Van Gogh Starry Night Art Game
Ready to liven up your elementary art curriculum with engaging, step-by-step oil pastel projects? This Van Gogh Starry Night art lesson will boost student confidence and creativity. Kids will appreciate his thick, swirling brushstrokes and bold colors. Moreover, they’ll connect with his journey to becoming an artist.
And, it’ll help time-starved teachers like you create lesson plans based on modern artists like Vincent Van Gogh.
During this Starry Night project, your class will learn how Van Gogh created contrast through the use of different line varieties in his oil paintings. And, they’ll discover how he transitioned from dark, moody colors to bright, cheerful hues. Students will draw Starry Night using the step-by-step guide and PowerPoint.
Plan lessons for kids about contemporary artists and art appreciation in a way that excites them. Finally feel confident in your art curriculum and be organized and prepared to teach art!
What’s Included In My Van Gogh Art Project
Can I be honest with you? Art history can sometimes be boring for kids. There, I said it. Teaching about artists and cultures doesn’t have to be a snoozer, though!
I’ve designed 3 different ways for students to attempt this Van Gogh art project. All will engage kids to create! Choose which way works best for your classes:
- Roll a dice game to add randomness to your student’s artwork
- “You Pick” art worksheet for kids to choose their own elements
- Digital spinner wheels, so kids can randomly pick elements and you can integrate technology in the art room
- Printable dice template in case you have no dice
- Step-by-step picture directions to guide students through the art process
- Drawing practice worksheet, for kids who want to sketch out their ideas
- Vincent Van Gogh Artist biography about the life and work of this Dutch landscape painter, so you don’t need to research
- “Big Ideas” reflection worksheet where students write about their art process
- Self-assessment worksheet so kids can think about how they performed during the project
- Art grading rubric which assesses expectations, craftsmanship, work habits, creativity, and clean-up
- 8 “I CAN” Statements aligned to the Studio Habits of Mind to use during instruction or post on your bulletin board
- 4 Art exit tickets with quick, thought-provoking prompts
- Art history coloring pages to keep kids inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting outside of the art room
Ways to Use This Starry Night Art Lesson
This Van Gogh lesson plan is flexible and can be used in many ways throughout your art room and beyond. It’s great for maternity or emergency art sub plans, early finisher activities, and even for virtual art class or an after-school art club.
You Will Receive
- 1 Non-Editable Printable PDF (Van Gogh Starry Night Art Project)
- 1 Non-Editable PowerPoint
- 5 Digital Spinner Videos (downloadable, and links to them on Google Slides and YouTube)
- Paperless Google Drive Digital Resource
Why You’ll Love It
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My kids were fully engaged with this art activity. I enjoyed using dice and that each student creation was different than their peers. A great way to reinforce texture, patterns and different kinds of lines in art. We talked about different effects the textures convey. Students loved this. Great for Grade 4-7, but I used this primarily with Grade 6’s during our Core French unit on French Impressionists. Great activity to tie-in art into Core French learning.
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My kids loved this so much that are constantly asking me to do this project again. They really understood the concepts taught and were able to apply it to their own masterpieces.
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My students love the painting Starry Night and were excited to work on this! They enjoyed learning about lines and I like the step by step slides for the Starry Night drawing. Thank you!
Terms of Use
Please refer to my complete terms of use prior to purchasing.
Keenan F. –
My students loved this resource last year! I will definitely use it again.
Diana B. –
This really brought our Van Gogh study to life! They loved not having to make decisions on what/how to recreate this famous art piece. Rolling to see what they were drawing made it very engaging and doable.
Paul L. –
Delightful. It was thoughtfully composed. I would definitely purchase from this author again.
Jessica Evans –
My kids did such a good job on their art with this as a guide. Thank you
Samantha K. –
My students enjoyed using this in art, they enjoy having the step-by-step instructions independently. It is easily laid out and students enjoy each lesson!
Halden M. –
My students love these roll a pictures. They turned out great 🙂
Rebecca S. –
My students loved the idea and were really creative with how they used the lines in their pictures. I also let them have more freedom in what they drew (I provided them with a base line-drawing of Starry Night) so they could be more creative. I had to reduce the number of lines used due to time limitations, but this was a great resource!
Courtney B. –
Great resource to use with the our Expressions unit.
Sylvia H. –
I have created monsters with my first graders in loving Van Gogh, so when I had to be out, they loved this activity with the sub, who was able to follow along with it so the students still had an enjoyable day at art with me out.
The Honeybee Teacher (Teacher-Author) –
This was a fun way to experience art at the end of the year!
Sami Rapp –
great
Marissa V. –
Great product!
Kaylie B. –
Thank you!
Shannon O. –
My students enjoyed working with the oil pastels. They do a great job of blending and adding their own touches.
Valerie B. –
I used this product with my ELLs online. They tried their hand at creating “Starry Night” on the whiteboard in the classroom. What fun! Then, the students created a descriptive essay to accompany their artwork.
Mark B. –
I loved this activity and so did my students! Very creative!
Jana W. –
Sub plans.
C McQ –
Great resource
BRENDA R. –
My students loved this activity. They were extremely engaged!
Heather H. –
Perfect to use as a back up emergency plan, with Covid and all.
Tana C. –
This was a fun resource to use to be creative with my students.
Kristin N. –
My students love the painting Starry night and were excited to work on this! They enjoyed learning about lines and I like the step by step slides for the Starry night drawing. Thank you!
Catherine N. –
Used this at the end of the school year to keep students engaged. Tied it into an SEL lesson on mental health while discussing Van Gogh’s background. Also showed the students the Doctor Who episode with Van Gogh 🙂 They loved the art project and learning about this great artist.
Kelly N. –
Great resource
Dawn H. –
My students loved that everyone’s final product looked different even though it was from the same lesson. Very clearly laid out and easy to use.
Geri R. –
As the Van Gogh light show was in our city many children had been to see it so they were very engaged with activities.
Heather Shewchuk –
My students were fully engaged with this art activity. I enjoyed using dice and that each student creation was different than their peers. A great way to reinforce texture, patterns and different kinds of lines in art. We talked about different effects the textures convey. Students loved this. Great for Grade 4-7 students but I used this primarily with Grade 6’s during our Core French unit on French Impressionists. Great activity to tie-in art into Core French learning.
Rebecca Maxwell –
Great art activity to engage students but also provide them with ideas.
Danielle W. –
Great Resource
MissClay’sArtLessons (Teacher-Author) –
My 3rd graders were very engaged with this. I will be continuing to use in the future. Thank you.
Angela G. –
Love the way this project turned out! It’s a great art project!
Kaylee N. –
Thank you for this resource 🙂
Caitlin M. –
This is great! My students loved it and created some really great drawings! I like how it is step by step so kids can follow along at home. Thank you!
Victoria McNeil –
My students loved this so much that are constantly asking me to do this project again. They really understood the concepts taught and were able to apply it to their own masterpieces.
Shannon W. –
This was the perfect game to go along with our month long study of Impressionism and Post Impressionism. My daughter loved it!
Harrison Hub (Teacher-Author) –
My grade 6’s enjoyed this project during our virtual learning.
Kashanna M. –
My students loved this resource. It really build confidence in their art abilities when it all comes together in the end.
Jordan U. –
Once again, another great resource. I love the flexibility of it and the kids loved to roll the die and see what to draw next. Thanks!
Stephanie W. –
This is such a fun activity!!! Students loved it. I will definitely come back to this activity in years to come.
Susan M. –
A new way to teach Starry Night, students loved the choices!
Katie G. –
This is great for sub plans!
Vicki C. –
A fantastic resource!
Emily D. –
Great~
Lisa S. –
This is an awesome resource! My students definitely enjoyed it and I liked how easy it was to follow. Thank you!
Dawna B. –
These art projects are so fantastic! They work for multiple age and ability levels and they always turn out so wonderful. I’m using them as the core of our art portfolio building this year. Thank you so much!
Hadessa M. –
This was such a fun activity that several of my students asked for a repeat of it! They loved seeing their pictures emerge and then, in the second round, I let them CHOOSE each step instead of roll the dice. Really great resource for a day when youÕre finishing a project that wonÕt take enough time or for early finishers.
The Northern Art Room (Teacher-Author) –
So easy to follow and my students LOVE these units for art. Can’t wait to use them next year too!
celia C. –
great line variety to show students! thank you!
Sheila Q. –
The students LOVED using this activity. They created some fabulous artwork and had fun learning about the artist at the same time.
Stacey H. –
I am not very good at art, let alone teaching art, but this project was easy to facilitate and my students enjoyed it a lot. They created some very cool Starry Night renditions! Thank you!
Bridget Maffey –
Thanks
Home School Sister (Teacher-Author) –
This is a great resource for teaching students different types of art skills whilst still keeping it fun and engaging. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
kelly V. –
We love this series
Sandra F. –
Used this resource after studying Van Gogh, students loved it.
Deidre T. –
led to some great work.
Sierre F. –
Great for sub
Kerri W. –
Love this!
Tina A. –
Great Resource!
M M. –
Excellent! I love your ÒRoll-A-MasterpieceÓ lessons, theyÕre always so successful!
rosa garza –
Great product!
Katie S. –
Fun art activity that includes a game type element.
Ashley M. –
I love this resource although markers might be a better choice for younger students.
Martha S. –
Great Resource ! Good balance between art history and knowledge and the opportunity for making art. So easy to use and the completed art is always great.
Brenda B. –
Great material. Students really like it. Thanks!
Joan E. –
Great resource. Easy to use. Thank you.
Alexa F. –
Very clear!
Whitney M. –
Turned out really lovely.
Digging Deep to Soar Beyond the Text (Teacher-Author) –
Great project!
nichole D. –
Another great activity!
Manuel M. –
I have not had a chance to use this yet, but I’m excited to use it this year since my students really enjoyed the Picasso one.
Emily D. –
Students really enjoyed this one
Miss Ellie’s Marketplace (Teacher-Author) –
Great
Everardo D. –
Thank you
Cactus and Chaos (Teacher-Author) –
This product is very good for the students’ artistic skills.
Lisa F. –
Great!
Kristen Machina –
Good resource.
Kim W. –
Thanks!
Kari Maurice –
Kids loved this activity. Completely engaged, and learning at the same time. Great resource!
Kendra S. –
This looks great! I used your Aboriginal one before and enjoyed it. I will have to make a template for my younger grades, but this activity can be done with grades 1-8!
Laura Hunt –
Great resource, thanks!
Angela N. –
A fabulous resource.
Lisa C. –
This was so much fun to do!
Terilyn V. –
Great and fun way to practice art concepts by the masters!
Stephanie C. –
fun activity
Mrs Ks Kustom Kreations (Teacher-Author) –
The students really enjoyed this. I am teaching private art lessons groups at a school where true art has not been taught- only “crafts”. This gave me the opportunity to teach technique and still allow them the freedom they have been so accustomed to having without compromising the outcome.
Heather Fahey –
I love the game idea. I am using it as a whole group activity to see how different lines can make movement.
Stephanie Hernandez –
Very clear and concise material for my students with special needs!
Shelley B. –
My students LOVE the Roll-a-Masterpiece lessons!
Ellen M. –
Fun Activity!
Mary P. –
What a fun way for students to create their own Van Gogh masterpieces!
Alana C –
My students loved this activity
Denise’s Pieces (Teacher-Author) –
My Art students love doing these sheet, and they are learning about more Artists as they do! Also, perfect for Art Sub Plans!
Natalie C. –
Thank you
Janne R. –
Fun for kids, easy for subs. A win, win.
Kelly J. –
This was a huge hit at my summer art camp! Thanks for the fantastic resource!
Sheena S. –
Love that the kids still produce very different pieces of art. Thank you.
Gobs of Glitter (Teacher-Author) –
Love the preview of this and I am looking forward to using this resource during the upcoming school year! Thanks!
Sandra B. –
My elementary art students love activities such as these! Thank you!
Teacherverse (Teacher-Author) –
Looking forward to adding this to my emergency sub plan binder.
Elaine G. –
Love these.
Van Gogh’s Earlobe (Teacher-Author) –
My students love this activity!! : )
Donnette H. –
I purchased several of these to have as hands- on activities during our art show. I also use them for substitute activities or for early finishers.
Beth R. –
Cannot wait to do this one! Lovely!
Angela M. –
Thanks for the resource!
Peggy Goodwin –
These really help teach art history concepts, especially for my younger students. Thanks!
Kendra G. –
love these! they are so great to use!
Teaching with coffee and sparkle (Teacher-Author) –
Thank you! cant wait to use this!
Katherine C. –
I love these and so does my class!!
Angela M. –
Great activity for students to apply their knowledge of line while exploring art history!
Kyle H. –
Excellent resource!
Lisa G. –
Love these! It’s just what I was looking for.
Ashleigh Holliday –
So cute! I bought a pack of dice for my class just so I could do all of your sub lessons! I love them!
Lisa F. –
thank you
Buyer –
I appreciate unique ways to add art to the classroom. This is a quick, simple, and enjoyable activity that can be enjoyed by most ages. I can relate it to several subjects. It is a treat or reward for students to play.
Tiffany S. –
Excellent resource. I am excited to implement this in my classroom.
Beverly Williams –
I love this seller’s games that make art. The students can do it more than one time with a different result each time.
stacey W. –
My students enjoyed this. Thank you
AussieArtTeacher (Teacher-Author) –
Excellent resources for those emergency days! Thanks!
The Tahoe Teacher (Teacher-Author) –
This is awesome! Thank you!
Light Up Learing Labs (Teacher-Author) –
Great product. I wish the instruction page with the actual steps to draw included a blackline master for printing purposes but I love your work and know this will be a great addition to our class activities.