Van Gogh Trunk

Activities and Materials:

I. Art and Phonics:

Activity #1: Watch the Baby Van Gogh Video. Pause on the paintings and have a class discussion using these questions:

• What do you see in this picture?
• What else can you find?
• What's going on in this picture?
• What do you see that makes you say that?

Activity #2: Read aloud the book, Baby Einstein ABC's of Art and ask the questions that are prompted in the text. There are also some additional suggested activities located at the back of the book.

II. Color:

Activity #1: Read aloud the book, Baby Van Gogh's World of Color Board and ask the questions that are prompted in the text.

III. Art Activities:

Activity #1: Make a class mural. Use the overhead to make an enlarged copy of one of the paintings in the book, Color Your Own Van Gogh Paintings, and have the class paint the picture.

Activity #2: Play the CD, Baby Van Gogh Art Time. The music on this CD comes from Van Gogh's era. Have the students create their own painting that was inspired by the music.

Top

 

First Grade

Students will have the opportunity to study Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting and learn about the life cycle of sunflowers. This trunk offers various literature that gives a child an in depth look at the sunflower's life cycle. Included are roasted sunflower seeds for students to eat and garden sunflower seeds to plant. Van Gogh's Sunflower painting will become memorable as they paint one themselves.

Objective: Understanding the life cycle and parts of a sunflower inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower painting.

Science Standard:
Understand that plants need air, sunlight, water and know that roots are associated with the intake of water and soil nutrients.

Activities and Materials:

I. Computer Art Activity:

Activity #1: Refer to the lesson plan called Vincent's Sunflowers, by Carol Sabbeth. It is an art lesson using the computer paint program. Included is a poster of Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower painting

II. Parts of a Sunflower and its Life Cycle:

Activity #1: Read aloud the book, From Seed to Sunflower, and refer to the lesson plan called "From One Seeds Grow Many Seeds," by Windy A. Mack.

Activity #2: Read aloud the book, Katie and the Sunflowers, and then the students can color the coloring pages provided in The Story of the Sunflower.

Activity #3: Plant your own sunflowers! (Garden seeds included in the trunk.)

Top

 

Second Grade

This trunk provides various Van Gogh paintings of the Roulin Family and integrates the paintings with the study of family heritage. Included are informative literature and activities for students to investigate their own family tree.

Objective: An Exploration of family heritage inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's paintings of the Roulin Family.

Social Studies Standards:

Differentiate between past and present by comparing and contrasting daily life.

Demonstrate an understanding of how individuals from past to present and their actions influence events (family or historical figures)

Activities and Materials:

I. The Roulin Family:

Activity #1: Refer to the paintings of the Roulin family members shown in the book, Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings. Show the various paintings to the class. Then refer to the art lesson called, "A Family Portrait".

II. Family Tree:

Activity #1: Read aloud the book, Me and My Family Tree, and refer to worksheets called, "Our Family History and my Family Tree".

Activity #2: There are various activities in My Family Tree Workbook that can be used with your class.

Top

 

Third Grade

Through Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night" students will have the opportunity to learn about constellations. Included is a Smithsonian Space Theater Planetarium that will take the students through the night sky. There is also a beautifully illustrated book, Zoo in the Sky, which provides information on popular constellations. Students will have the opportunity to make a mini planetarium and paint their own starry night. Also included is a variety of literature and videos that gives the students a better understanding of Vincent Van Gogh.

Objective: Investigating Constellations through Vincent Van Gogh's painting of "Starry Night."

Science Standard:
Students know the patterns of stars stay the same, although they appear to move across the sky nightly and different stars can be seen in different seasons.

Activities and Materials:

I. Art Activity:

Activity #1: Have the students look at the poster, The Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh. Then go to the the crayon resist art lesson called, Starry Night, by Cindy Slotnick.

II. Constellations:

Activity #1: Refer to lesson called "Constellations" in the book, Zoo in the Sky.

III. Planetarium:

Activity #1: Show the different constellations on an overhead projector and listen to the CD the accompanies the Smithsonian Space Theater Planetarium. Refer to the activity called, "Cut & Color Table - Star Gazers."

IV. Biography:

Activity #1: These books, Vincent Van Gogh Sunflower, and Swirly Stars and Vincent Van Gogh, can be shared with the students to learn more about Vincent Van Gogh.

Activity #2: Watch the video, Vincent Van Gogh, that shares the life of Vincent Van Gogh.

Top