Overview   Timeline   Lesson 1: The Sensory Palette   Lesson 2: The Literary Palette    Lesson 3:  The Color Palette 
Lesson 4: The Studio Palette  Enhancements & Follow-Up   Resource List  Illustrative Materials & Showcase Gallery 
Assessments & Evaluation Strategies    Gallery Guestbook   Teacher Diane Lufrano's Adaptation of this Unit
Link to Other Lessons by Lori  (middle school level)

Overview 

Vincent van Gogh’s painting, “Bedroom at Arles”, served as an impetus for the creation of this project.  A fellow art teacher brought to my attention an article covering an art exhibition at the Community Children’s Museum in Dover, Pennsylvania. In their exhibit entitled “Van Gogh’s Bedroom”, “a full sized replica of the artist's painting is installed for children to hop on his bed, press their hands along the textured walls, and touch and play with everything on display.” (New Jersey Star Ledger, June 3, 2004, page 5).   http://communitychildrensmuseum.org . 

Major Goals and Aims

To further enhance my students' understanding and appreciation of a variety of movements in art history, this unit now follows:

• Painting Water-lilies & Sunflowers: A Walk in an Impressionist Garden with Monet and Van Gogh

• Sculpting a Modern Art Chair with van Gogh & Gauguin

• Spiraling Through the Guggenheim: Exploring 20th Century Masterpieces

• Everything Is Beautiful at the Ballet: The Human Figure Set in Motion

Students are now provided the opportunity to make the connection between a variety of artists and art periods based on individual and group research projects. Through cooperative group work, creative expression and interpretation, students appreciate and respect one another’s opinion, value, internalize and develop new perspectives of the true meanings found in their art. Through a fun and focused environment, students will use problem solving skills, communication and diversity of tasks as they are challenged to create 3D Artful Installations, constructing a sculptural interpretation of a painting.

To further promote their understanding of specific art periods and artists, as well as the difference between a 2D and 3D work of art, my aims are as follows:

1.   Students will explore a variety of periods in art history based upon classroom books, magazines, photos and Internet research.

2.   Students will investigate the periods in art history known as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Surrealism, Realism, and the Modern Art Movement.

3.   Students will analyze and appreciate the unique painting style of Van Gogh, Monet, Seurat, Dali, Rockwell, Hopper, Matisse, Warhol, and Hokusai.

4.   Students will explore web sites about these artists and compare and contrast their works.

5.   Students will have a virtual visit through the web of “Van Gogh’s Bedroom”, an interactive site.  http://vangoghmuseum.nl

6.   Students may visit the Community Children’s Museum, in Dover Pa., online or with their family. http://www.communitychildrensmuseum.org.

7.   Students will interpret and appreciate the unique painting style of each of these artists and solve design problems as they explore perspective, scale, and point of view.

Through the use of technology and the Internet, students are given the opportunity to visit the art collection of famous museums without leaving their bedroom! By exploring http://vangoghmuseum.nl students are provided a wealth of knowledge on van Gogh as well as an interactive multimedia presentation from the collection of his most important works.

By viewing images on the web, classroom posters, books and magazines, students become familiar with a variety of artworks and are able to share their knowledge with their classmates. They learn to interpret and appreciate the unique painting style of each of these artists, as well as compare and contrast their works.  They were now able to express themselves using new vocabulary, methods and art mediums. Hopefully they will recognize that these artists produced works that helped set the stage for much of what we know today as modern art. 

Target Students

This lesson has been created for eighth grade major art talent classes.  However, it is easily adaptable to all age groups:

-          K-12

-          After school classes

-          Community organization groups

-          Scouting

-          Senior citizen groups

-          College level courses

The class meets for three forty-minute periods per week in the art classroom.  This unit can usually be completed in six weeks.  Library visits and computer lab visits aid in the exploration of these artists.  Students have Internet access at home, which lends itself to my assigning homework to gather additional research and background information.

Standards Addressed

This unit fulfills the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts, English Language Arts, and Technology, as well as the New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts.

 The Arts:

Standard 1. Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Arts.

Students will actively engage in the processes that constitute creation in the visual arts.

Standard 2. Knowing and Using Arts Materials and Resources.

Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the materials and resources available for participation in the arts.

Standard 3. Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art.

Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the arts, connecting the individual work to other works and to aspects of human endeavor and thought.

Standard 4. Understanding the Cultural Contributions of the Arts.

Students will develop an understanding of the personal and cultural forces that shape artistic communication and how the arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present society.

English Language Arts:

Standard 1. Language for Information and Understanding.

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

Standard 2. Language for Literary Response and Expression.

Students will read, write, listen and speak for literary response and expression.

Standard 3. Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation.

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.

Technology:

Standard 5. Technology. Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.

NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts:

Visual Arts Benchmarks Grades K-12 / Grade 8: Through close observation and sustained investigation, students develop individual and global perspectives in art, utilize the principles of art, solve design problems, and explore perspective, scale, and point of view.

HOME