Level
Grade 3-6

Objective
Students will learn about Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh by being introduced to his art, and then by creating their own masterpiece after his work. This free lesson plan is designed to fulfill the National Standards for Art Education: Grades K-4/Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas; and Grades 5-8/Standard 2: Using knowledge of structures and functions.

Materials
4" Sugar Cookies
Cookie Frosting
Food Coloring
Icing Bag (or sandwich bag with corner cut)
Popsicle Sticks or Paint Brushes
Cookie Design Worksheet

Lesson

Step 1
Show the students a color plate of The Starry Night (1889). Ask students, "Who remembers the name of the artist that created this art masterpiece?" (Vincent van Gogh)

Step 2
Show students color plates of 2 similar works: Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers (1888) and Cypresses (1889). Ask students, "Who can tell me what is the same about all three artworks?" (Short, spontaneous brush strokes)

Step 3
Tell students "Our project will be to create your own art masterpiece following these examples of Vincent van Gogh's art on a cookie."

Step 4
Tell students, "On your table you will find an Art Masterpiece Cookie Design Worksheet with three large circles and several crayons. Our first step is to draw a design for a sunflower cookie on this worksheet. Make your lines for the petals just as quick and spontaneous as we have seen in Vincent van Gogh's art."

Step 5
Provide each student with a sugar cookie, popsicle sticks or paint brushes, and access to an icing bag and premixed colors of frosting.

Step 6
Tell students, "You may begin to paint your Vincent van Gogh cookie."

Step 7
Quiz students about Vincent van Gogh as they paint.

1) Where was Vincent van Gogh born? (Netherlands)

2) What era was he from? (Post-Impressionist)

3) What is similar about the three works that I showed you? (Short, spontaneous brush strokes)

Have fun!