How to Teach Art History in Your Homeschool

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Art History might sound like something reserved for museum docents or college classrooms, but guess what? You can teach it at home- and you don’t need a degree to do it.

Whether your child is a budding Picasso or just loves a good story, art history is a rich and engaging subject that adds color (literally!) to your homeschool.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to add art history into your homeschool week- plus I’ve created a FREE 5-day intro to Art History Pack to help you get started.

Why teach Art History?

Art History goes beyond paintings, it tells the story of people, cultures, revolutions, and ideas. By studying art, kids learn:

·       Critical thinking skills: Why did this artist paint that? What was happening at the time?

·       Cultural awareness: They see the world through different lenses and eras.

·       Visual literacy: They learn to “read” images like they read books.

·       Creative inspiration: Nothing sparks a hands-on art session like seeing the masters at work.

The best part? It can tie into your history, geography, and literature lessons naturally.

How to Teach Art History at home:

Leonardo da Vinci

Here’s a simple framework you can adapt to any grade level:

1.)    Pick a theme or time period

Start small: Renaissance, Impressionism, Ancient Egypt, or even a “Famous Artists” week. You can also line up your art history with your general history curriculum.

2.)    Introduce one artist at a time

Choose 1-2 artists per week. Share their work, a short biography and fun facts. YouTube and museum websites are great for quick virtual tours and video clips.

 Try this: Show your kids two paintings by the same artist and ask what they notice. Then show a painting from a different style and compare.

3.)    Keep it visual and hands-on

Kids remember what they do more than what they read. Encourage them to:

·       Recreate a piece of art using their own materials

·       Make a mini art gallery on the wall or in a notebook

·       Use timeline cards to place artists/events in historical context

4.)    Use Art to spark conversation

Ask open-ended questions, like:

·       What do you think is happening in this painting

·       How does this artwork make you feel?

·       What colors and shapes do you notice?

No wrong answers-just great conversations.

5.)    Make it a routine

Even 10-15 minutes once or twice a week adds up. Use art history as a Friday “fun” subject or tie it into quiet afternoon time.

Grab your freebie: 5-Day Introduction to Art History Pack

To help you kick things off, I’ve created a free printable pack that introduces five major art movements and artists in a bite-sized way:

What’s Included:

·       5 Daily Artists Spotlights (from Ancient to Modern)

·       Printable timeline cards

·       Easy Discussion prompts

·       A mini art project for each day

Perfect for elementary and middle school ages, but easily adaptable for older kids too!

Download the Free 5-Day Art History Pack Here

Teaching Art History doesn’t have to be intimidating-it’s about telling stories through pictures, sparking curiosity, and helping kids see the world in new ways. Whether your homeschool is classical, eclectic, or somewhere in between, there’s a place for Art History at your table.

So pour your favorite fizzy drink, grab a snack, pull up a painting and step into the of Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, or Michelangelo with your kids. You might be surprised at what you learn too!

Happy Homeschooling!