Homeschool Edition
Curriculum and CD-ROM
Level 2
Reviewed by Maureen
Wittmann
Years ago, a friend who teaches university-level art
classes, told me that the best way for me to teach my children art was to
combine how-to instruction with art appreciation. She suggested learning about the life of
a particular artist by reading biographies and then learn how to imitate his or
her technique. This made perfect
sense to me, but I did not feel knowledgeable enough in the subject matter to
put together my own curriculum and I did not know of any such art program that
could be used in the home.
Enter Meet the Masters. This program integrates how-to
instruction with art appreciation.
To
review Meet the Masters, I invited
two other families to join me and my children in using the program, forming a
co-op of sorts. My desire was to
get a feel of the program myself, as well as see how other families responded to
the instruction. I am happy to
report that our little art co-op was very successful.
In
the first lesson the children learned about the life of Vincent Van Gogh,
through the CD-ROM that comes with the program and the Internet. All of the children gathered around me
and the computer, as I read from the script that comes with the program. It is good that Meet the Masters provides scripted
instruction, as my personal knowledge of famous artists is admittedly limited. I
learned about the life of Van Gogh alongside my children.
After reviewing Van Gogh’s
biography, we moved to the dining room table where we learned about his art
technique and the children could mimic it.
The program provides careful instructions on how to help the children
with the lesson. It also provides a
supply list and set-up instructions, so I was well prepared before our friends
arrived.
I
enhanced the program a little by searching out more of Van Gogh’s artwork on the
Internet and even saved one of his paintings to use as “wallpaper” on the
children’s computer (just left-click on the picture). That way every time the children booted up the computer, they
were treated to a beautiful piece of art.
I also picked up a children’s biography at the library.
We
met with our friends every other week until the program was finished. During that time we learned about Mary
Cassatt, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Winslow Homer. My children and the children of my
friends (ages seven to twelve) all enjoyed the program and were even heard
speaking about things such as texture, complementary colors, contrast, and the
such throughout the weeks. On more
than one occasion, my children recognized, and were excited to see, prints of
the artists that we studied while visiting friends’ homes or the doctor’s
office.
Though I do like this
program very much, I am disappointed at the high price tag. It is expensive and parents must weigh
the benefits with the cost carefully.
However, the publisher does offer a generous discount if customers order
more than one grade level at one time.
A computer with a CD-ROM and Internet access is necessary to use Meet the Masters.
For
ordering information visit www.meetthemasters.com or call (949) 492-1583.
Submitted to and accepted
by: Michigan Learning