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STARRY, STARRY NIGHT
MASTER TEACHER: Brenda
Chapman
Grade Level: 4-8
Time Allotment:
Three 45-minute class periods
Overview: The
student will use Van Gogh’s Starry Night to analyze his artistic style and
artworks. During the lesson, students will create a wax-release drawing of
Starry Night. In doing so, the students will view stars as spheres, learn about
the phases of the moon, and ascertain that planets may indeed be mistaken for
stars.
Subject Matter:
Art, Art History, Science, and Social Studies
Learning Objectives:
The
student will be able to:
·
View
and analyze works of art
·
Create a wax-release drawing of Starry Night
·
Develop an understanding and be able to identify
phases of the moon
·
Understand that the moon and planets reflect light
from the sun
·
Identify stars as spheres that radiate light
Standards or TEKS:
§117.14. Art, Grade 4-8
(2) By
analyzing artistic styles and historical periods students develop respect for
the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures. Students respond to and
analyze artworks, thus contributing to the development of lifelong skills of
making informed judgments and evaluations
§126.3. Technology
Applications, Grades 3-5.
(4)
Information acquisition. The student
uses a variety of strategies to acquire information from electronic resources,
with appropriate supervision.
(5)
Information acquisition. The student
acquires electronic information in a variety of formats, with appropriate
supervision.
(8)
Solving problems. The student uses
research skills and electronic communication, with appropriate supervision, to
create new knowledge.
Science
concepts
(4.6) The student knows that change can create recognizable patterns.
(5.5) The student knows that a
system is a collection of cycles, structures, and processes that interact.
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Social
Studies, Grade 5,
6, 7, and 8.
(2) To support the teaching
of the essential knowledge and skills, the use of a variety of rich
primary and secondary source materials such as biographies and
autobiographies; novels; speeches and letters; and poetry, songs, and
artworks is encouraged.
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Geography. The student uses geographic
tools to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
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Culture. The student understands the
relationship between the arts and the times during which they were
created.
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Media Components:
Video-ETV
series
Reading
Rainbow-#1001 “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
CD-ROM-Van
Gogh-Starry Night, The Voyager Company
(The teacher
will need computer projector or an adapter to use the classroom TV as a computer
monitor. A computer with speakers is essential. This CD-ROM may be purchased
from Voyager, 1Bridge St., Irvington, NY 10533-9919)
Educator’s Guide to… Follow the Drinking Gourd
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/planetarium/ftdg1.htm
This website gives the explanation of the coded song and route information
some slaves used to escape to Canada.
Halley’s Comet
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/halley.html
http://www.onlineastronomy.com/astr161/lect/comets/halley.html
These sites
contain information about Halley’s Comet
Voyager Company
http://www.voyagerco.com/cdrom/catalogpage.cgi?starrynight
You may use this website to purchase the Starry Night, CD-ROM.
Materials:
Teacher will
need:
Starry Night
poster (use yarn to divide it into quadrants) This may be purchased at a hobby
shop or craft store. Another suggestion might be to use an overhead
transparency of the painting made from a website.
Projector for the computer or an adapter that will
convert your TV into a computer monitor.
You will use this for the CD-ROM and the PowerPoint presentation.
For each
student:
One sheet of standard printer paper
Pencil
Wax crayons
Blue construction paper (12 x 18) for mounting drawing when completed
Prep for Teachers
Step 1:
Prior to the lesson, install the CD-ROM and become familiar with the
various features. A Starry Night icon (Vincent’s picture) will appear on the
desktop of your computer. Test the volume settings on the computer for optimum
performance.
Step 2:
Bookmark all Web sites.
Step 3:
Prepare the PowerPoint presentation
Step 4:
Cue the videotape to the appropriate starting point on the video, Follow
the Drinking Gourd..
Step 5:
Have a large world map available to discuss geological points of interest
during the lesson.
Introductory Activity: Setting the Stage
Introduction to Starry Night-Day One
(Remember if
you are unable to locate this CD, the Museum of Modern Art website has a two
minute video clip on this painting that may be used.)
Step 1. Turn
on computer and TV.
Step 2.
Insert Starry Night CD into computer.
Step 3.
Double click on Starry Night icon, bottom row. (see Vincent’s picture)This
will automatically run the introduction scene accompanied by music.
Step 4.
Click “OK” on Director Player.
Step 5. The
program should run into the “Table of Contents.”(It is very important to be
familiar with the features on this CD-ROM
Step 6.Click
on “Index.” These are some suggestions.
a.
click on first self-portrait, see “go to” on
right hand side of screen.
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Repeat |
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Narration |
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Back |
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Forward |
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Narration |
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Black
square will let you view the picture without the narration. Click on the square
to make it solid (with narration).
b.
Listen to narrator for 3 pictures. When finished,
click on Index to exit.
c.
Click on the Index-then click on the bottom row, 3rd
picture. Listen for a couple of minutes.
d.
Return to Index, go to the 2nd page, 2nd
row, the last picture explains illness and cutting of ear lobe.
e.
Return to Index, go to the 4th page, top row, and
3rd picture. Click. Let it “run” through
6 pictures, until after he talks about the phases of the moon. Discuss phases of
the moon. Click “Quit” on the lower right hand corner of Table of Contents.
Now you are back to the desktop
f.
This will
probably take a whole class period if your class asks questions or there is
discussion.
Learning Activity: Day Two
Step 1:
Begin PowerPoint presentation, reviewing information from CD. (This
presentation is found at the end of this lesson. Use the information provided to
create your own.) Discuss Van Gogh’s life, where he was born, (use the map),
emphasize that he had to study to
develop his own style. His talent evolved by working with Renoir and other
artists of that time.
Step 2:
Ask students to name famous people that have had to work hard to develop
their talents. (Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, etc.) Stress that successful people
in all walks of life must work constantly to attain their level of aptitude.
Step 3:
Discuss the effects of mercury poisoning.
Step 4:
Discuss the unique techniques of Van Gogh.
Step 5:
Distribute paper. Students have pencils for sketching. Display large poster that
has been sectioned into quadrants. Refer to this poster or overhead transparency
while drawing.
Step 6:
Continue presentation. When students begin to work on details,
you might consider using the CD again. Just minimize
the PowerPoint and click on the Vincent icon again. This time go to “Starry
Night in Detail.” Use the little hand at the right to focus on one spot of
interest. This should help the students to decide which crayon to use. Remind
student not to color the inside of the stump as this will be colored by the
tempera paint later.
Step 7:
Point out important science details as the students are drawing
a.
phases of
the moon
b.
orbit of
Halley’s Comet
c.
Venus, the
glowing planet to the right of the stump
d.
Emphasize
that the above mentioned are reflecting
light from our sun
e.
Other stars
in the night sky are burning spheres
of gas (not 5 pointed figures) that radiate light.
f.
Discuss the
Milky Way galaxy.(refer to CD for short lecture)
Step 8:
When crayon drawing is completed, have students go over it again with a heavy
hand! The wax must be thick for the wash to be effective.
Step 9:
Have students slip on an old T-shirt or apron before painting. Line tables with
old newspaper. Pour prepared paint mixture into small containers. Have students
use brushes to apply a black wash lightly over the drawing. Advise students to
use only one coating of the wash, do not use 2 strokes over the same area. After
wash, find a corner or shelf for your students’ artwork to dry. Mount on large
blue construction paper for display.
Culminating Activity:
Day Three
View video: Follow
the Drinking Gourd. Focus for Media
Interaction: Tell students that people have used the stars as maps for
hundreds of years. During the 1800s, the slaves and abolitionists used the Big
Dipper to guide the slaves to freedom. Listen to the song in this story very
carefully. Would you be able to follow the helpful clues to find your way in a
strange land?
Cue the
video to a point after the cabin in the woods is shown and Levar is saying,
”The best way to escape is the Follow the Drinking Gourd…that group of stars
in the sky.
Pause-Ask
students to listen to the song through out the story and to take notes as to the
directions they would have to follow if they were trying to find their way
North.
Resume-
Allow
the video to continue until “The End” is displayed.
Stop-Have
students compare notes with information found on the website:
Educator’s Guide to …:Follow the Drinking
Gourd”. Using the U. S. map, have the students trace a
probable route that the escaped slaves might have used.
Cross-Curricular Extensions:
Science and Reading-Use
these resources for subject content and reinforcing reading skills:
Van Gogh,
Bruce Bernard
Explore Science through Literature Level C, Even-Moor Corp.
Telling Time with the Big Dipper Clock,
p.21-22
The Big
Dipper Star Field, p23-24
The Big Dipper and You,
E. C. Krupp
The Constellations Coloring Book, Jean Waricha
The
Magic School Bus and the Solar System, Joanna Cole
The Glow-in-the-Dark Night Sky Book,
Clint Hatchett
The Young Astronomer, Harry Ford
Math
Have
students calculate distances to heavenly bodies.
Space Math
worksheet, Multiplying fractions or decimals, from
THE MAILBOX Intermediate, Feb/Mar 1991
Literature
Students will listen to the poems, Space
Songs, by Myra Cohn Livingston.
Music Appreciation
Have
the class sing the song, The Drinking
Gourd. The lyrics are found on the website, The Drinking Gourd.
Community Connections:
Invite local artists and astronomers to visit your class as guest
speakers
Students
may visit the local art galleries and planetarium.
Have a family night star gazing event where students and their families
gather
after
dark to view the constellations. Amateur telescopes would be a big plus.
Student Materials:
For each
student:
One sheet of standard printer paper
Pencil
Wax crayons
Blue construction paper (12 x 18) for mounting drawing when completed
These are
suggested slides for the PowerPoint.
Updated: April 01, 2008
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