Looking for an art curriculum that fits your life?
Quick Answer: A good homeschool art curriculum should genuinely excite your kids, fit easily into your schedule, leave room for creativity, go beyond just drawing, connect to other subjects like history and science, and hold up even when homeschool life gets messy. The real test isn’t how the projects turn out. It’s whether your kids want to do art again.
Let’s be honest. Most homeschool parents don’t wake up thinking, “today’s the day I research art curriculum!”
What actually happens is art keeps getting pushed back. First it’s next week. Then next month. Then somehow it’s been a semester and you still haven’t opened that art curriculum you bought. The gathering dust might even give you a twinge of guilt.
Or maybe you have tried something, and it didn’t go well. Your kid cried, or refused to do it. You spent more time digging through supply bins than actually creating anything. Or, every project came out looking exactly the same, no matter who made it.
We are real homeschoolers and teachers just like you, and if you’re shopping for a homeschool art curriculum right now, here’s what to actually look for before spending a dollar.
1. Will My Kids Actually Be Excited About It?
This is the first question I’d ask, not “how many lessons are in here?” or “how thick is the workbook?”
The real question is simpler: will my kids want to do this?
Because it doesn’t matter how impressive a curriculum looks on paper if nobody wants to open it. Look for projects tied to things your kids are already into. Dragons, animals, space, fantasy worlds, history, weird facts, funny stories, whatever your particular kid can’t stop talking about. The more invested they already are in the subject, the less convincing you’ll have to do to get them started.
2. Does It Make My Life Easier?
You already have enough on your plate. A 20 minute art lesson shouldn’t require three hours of prep the night before.
Look for a curriculum that lets you print and go, press play, and use supplies you already have sitting around the house. The less prep before actually starting, the more often art ends up happening, instead of getting pushed to “someday.”
3. Do the Projects Leave Room for Creativity?
One thing I never want to see is twenty nearly identical projects taped up on a wall. Kids aren’t identical, and neither should their artwork be!
A good homeschool art curriculum teaches a skill while still leaving room for kids to make their own choices. One kid turns a dragon into a sea serpent. Another goes full rainbow. That’s not a kid doing it wrong. That’s just a kid being a kid, and being happier for it!
4. Is It More Than Just Drawing?
Some kids love to draw. Plenty don’t.
A strong curriculum gives kids more than one way in: painting, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, collage. Drawing matters, sure, but it shouldn’t be the only focus in an art program.
5. Does It Help Kids Learn About the World?
One of the best things about art is that it never has to stay in its own little box. It connects naturally to history, geography, literature, science, and more.
A lesson on Van Gogh turns into a conversation about Europe. A project on ancient Egypt becomes a history lesson without anyone noticing it happened. A fairy tale art project turns into creative writing before you’ve even planned for it to.
The best art curriculums aren’t just teaching art. They’re quietly teaching everything around it too.
Our Blasting Off through Art History Curriculum is a beautiful example of this gentle, effortless cross-curricular learning. Check it out at our Shop.
6. Will It Work for Real Homeschool Families?
Here’s something curriculum companies don’t always account for: homeschool life is messy and unpredictable.
You get “behind.” Everyone gets sick at once. You spend three straight weeks obsessed with a new pet topic and the whole plan goes sideways. A good art curriculum has to survive all of that.
Look for flexibility. Look for lessons you can pick up out of order. Look for resources that are still useful three weeks later, not just on the day they were scheduled. Art shouldn’t be one more thing on your list that has a deadline, real or imagined.
7. Will My Kids Want to Come Back Next Time?
This might be the question I care about most.
Not whether the project came out perfect. Not whether they followed every single direction. Not whether it would’ve looked good on Pinterest.
Just: do they want to do art again?
Because if the answer is yes, everything else follows. The skills come. The confidence comes. The creativity comes. That’s really what we’re after the whole time.
So, what's the best art curriculum for you?
The best homeschool art curriculum isn’t the fanciest one on the shelf. It’s the one that actually gets used, the one that fits into your real homeschool, the one that makes art feel fun instead of like one more box to check.
And the one that has your kids asking, “what are we doing next?”
FAQs
What is a homeschool art curriculum?
A homeschool art curriculum gives you projects, lessons, and activities that teach kids about art while they create their own work at home.
Do homeschoolers really need art?
I’d say yes. Art builds creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills, and it’s often one of the few subjects kids actually remember years later.
What if I’m not artistic?
You’re not alone. Most homeschool parents aren’t trained art teachers, which is exactly why a lot of families lean on a curriculum that walks them through it step by step, often with video instruction included.
How often should we do art?
Once a week is plenty for a lot of families. Other families prefer shorter sessions a few times a week. What actually matters is consistency, not which schedule you pick.
What art supplies do I need?
Paper, markers, colored pencils, paint, scissors, and glue will get you further than you’d expect.
What next?
If you found yourself nodding along while reading above, you might be a great fit for The Glitter Bomb homeschool art curriculum. You can try out our Famers Market bundle, which we are giving you for FREE! We can’t wait for you to discover what our bundles are all about. Explore over 10 full art projects and several cross-curricular extension activities. (Think language arts, math, and geography!) Check out our Shop to grab your free copy.
Join one of our Memberships!
We have so much fun inside the Glitterbombers Memberships. Chose the level right for your students – Glitterbombers (K-7th) or the new Glitterbombers HIGH (7th-12th). With either choice, you’ll have hundreds more art projects, videos, and resources at your fingertips for whatever you’re studying, or whatever art concept you’re ready to teach. Click here to join our waitlist and find out when we open next!