projects cater toward elementary and older, but I’ve used tutorials with kids ages 4–12. The younger kids’ work looks different, but of course, that’s just part of learning! See my picture above of the Viking ships & below of our Gond Birds.
Can kids use this independently?
Absolutely. The membership includes tons of videos and tutorials that kids can explore and choose from on their own.
What supplies are needed?
AMMS provides a great supply list. Many of the art supplies we use in our homeschool come from this list. We’ve fine tuned some of our favorites, but the resources inside will give you everything you need to know.
Do you do the art projects with your kids?
Now that my youngest is 6, I have done more! Sometimes we still share a project and sometimes I just help guide him a bit. When my kids were younger, I rarely did the projects myself though because I was juggling multiple children and their supplies and trying to help and support them.
Which membership do you recommend?
When it’s on sale, I always suggest the lifetime membership. Over the years the memberships have evolved, but I’m pretty sure we’ve been pulling from these resources for nearly four years now. And, there is still so much to explore so I think it’s worth every penny. If you’re on a budget or just want to try a few projects though, a monthly membership is a great way to start.
Let me know if you have any other questions and I am more than happy to help!
