The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Unwanteds By Lisa McMann


      In the world of Quill, creativity is bad. It counts as an infraction, and on the day of the Purge, every thirteen year-old is put into three categories: Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds are honored, Necessaries become slaves, and Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.When Alex Stowe is sent to the Death Farm after the Purge, he discovers that being Unwanted doesn't bring death... it brings the discovery of a whole new world called Artime.

       In Artime, creativity is allowed. Even encouraged. The wild-haired leader, Mr. Today, helps each artistic Unwanted learn that they can hold their title like a badge. Because in Artime, creativity is a magical gift... and a weapon.

       It's the first book in the Unwanted Series, and I am so excited for the last one to come out in April! If you like dystopian novels and magic, then you should totally try this book out!

-Grace

Art is for Creativity.

A local mom set up a home school art gallery at the library. The kids were excited to participate. Even better? There weren't any stipulations about what kind of art to bring.

Next thing I knew, Bubs was working hard on this fabulous teepee. Personally, I never would have thought to make a 3-D teepee for an art show. Very creative.

And Welly made this picture with stamps, glitter, glue, tape, different papers, and colored pencils.

I couldn't have been more thrilled with their work.

I'm afraid that when many teachers/parents think of art projects for their kids to do, they come up with pre-arranged craft projects. You know? The Cut Here-Glue Here-Follow my directions exactly-kind of artwork.

Those projects are great for learning to obey and follow directions. There's certainly a place for that. But are they really artwork? They don't do much for creativity.

Maybe it's better to learn the following-directions-skills in math, PE or other activities than in art.

I like to allow their little minds to explore. It's good for their problem-solving and the development of their imagination...And in the end, they often come up with pieces that are much more wonderful and personal.

And, shh! But Y's art may have been the most beautiful of all. Even if it didn't last long enough to be part of the gallery.

Now, That's an Art Project.

Personally, I think most elementary art projects are completely uncreative. Well, I take that back. They require plenty of creativity on the part of the teacher, but not necessarily from the kids. Maybe things have changed, but when I was in school, our art projects consisted of specific directions to follow, i.e. 1. Cut on the dotted lines. 2. Glue part A on part C at the appointed place, etc.

Now, there's certainly a place for activities like these. I think it's good for kids to learn to follow directions. It's just not a creative activity. I'm aware that many creative art projects don't come out looking very nice. Often they're made of garbage. But creativity is very important to me, no matter what the outcome, and sometimes, you'll have a product that is just fabulous.

Anyway, climbing off my soapbox.

I took Bubs to the craft store (where we are regular customers) and let him pick some embroidery floss. Then at home, I dug out some scrap fabric (if you don't have any, check WalMart's scrap pieces) and helped him place it into an embroidery hoop.

Y wanted to sew, too, so I made him a lacing card in about 3 seconds. I was surprised how well he could do it.

Bubs chose to make a picture of where he went backpacking with his daddy this summer. I helped him tie knots in the back.

Then, we cut another piece of scrap fabric the same size and sewed them right sides together, leaving an opening a few inches long. We decided to fill it with rice and some cinnamon. (And yes, I'm aware that I really should have ironed it, but me and the iron don't get along very well.) Lastly, we sewed the end closed, and Wallah: a pillow that he sleeps with every night.

What great projects have you done with your kids?

Books With Impact

A friend asked me what books have had an impact on me. There are many, many books that I have loved over the years. These books are ones that have changed my life for the better.





The Burning Within by Ranelle Wallace

RaNelle and Terry Wallace were in a plane crash. Terry walked away with only minor burns, but RaNelle was severely burned. Hours after the crash, she died. Her account of the heavens is beautifully written and inspiring. She speaks of the overpowering love of God and man.

I reflect on the following quote often: "...I was seeing my entire life...Entirety does not describe the fullness of this review. It included knowledge about myself, that all the books in the world couldn't contain. I understood every reason for everything I did in my life. And I also understood the impact I had on others."

She goes on to give accounts of people she helped in life and others who she failed to help. This section of the book has helped me look outside myself and seek out opportunities to be God's hand in this life.

The Burning Within is not only a Near-Death Experience. It is a story of love, overcoming the unimaginable, and of RaNelle finding herself. The NDE is actually a relatively small portion of the book.

Stand for the Family by Sharon Slater

Stand for the Family, unfortunately, is not full of joyful things. It's all about the terrible attacks being made on the family, both overt and covert. It's disturbing at times, yet so important. The author talks about what we can (and must) do to save the family institution, as well as why it is important to our country as a whole. 

It's a well-researched, well-written call to action. I read this book very recently, and now I want to shout about it from the rooftops so everyone I know will read it.

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

Here's what I want to ask this book...Where have you been all my life?I wonder how I never read this classic until now. It's amazing.

Marcellus Gallio, a Roman Tribune, is ordered to crucify Jesus. Although he believes Jesus is innocent of any crime, he follows orders. During the crucifixion, he takes the Robe that Jesus wore.

That dark day nearly kills Marcellus. He is overwhelmed with guilt and curiosity. Marcellus travels to Galillee to learn more about this mysterious man who was crucified, taking the Robe along.

This historical fiction classic tells the story of one man's quest for the meaning of life. Full of faith, love, and adventure, this book has it all.

This is not a quick and easy read, by any means, but if you are in the mood for an inspiring Christian classic, this might be the one for you.

Recommended for adults and teens who enjoy classics.

The Creative Family by Amanda Soule
At first glance, this may appear to just be a book full of craft projects. However, look a little closer and you'll find inspiration galore, not just about doing craft projects that Amanda Soule suggests, but about how to live a more creative life. 


Amanda Soule tells the who, what, how, and why of being creative. If you like her popular blog, SouleMama, you are sure to love this book even more.


Here's an excerpt: "A large part of nurturing a spirit of creativity comes from being mindful, slowing down, observing, and looking around you at the beauty and inspiration all around. We are blessed as parents to have the best teachers for this--our children. Stop and watch your children often. Really stop and watch, and you'll see them using such creativity in everything they do..."


You should see me book. Half the pages are dog-eared.

Left to Tell : Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza

The subtitle of this book says it all...Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust. While the unthinkable is happening all around her, Immaculee Ilibagiza finds peace in God's love.

Immaculee grew up in a Rwandan paradise. It wasn't until she was ten, that she even learned the words Hutu and Tutsi. When her teacher began taking ethnic roll call, she didn't know which tribe she belonged to. However, prejudices deepened into hatred, and when Immaculee was 24, a massive genocide took place. It is estimated that a million Tutsis were killed in three months.

Immaculee hid in a bathroom with six other women. The space was so small, that they had to take turns standing. When someone needed to use the toilet, everyone had to shift to accomodate her. The ladies nearly starved to death. Worse still, they could her the killers outside looking for them, chanting horrible death songs.

Immaculee spent nearly all her time praying in that bathroom. The women couldn't talk to one another because they might be heard, so Immaculee talked to God, who spared their lives because of her prayers.

Each time it seemed that Immaculee's life would end or that there was no way to go on, she prayed "show me" how to do this, and God would literally show her what to do.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

This is a true story about the author's experiences during the holocaust. Corrie ten Boom was a leader in the Underground. With the help of her family, she kept many Jews safe from the Nazis. However, she was eventually caught, and along with her family, thrown into prison and a concentration camp.

This inspirational story is about how Corrie found faith and held onto it for dear life. She witnessed many miracles, but the greatest miracle to me, is that Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were able to maintain such a positive outlook because of their unwavering faith in God. I mean, Betsie prays IN GRATITUDE for the fleas in the bunker, which do, amazingly enough, turn out to have a good purpose.

Here is a brief excerpt:

"Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner. "Oh, the poor woman," Corrie cried. "Yes. May God forgive her," Betsie replied. And, once again, Corrie realized that it was for the souls of the brutal Nazi guards that her sister prayed."

The Hiding Place is a life-changing classic. It is a quick read. Although it is about the holocaust, it is not deeply depressing but enlightening and uplifting. I hope you enjoy it! It is one of the best books I have ever read.

A Thomas Jefferson Education and Leadership Education by the DeMilles

I didn't realize that this book had already changed my life before I even read it. One of my BYU professors read an excerpt from A Thomas Jefferson Educationthat has truly stuck with me through the years. I am relieved to see the actual story in print. It has influenced my parenting as well as my views on creativity in education. Here is the story...
"The teacher handed out crayons and paper and announced that it was time to draw a picture. The little boy enthusiastically grabbed the crayons and began to imagine all the things he could draw: mountains, lakes, airplanes, his familiy, his dog, the ocean, the stars at night...
Hundreds of ideas raced through his creative little mind.
His teacher, seeing that he had started drawing, stopped him and said that today the class would be drawing flowers. The boy's mind again ran wild: daisies, daffodils, roses, carnations, violets, lilacs, pansies, mixed bouquets, green gardens full of rainbows of colors...
The teacher again interrupted, informing the class that today they would be drawing a certain kind of flower.
Taking colored chalk, the teacher went to the board and drew a green stem, with two leaves, and four identical pink petals. The little boy, eager to please, dutifully copied her drawing.
After several attempts, his drawing looked exactly like hers. The teacher congratulated him for doing such good work.
As the school year passed, the little boy became a very good student; he learned to listen, obey instructions and get the right answers on tests. His parents were very proud of him, and his teacher was impressed with his excellent progress.
When the next school year arrived, the boy had done so well in his classes that he was enrolled in an accelerated program. During the first week of class, the teacher handed out crayons and paper and announced that it was time to draw a picture. The little boy, still in love with art, enthusiastically picked up his crayons and waited for instructions.
After several minutes the teacher noticed that the little boy wasn't drawing. "Why haven't you started?" she asked. "Don't you like to draw?"
"I love to draw," responded the little boy, "but I was waiting for you to tell us what the assignment is."
"Just draw whatever you want," the teacher smiled and left the little boy to his creativity.
The little boy sat for a long time, watching the minutes tick off the clock and wondering what he should draw. Nothing came to mind.
Finally, in a burst of creative inspiration, he picked up his crayons and began to draw:
A green stem, with two leaves, and four identical pink petals."
This story breaks my heart. It broke my heart enough that it changed my life.
A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century by Oliver Van DeMille is a book about traditional, classics-based education. It is not just a homeschool book, but a book about what has worked historically in terms of education. It is a look into how our Founding Fathers were taught and inspired and an appeal for current educational systems to return to the classics.
The book is well-written, accessible, and thought-provoking.
I recommend it to anyone who is interested in life-long learning for themselves and the young people they interact with.


Please share any books that have changed your life for the better and how. Thanks!

Picture Book Reviews: Mathilda and the Orange Balloon and Pete the Cat

Here are a couple picture books I received for review recently...


 Mathilda and the Orange Balloon by Randall de Seve, illustrated by Jen Corace

I love simple books with big messages like this. Mathilda is a sheep in a dreary world...until she spots an orange balloon that changes her existence. She wants to be the orange balloon, and with enough imagination and drive, anything is possible.

The simple, imaginative illustrations are the perfect match for this book about dreaming big.



Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

Pete the Cat loves his white shoes. When he steps in a pile of strawberries and turns them red, he still loves them. No matter what happens to his shoes, he still sings out his love for them.

This bright, fun little story is about having a good attitude (and not crying) when bad things happen. The moral is subtle, however, and children will enjoy singing along with Pete..."I love my white shoes. I love my white shoes. I love my white shoes."...at least, my little singer does.

How to Make a Puppet Theatre

After seeing a friend's puppet theatre in her unfinished basement, I knew I had to have one. It was so simple to put together! Here's what I did...

1. I had the kids stand in the door frame to see how high to make the bottom curtain. I wanted it tall enough to cover them when they were sitting, but low enough that they could be seen standing. I cut the fabric to the length, using the full width of the fabric.

2. I sewed a 1/2 inch seam all the way around the piece. Then I found the top edge and made a larger seam at about 1 1/2 inches (Make this according to the size of your rods.

3. I put a tension rod (Found at Walmart for about $2.50) through the top seam.

4. For the top curtain, I did the same exact thing, only cutting the piece in half from top to bottom before sewing the seams.

5. Next, I tied the top curtain to the sides with ribbon.

6. Finally, I gathered all the dressups in the house and hung them behind the curtain. I also filled a tub with show items, such as puppets, bits of fabric and ribbon, finger puppets, and a play microphone.

I am loving our basement. We've never really used the space before, except as a dumping ground...But it is turning out to be the perfect place for our theatre.

Boredom Busters--Creativity is the Cure to Boredom

I don't believe in boredom. I'm not sure my kids even know the meaning of the word, to be honest. I'm obviously not a perfect mother (my own mother is the only one of those...), but I believe in allowing children to be children.

Creativity is the cure to boredom.

1. Have plenty of craft items and creative toys available and in reach.(Currently, we are loving Tinkertoys and Electronic Snap Circuits.)

2. Demonstrate your own creativity, and avoid making negative comments about your creations.

3. Limit TV and computer time. At first, children will probably respond with many extra exclamations of boredom, but then they'll fill their time with better ventures.

4. Read often. Read to yourself. Read to your kids. Leave interesting books and magazines lying around. Read about Great People doing Great Things.

5. Organize your home in a way that allows children to explore. Get dangerous items out of the way and let 'em loose. I fully believe in letting my children bang on the piano. That's how they start to learn, isn't it?

6. Praise your children's work. Hang it up. Show their grandparents. Point out their strengths.

7. Do projects with them. They'll be much more excited if they can do it with you.

8. Say yes. When they want to make clay, try to say yes. When they want to go for a nature walk, try to say yes...or at least, I would love to go once the dishes are done.

I'm not here.

Hi. I'm posting about creativity over at the TJEd Trenches today. Come visit.

Toys.

Toys. I'm not a big fan of them. I just instituted a new rule in my house. If it's left on the floor, it's garbage. Welly thinks it is hilarious to say..."I'm left out!" and I say, "Garbage!"

There are some toys that I find I am a bit attached to, though. I like the ones that promote creativity, like the play kitchen and the dress-ups, the shovels and buckets, and the train table and the art easel.

For the most part, though, I'd like to dump all the toys in the garbage.

Do you have some creative toys you love?

Inspiring Creativity

*These are some notes from a lesson I recently gave at Church.*

CREATIVITY IN THE HOME

When I told Robby I was teaching about Creative Things to do as a family in the summertime, he said, “like cleaning your room blindfolded one day, cleaning your room with one hand behind your back one day, cleaning your room while Daddy is spanking your buns one day...?”

Yes. He keeps me laughing.

But I couldn’t have handpicked a topic I am more passionate about than Encouraging Creativity as a Mother. In researching the topic, I quickly filled over 20 pages with quotes about creativity, motherhood, and spending time as a family.

For me, summertime is about saying YES to things you don’t get around to the rest of the year.
· Learning new skills
· Studying the scriptures at a deeper level
· Reading longer books.
· Enjoying the outdoors.
· Making ice cream.

I used to believe I missed out on the creative gene. I connected creativity with an ability to draw, but it really has a lot more to do with allowing yourself to be inspired.

Amanda Soule, writer of The Creative Family wrote, "A large part of nurturing a spirit of creativity comes from being mindful, slowing down, observing, and looking around you at the beauty and inspiration all around…Stop and watch your children often. Really stop and watch, and you’ll see them using such creativity in everything they do."

President Uchdorf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, "After all, was it not the Creator of the worlds who called our attention to the beauty of the lilies of the field, to the power in the tiny mustard seed, and to the leaves on the fig tree?"

Author Anna Quindlen said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.”

Elder Oaks of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told the following story. "A friend took his young family on a series of summer vacation trips, including visits to memorable historic sites. At the end of the summer he asked his teenage son which of these good summer activities he enjoyed most. The father learned from the reply, and so did those he told of it. “The thing I liked best this summer,” the boy replied, “was the night you and I laid on the lawn and looked at the stars and talked.”

This story reminded me of something that happened recently with Bubs. We heard an ice cream truck in the neighborhood. His eyes opened wide and he said in wonder, "Someone in my class got to buy ice cream from an ice cream truck once." Ah, the little joys of childhood.

I firmly believe in leaving kids time to explore and treasure these childhood joys.

So, here’s the question. How do we make time for creative play and unscheduled time and not hear the phrase “I’m bored” all the time?

We have to participate. It’s hard, but I think sometimes being a taxi all day is harder.

I recently bought a drawing book from Amazon. When it arrived, I laid it out on the table with three pieces of paper and pencils. The kids quickly realized that I was planning to draw with them. They were so excited. Since then, there’ve been times when the kids asked what they should do, when I said to draw a picture, they didn’t want to unless I was doing it with them. Really though…what’s more important than spending that time with them? They grow up so fast.

We all know that kids model our own behavior. If they see us creating and valuing creative endeavors, they will want to join in. We inspire them by being inspired. We have to do encourage them. Praise their work.

They are natural creators.

We all are.

Next time someone says they're bored...

Read a book together. Come up with a menu. Shop for the ingredients and cook together. Hike a trail. Picnic outdoors. Plant something in a pot. Play Capture the Flag. Play Red Rover. Have a water balloon fight. Play Hide and Seek. Play Tag. Play Red Light, Green Light. Make a hopscotch with masking tape or chalk. Go Geocaching (www.geocaching.com--requires a gps) Bring butcher paper and art supplies outside. Bake something for a neighbor. Visit someone who is lonely. Visit a museum. Go to the park. Make play-dough. Make a kite and fly it. Say something you're grateful for, for every letter in the alphabet. Make cards for someone to show you care. Paint. Go for a nature walk. Make homemade ice cream in a bag or cans. Make instruments and have a parade. Have a pet parade with the neighborhood kids. Pop some popcorn, and watch a movie outside on a projector screen or laptop. Skip rocks in a lake. Play in a stream. Run in the sprinklers. Have a paper airplane contest. Have an egg dropping contest. Build a fort. Don’t forget the twinkle lights! Gather items from nature and make something out of them. Play “If you love me, Baby, smile.” Tell a story together. One person makes up a line, then the next person makes up a line, etc. Do a “Grateful Shower”. Everyone rains compliments on each other. Go to a friend’s house and weed. Make up a skit. Play charades. Make smores in the kitchen. Make sugar cookies. Bring sketchbooks and a blanket and sit under your favorite shade tree. Make smoothies. Make Fruit Loop or noodle jewelry. Spread shaving cream on a smooth surface and draw in it. Pour uncooked rice on a cookie sheet and draw in it. Take turns guessing what is being drawn. Make bubbles. Fill drinking glasses with various amounts of water and play a tune (gently) with spoons. Make mini popsicles with juice in an ice tray. You can use toothpicks for sticks. Make a zoo for toy animals. Take turns touring the zoo and being the zookeeper. Print a picture on heavy paper and turn it into a puzzle. Wash windows. It’s fun when one person is on each side of the glass. Use a bathroom scale to weigh things around the house. Have a picnic in the living room. Hide treats and play “hotter/colder”. Play Simon Says. Make fruit/snack kebabs. Make apple prints. Cut apples across horizontally so you can see the star shape. Think of an animal. Everyone asks questions until they figure out the animal. Make a portable flannel board. Attach felt to the top of a box. Cut flannel scraps into various shapes. Use your little board to tell stories. Go cloud gazing. Find shapes. Draw what you see. Make paper bag puppets and have a puppet show. Make a painting with berries. Have a family dance. Make a slip-n-slide with a long piece of plastic or garbage bags. Call a grandparent. Build a bug habitat. Build a fairy palace. Find a walking stick and shave one end into a point. Make hand shapes on the wall in a dark room with a flashlight. Make up your own game of pictionary. Play dress-up with mom and dad’s old clothes. Have a fashion show. Measure things around the house. Make a video. Take turns making up jokes. Make a nest. Make a family flag, song, or motto. Have a water fight. Find all the letters of the alphabet. Make notes that say, “Someone cares about you”, and go to the mall to hand them out. Plant a flower. Play “Mucky Goo Monster”. Like tag, but the monster can only get you when you are touching the carpet. Have a sock fight. Make sock puppets. Make masks. Write a letter. Hug.

Grateful ABC's

Here is a fun idea I found in The Creative Family by Amanda Soule. (Are you familiar with this book? I love it! HIGHLY recommended. Check out her blog, too. It's my very favorite blog of all.)

This simple idea is to go around and name something you are thankful for, for each letter of the alphabet. It can be as serious or funny or tender or goofy. However you feel at the moment. It was a fun way to practice the ABC's, as well as spelling and writing. I think we will do this fairly often.