Sunflower Art Part I

LESSON 5

Children begin their Van Gogh-inspired art project by exploring the creative process of painting.

  • Watercolor paper

  • Watercolor paints

  • Paper plates or coffee filters (both if desired)

  • Yellow paint (acrylic or watercolor works)

  • Paint shirt or smock

  • Paint brushes

Materials

  • Gather materials

  • Prepare a space for painting

Preparations

  • Initiate a discussion about the previous lesson's story, encouraging children to remember and share.

  • Introduce the concept of Van Gogh's artistic influence.

  • Provide guidance and support as children work on the art tasks.

  • Demonstrate painting techniques using watercolor or acrylic paints.

  • Facilitate the sketching and painting of a vase shape with two colors.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children recall and discuss the story read in the previous lesson.

  • Children learn about the influence of Van Gogh's paintings.

  • Children actively engage in the art activity.

  • Children practice fine motor skills through painting.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Play a simple game. 

  • Practice saying the poem with the actions you created.

A Little Seed

A little seed for me to sow

A little soil to make it grow

A little hole, a little pat

A little wish, and that is that

A little sun, a little shower

A little while-

And then, a flower

Activity Flow

  1. Begin this activity by reflecting on the story you read in the previous lesson. To spark their memory, ask your child if they remember who the story was about, and what happened in the story. If they can’t remember, quickly summarize the story to them.

  2. Tell your child that Van Gogh’s paintings inspire many artists today, and you thought it would be fun to recreate his sunflower painting. Work together to accomplish the art tasks below:

  • Paint 4 paper plates yellow using watercolor or acrylic paints

  • Paint an additional 3 coffee filters or paper plates yellow

  • Paint a large poster two colors for the background using acrylic paints or watercolor (we used large watercolor paper with watercolors, and referenced a Van Gogh painting for colors)

  • Use another paper to sketch a vase shape, and then paint it two colors.

  • Leave your paintings to dry, and we will complete the art project in the next lesson.