Van Gogh at Secondary Schools

Vincent van Gogh: a starving artist?

Many people think Vincent van Gogh was a starving artist, but that's not entirely true . . . In this short lesson, students can work independently to find out why.

Age:

12 to 14

Loving Vincent - A fiction full of facts

This lesson is about fact, fiction, and the characters in the film 'Loving Vincent', with some optional follow-up assignments at the end. If you use the lesson in preparation for seeing the film, be aware that it contains some potential spoilers. The lesson can be divided into 'before' and 'after' sections if desired.

Age:

14 to 18

Course:

Art and design, History, Film

60 min

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Loving Vincent -Living paintings

This lesson is about the relationship between several of Vincent's paintings and the film Loving Vincent, into which they were incorporated. The lesson can be used in preparation for watching the film 'Loving Vincent'.

Vincent van Gogh: fact or fiction?

There are many stories about Vincent van Gogh, but not all of them are true. This interactive lesson will introduce the class to the best-known facts – and myths – about Vincent.

Painted emotions

Vincent van Gogh's works can stir up many different emotions. In this lesson, students will learn independently about the connection between Van Gogh's work and the emotions that it arouses.

Elements of art: colour

Through the work of Vincent van Gogh, the students will learn about colour as an element of art. After an interactive introduction to the concepts of colour type, saturation, brightness and contrast, the class will practise and sketch.

Spot the difference: The Yellow House (2)

Extension of 'Spot the difference: The Yellow House (1)'

Spot the difference: The Yellow House (1)

Students will look at Vincent van Gogh's painting The Yellow House and try to spot five differences between different versions. Set 1.

The rediscovered sea view

After learning about Van Gogh's View of the Sea at Scheveningen, the students will draw or paint 'sea views' of their own.

Elements of art: Light

Through the work of Vincent van Gogh, the students will learn about light as an element of art. After an interactive introduction to the terms light source, light direction, light-dark contrast and shadow, they will practise what they have learned and make sketches.

Looking with your . . .

By examining several paintings by Vincent van Gogh, the students will learn that you can 'look with your ears'. Students can complete this lesson independently.

Painting the outdoors indoors

Working indoors, the class will paint a subject from the outdoors – just as Vincent van Gogh often did.

Imitating, adapting and surpassing

Vincent van Gogh looked for inspiration in his everyday surroundings and in the work of other artists. Students can independently complete this lesson about imitating, adapting and surpassing.

A haiku for Van Gogh

The students will write their own haikus, short poems of 17 syllables at most, inspired by Vincent van Gogh paintings.

Age:

12 to 15

Course:

English, Art and design

15 min

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Van Gogh's letters

After a brief introduction to the correspondence between Vincent and his brother Theo, the students write letters about their own art works.

Age:

12 to 15

Course:

Art and design, English, Linguistics, Foreign language, Literature

15 min

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Vincent van Gogh: A close look at The Harvest

This lesson is about the making of Van Gogh's painting The Harvest (1888).

Age:

12 to 19

Course:

Art and design, Geography

90 min

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Vincent's self-portraits

Using Vincent van Gogh's self-portraits, the class will learn about the basic proportions of the face. Then they will paint their own self-portraits.

Who was Van Gogh?

A short film about Vincent van Gogh, for use as an introduction to other lessons about the artist and his work.

Age:

10 to 12

Course:

Art and design, History

30 min

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The rediscovered church

By studying the painting of a church in Nuenen, the class will find out how Vincent van Gogh created the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface. They will learn about proportions and do arithmetic and measurement exercises based on the painting.

Two stolen paintings: colouring pictures

Two colouring pictures of the Van Gogh paintings stolen in 2002, which were rediscovered 14 years later. No specific assignment.

A portrait without a face

This lesson is about a stolen art work that was rediscovered. It focuses on the question: can a painting of a building also be a kind of portrait?

A painting in eleven words

The students write eleven-word poems based on paintings by Vincent van Gogh.

Age:

7 to 12

Course:

Art and design, English

15 min

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Before Vincent became an artist

A brief description of Vincent's life before he decided to become an artist, with a short quiz at the end.

Age:

9 to 12

Course:

Art and design, Geography, History

30 min

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Zoom in

Students discover a painting, starting with the details. During the class discussion, more and more of the painting is revealed. This is based on the Zoom In routine developed by Project Zero, Harvard.

Do you know Vincent?

A short presentation about Vincent van Gogh, for use as an introduction to other lessons about the artist or his work.

Age:

7 to 12

Course:

Art and design, Geography, History

90 min

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Vincent paints himself

Using Vincent van Gogh's self-portraits, the class will learn about the basic proportions of the face. Then they will paint their own self-portraits.

Mealtime! The Potato Eaters (2)

The children will each make a painting based on a sketch made at home (or a photo). This lesson accompanies the homework assignment 'Mealtime! The Potato Eaters (1)'.

Mealtime! The Potato Eaters (1)

The students will each make a sketch at home of the evening meal. At school, they will make paintings based on these sketches in the lesson 'Mealtime! The Potato Eaters (2)'. Suggestion: before assigning the homework, give the introductory lesson 'Do you know Vincent?'.