Art, Music and PE at Home: The Subjects Nobody Plans For

You spent three weeks choosing a math curriculum. You read four reviews of every phonics program. You have a science plan that includes real experiments. And then you looked at your state’s required subject list and saw: art, music, physical education.

You do not have an art studio. You cannot play an instrument. Your gym is a backyard with a broken swing set. And the school day is already full.

Good news: these subjects are easier to cover than you think, and you are probably already doing most of it without calling it school.

The short answer

Art, music and PE at the elementary level do not require special training, expensive equipment, or a separate time block. Drawing with a pencil is art. Listening to a symphony and talking about it is music. Playing outside for 30 minutes is PE. Most states require that you teach these subjects, but the requirements are broad enough that basic activities count. Add a small amount of intentional instruction and document what you do.

Physical education

PE is the easiest of the three to cover because children already move. The challenge is remembering to call it school and, if your state requires it, logging the hours.

What counts as PE:

• Playing outside (running, climbing, riding bikes)
• Swimming
• Hiking or nature walks
• Organized sports (soccer, basketball, martial arts, dance, gymnastics)
• Backyard games (tag, capture the flag, kickball)
• Jump rope, hula hoop, obstacle courses
• Yoga or stretching

How much: The typical recommendation for elementary children is 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per day [1]. This does not have to be structured exercise. A child who spends 45 minutes playing outside after lunch has done PE.

For your records: Keep a simple log of physical activities. “Tuesday: 30 min bike riding. Thursday: 45 min soccer practice. Saturday: family hike, 1 hour.” If your state asks, you have documentation.

If you want more structure: Some curricula include PE components. Some families join homeschool PE classes at community centers or YMCAs. But for elementary, daily active play is the foundation, and it is enough.

Art

Art intimidates homeschool parents more than it should. Elementary art is not about producing gallery-quality work. It is about observing, creating, and experimenting with materials. You do not need to draw well to teach it.

What counts as art:

• Drawing with pencil, crayon, marker, or chalk
• Painting (watercolor sets are cheap and versatile)
• Sculpting with clay, playdough, or papier-mache
• Collage and mixed media
• Observational drawing (draw this leaf, this cup, this shoe)
• Looking at famous artworks and discussing them
• Coloring, if the child is young enough that fine motor skills are still developing

Low-cost weekly plan:

• Week 1: Drawing. Give the child an object and ask them to draw it. Talk about shapes, light, and shadow. Total cost: pencil and paper.
• Week 2: Painting. Watercolor or tempera paint on paper. Any subject. Total cost: a watercolor set (under $10 lasts all year).
• Week 3: Art appreciation. Look at a famous painting online or in a library book. Discuss what you see: colors, shapes, mood, subject. Total cost: free.
• Week 4: Free choice project. The child picks the medium and the subject. Total cost: whatever materials you already have.

That is four sessions, about 30 to 45 minutes each. One month of art.

If you want more structure: Atelier art programs, ArtAchieve (online), and Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes are popular homeschool art resources. None is necessary for elementary.

Music

Music is the subject that makes parents say “but I am not musical.” You do not need to be. Elementary music education is primarily listening, rhythm, singing, and basic appreciation. Playing an instrument is wonderful but not required.

What counts as music:

• Listening to music and talking about it (What instruments do you hear? Is this fast or slow? How does it make you feel?)
• Singing (folk songs, children’s songs, hymns, whatever your family sings)
• Clapping rhythms and keeping a beat
• Listening to different genres and discussing them
• Learning about instruments (what they look like, how they sound)
• Attending a concert (live or recorded)
• Playing a simple instrument (recorder, ukulele, rhythm instruments)

Low-cost weekly plan:

• Week 1: Listen to a piece of classical music (free on YouTube or a library CD). Discuss it.
• Week 2: Learn a folk song. Sing it together.
• Week 3: Rhythm. Clap patterns. March to a beat. Use pots and wooden spoons as drums.
• Week 4: Instrument study. Pick one instrument. Watch a video of someone playing it. Talk about how it makes sound.

That is four sessions, 15 to 30 minutes each. One month of music.

If the child wants to learn an instrument: Community music schools, private teachers, and online lessons (Faber Piano Adventures and Suzuki programs are popular) are options. The cost of lessons varies widely. Many libraries lend instruments. Some schools districts allow homeschoolers to participate in band or orchestra.

Fitting it all in

These subjects do not need their own time block. They fit into the margins of your existing schedule.

Art goes on Friday. Or Tuesday afternoon. Or whenever you need a break from academics. One session per week, 30 to 45 minutes.

Music goes at transition time. Play music while the child cleans up after lunch. Listen to a piece during the drive to co-op. Sing while you wash dishes. A 15-minute music appreciation session twice a week covers it.

PE is daily life. Walk to the mailbox. Play outside after math. Ride bikes before dinner. If the child is active for 30 minutes a day, PE is handled.

Combine with other subjects. Art can be the output for history (draw a scene from ancient Rome) or science (draw the parts of a flower). Music can connect to history (listen to music from the period you are studying) or geography (music from the country you are learning about). PE can be the nature walk where you identify trees for science.

The kitchen-table test

Does my state require these subjects? Check first [5]. If not, you can still teach them (and should), but the pressure is different.

Am I already covering some of this without calling it school? A child who draws every day, plays outside after lunch, and sings in the car is already getting art, PE, and music. You may just need to log it.

Do I need a curriculum? For elementary, almost certainly not. A pencil, some paint, a library book of famous art, a YouTube playlist of classical music, and a backyard cover all three subjects.

Does the child want more? If your child is passionate about art, music, or a sport, invest in that. Private lessons, a community class, or better materials are worth the money for a child who is genuinely interested. For the child who is not, basic exposure is the goal.

Common mistakes

Skipping these subjects entirely because the academics take all day. If your school day is so packed that there is no time for art, music, or physical activity, the school day is too packed. Trim the academics and add the “extras.” They are not extras.

Spending a lot of money on curricula you do not need. A $150 art curriculum for a first grader is nice but not necessary. A box of crayons and a trip to the library art section does the same thing at this age.

Treating these subjects as rewards. “If you finish your math, you can do art” makes art the carrot and math the vegetable. Both are school. Both are required in many states. Schedule them, do not bribe with them.

Comparing to school programs. The school has an art teacher, a music room, and a gym. You have a kitchen table, a backyard, and YouTube. Your child will still learn to draw, appreciate music, and stay physically active. The setting is different. The outcome does not have to be.

Check your state’s rules. Homeschool law varies by state and can change: notice requirements, required subjects, attendance, assessments and record-keeping all differ. Check your state department of education’s current guidance before you start or change anything. If you think your child may have a learning disability, you can ask your local school district about an evaluation; districts have duties to identify children with disabilities, including many who are homeschooled, though what’s offered varies by state. This article is general information, not legal advice.

Related reading: Field Trips, Libraries and Free Community Resources | A Realistic First-Year Homeschool Schedule for Elementary Ages