Sara Miller

Lesson Plan
Instructional Technology Integration

Introduction
-Van Gogh Self-Portraits
- Middle school Art I
- Length of Lesson- three to four 90-minuite-class periods
- VA Visual Art Standards of Learning
7.23 The student will analyze, interpret, and judge works of art based on biographical,
historical, or contextual information.
8.20 The student will discuss and analyze the purposes, values, and meaning of works of
art.

Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Examine the works and background of Vincent Van Gogh in order to learn about
the individual as an artist.
- Analyze the works carefully and respond to questions and make comparisons
about Van Gogh’s art and writing.
- Create a Van Gogh style self-portrait and write a letter describing it.
- Show their work to the class as well as critique the work of their classmates.

Materials Needed
-computer with power point
-student’s photograph
-photocopier
-scissors
-cardboard
-glue
-paint (tempera, poster, and oil)
-oil pastels

Teaching and Learning Sequence

Introduction/Anticipatory Set
-The teacher will introduce the students to the topic of Van Gogh and self-portraits
through a power point presentation.
- The teacher will engage the students by asking questions and requiring the students to
respond with their feelings to the works of art they see.
Lesson Development
Class Period One
- After being introduced to the project through the presentation the students will look
more into the biography of Van Gogh.
- The class will discuss any prior knowledge or information they already know about Van
Gogh.
- The class will discuss the works of Van Gogh, paying particular atenion to his use of
color and brushwork.
- The students will use the rest of the class time to research Van Gogh through found
information on the Internet and/or in the library. The students will be instructed to pick
out one Van Gogh self-portrait they want to model their own work after.
- If not completed during class time, the student will complete outside of class and have it
ready by next class.
-The students will be instructed to bring a photo of themselves to next class.

Class Period Two

- The student will make a Van Gogh style self-portrait using their own photograph and
the provided handouts.
- The students will then write a letter to a friend about the work and what they were
feeling when they created it.

Class Periods Three-Four

- The students will present and show their work to the class.
- The students will participate in a conversation about classmates’ works of art and give
constructive criticism.

Closure
-The students will be asked to summarize what they have learned about creating self-
portraits and Van Gogh and how they can use this information in future works of art.

Assessment

Formative
- The teacher will ask each student to summarize what they have learned about Van Gogh
and discuss one of his self-portraits.
- The teacher will engage the students in a discussion and ask questions about how Van
Gogh’s writings relate to his works of art.
- The teacher will engage the students in a discussions about other students works of art,
ask questions, and encourage the students to do the same.

Summative
The teacher will evaluate the final piece of artwork asking the following questions:
- Did the student have at least two sets of complementary colors?
- Did the student use several distinct marks and/or brushstrokes in the portrait?
- Does the self-portrait answer some aspect of the question, “Who am I?”
- Does the letter explain the artist’s feelings and are they supported by evidence in the
work of art.
Also use of Art Grading Rubric.

References

NGA Classroom website retrieved on September 26, 2009 from

<http://www.nga.gov/education/classroom>

Differentiated Instruction Organizer

- Students with learning challenges or disabilities may have extra time to work on
the project, receive additional help, and/or have outside classroom time to work on
material.
-Students who are gifted will be asked to provide additional biographical information on
Van Gogh and present to the class what they have learned.
 Content Organizer

Curriculum Framework Essential Understandings

7.23 The student will analyze, interpret, and judge works of art based on biographical,
historical, or contextual information.
8.20 The student will discuss and analyze the purposes, values, and meaning of works of art.

Materials and Lesson Preparation

The teacher will prepare by creating and reviewing the power point presentation that will be
used.

Materials Needed-
-computer with power point
-student’s photograph
-photocopier
-scissors
-cardboard
-glue
-paint (tempera, poster, and oil)
-oil pastel

Content Information and Vocabulary

The students will learn about the artist Vincent Van Gogh and his works of self-portraits.

The students will create their own self-portrait modeled after the work of Van Gogh.

The students will present their work to peers and critique the work of others.

Vocabulary-
self-portrait

style

color scheme

complementary colors

Connections – Cross-Curricular and Real-World

The students will learn about the life and time period of Van Gogh.