First Grade Sunflowers

Author Laurence Anholt has a series of children's books based on famous artists in history and I use many of his books from the series in my art curriculum.  For this lesson, first grade students were introduced to Vincent Van Gogh with "Van Gogh and the Sunflowers" from this series.

Van Gogh and the Sunflowers Book

At the end of the book, Vincent Van Gogh gives the main character a painting of sunflowers, one of his most famous paintings in history.

After discussing the color, shape, texture, and space elements of Van Gogh's Sunflower painting, students begin to create their own sunflowers using tempera paint and oil pastels.  Here are a few finished masterpieces!!