Lesson Plan - Van Gogh's Flowers

Van Gogh’s Flowers Still Life 

4th grade 

Lesson time approx. 3 – 55 minute lessons 

Objectives – Students will 

- learn to fold the paper in half and cut a symmetrical design 

- learn to apply glue in small amounts 

- use pattern as a design element 

- use a variety of mediums (tempura, pastels, watercolors) to create a collage 

- learn to use composition 

 Description – students will create a still life using several mediums. 

 Vocabulary – symmetrical, composition, mediums, design elements, background 

Cue set – a variety of visuals will be displayed and students will discuss using paint, crayons, markers, and papers to create a collage. 

 Best shot – 

Demonstrate creating patterns with paint on several sheets of paper 

 Demonstrate using crayons to make a background 

 Show a completed project to create interest in students 

 Examples – teacher examples, Van Gogh prints of flowers 

 Materials – 

- colored construction paper 

- tempura paint - brushes 

- water tubs 

- watercolors 

- scissors 

- crayons 

- oil pastels 

- glue 

- paper 

 Artist history –Vincent van Gogh 

 "...I am overwhelmed by such a feeling of loneliness to such a horrible extent that I shy away from going out...only when I stand before my easel, do I feel somewhat alive."Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in a small village in Holland. The family had connections in the art world and at age 16, van Gogh was apprenticed to an art dealership. At the age of 25, van Gogh began religious studies in Amsterdam, later moving to a coal-mining district in Belgium where the workers and their families lived in terrible poverty. Filled with compassion, van Gogh gave away many of his possessions to those under his care. Believing that his actions were too extreme, he was dismissed by his superiors. After suffering severe depression, van Gogh began to take an interest in drawing the miners and their families. By age 27, he had abandoned his religious pursuits and began to pursue a career as an artist. It was also at this time that his brother began to support him financially, a situation that continued until van Gogh’s death. It was in Paris when he moved in with his brother Theo, that van Gogh was introduced to the works of the Impressionists which had a profound influence on his use of color. He began to move away from dark and subdued colors and adopted more vibrant hues. It was also during this time that van Gogh became interested in Japanese art and began to incorporate it into his work. 

Art Production – 

 Day 1 – 

1. Talk with students about different shapes (circles, squares, rectangles, triangles) lines (horizontal, vertical, curvy, zigzag, diagonal), and patterns (repeating objects). 

2. Remind students to place their names and rotation on paper. 

3. Have students paint several sheets of paper with shapes, lines, and patterns. 

4. Place on the dry rack to dry. 

 Day 2 – 

1. Remind students to place their names and rotation on paper. 

2. Students will use oil pastels to make a background on paper. 

 3. Talk about making a horizon line. This is where the vase will sit on the table 

4. Above the table will be the wall. Remind students to use patterns they learned on Day 1. 

 5. When finished with pastels, have students watercolor background. This leaves a resist. Let dry. 

6. Place in group folders when done. 

 Day 3 – 

1. Talk about symmetry. 

2. Pass out construction paper and show students how to fold in half (remind them of their name tags). 3. Have students unfold the paper and place in front of them with the mountain up. 

4. Explain to them to draw a symmetrical shape from the crease to crease. Draw an example on board and demonstrate. 

5. Fold in half and cut on the drawn line for a vase shape. 6

. Show students how to glue the vase onto the background that was created on Day 2. 

7. Draw leaf and flower shapes on the board for reference. 

8. Cut out stems and leaves from green construction paper and add leaf details with a sharpie marker. 

9. Cut out flowers from painted papers from Day 1, glue them into place. 

10. Let dry and mount on black construction paper. 

 

Assessment – 

- Teacher observation 

– ability to use glue, paint shapes, cut on the line, clean up 

 Closure – 

- all tools and materials used need to be put away properly 

- tables and chairs need to be wiped off 

- talk to students about what they will be doing on the project next time you meet