Overview

Summary

In this lesson, students grow both sunflowers and their knowledge of sunflowers in science and art. After exploring the work of Van Gogh and other artists using sunflowers as their subject, students create their own sunflower-based artwork.

Additionally, they observe and record the growth of a sunflower, journaling its growth with their personal life experiences during that same time period. They reflect on this growth experience through creative writing.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Observe the growth of a sunflower from seed to mature plant
• Record the growth of a sunflower from seed to mature plant
• Understand the life cycle of a sunflower plant
• Journal their own life experiences over this growth period
• Explore the sunflower-based artwork of Van Gogh and other artists
• Create their own sunflower-based artwork
• Write creatively in two voices about the sunflower and their personal life experiences

Teaching Approach

Arts Integration

Teaching Methods

• Discovery Learning
• Hands-On Learning
• Information Organization
• Direct Instruction
• Guided Practice

Assessment Type

Performance Assessment

Preparation

Lesson Setup

Teacher Background

• Review the sunflower-growth video tape
• Review the sunflower artwork of Vincent Van Gogh
• Review the audio tour of the Van Gogh artwork at Philadelphia Art Museum
• Review the sunflower artwork of other artists
• Obtain a copy of and review Van Gogh and the Sunflowers (Anholt's Artists Books for Children) by Laurence Anholt
• Obtain a copy of and review From Seed to Sunflower (Lifecycles) by Gerald Legg
• Print copies of the parts of a sunflower from the Nebraska Sunflower Project (page 15)

Prior Student Knowledge

Height measurement skills

Line graphing skills

Physical Space

Classroom

Grouping

Large Group Instruction

Accessibility Notes

Students with visual problems may need to watch the sunflower-growth video tape on a personal computer. Deaf/hard of hearing students may require a transcript of the audio tour of the Van Gogh artwork at Philadelphia Art Museum.

Instruction

Engage

1. Talk about seed growth. If available, share a video with students. Ask students:

• What does it look like right after seeds are planted?
• What emerged first?
• What do seeds need to grow? (water, sunlight, food source)

Share with students that the growth of a sunflower plant is just the same. Sunflowers have fascinated artists for many years.

2. Visit the Philadelphia Art Museum to view one of Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings. Allow the docent to explain the artwork to the students (use audio).

Build Knowledge

1. If you have a copy, read 'Van Gogh and the Sunflowers' (Anholt's Artists Books for Children) by Laurence Anholt. Use the book to introduce Van Gogh and his artwork to students.

2. Explore sunflower artwork of Vincent Van Gogh using the gallery in the Build slide in the Resouce Carousel above. Using a few pieces of Van Gogh’s artwork, ask students:

• What is similar in these paintings?
• What is different?
• Why do you think Van Gogh found sunflowers to be art-worthy?
• Why do you think he painted similar pieces?

3. Discuss the life cycle of a sunflower. If available, From Seed to Sunflower (Lifecycles) by Gerald Legg to explain the lifecycle. Have students complete the 'Parts of a Sunflower' worksheet located within the Resource Carousel from the Nebraska Sunflower Project.

Apply

1. Plant sunflower seeds. In one or more containers suitable for the size sunflower selected, grow a few sunflower plants. Follow the instructions on the seed packet. Because sunflowers require space and deep soil, it is best not to have each student plant his or her own plant, unless there is an outdoor garden plot available.

2. Observe and record the growth of a sunflower. Using the 'Student Journal Worksheet' located within the Resource Carousel, have each student observe, measure, and record the growth of the sunflower each day. Concurrently, have the student journal about his or her own activities each day.

3. Create a growth graph. Plot time on the x axis and height on the y axis. This can be created during the recording process or at the completion of recording growth.

4. Create sunflower artwork in the style of Van Gogh. Place a vase with several sunflowers (real or artificial) inside it in the center of the room. Arrange desks or tables in a circle around the vase. Have students fold a 12” x 18” piece of art paper in half, creating two drawing areas, each 9” x 12”. Using pencils, colored pencils, charcoal, or pastels, have each student draw the vase and sunflowers from a location in the classroom. After a given period of time, perhaps 15 minutes, have students rotate to a new desk or location. From this new location, each student will create a second piece of artwork in the second area on the art paper. After the second drawing, ask the students:

• How are your two drawings the same?
• How are they different?
• Did Van Gogh’s work (or the work of another artist) influence your artwork?

Reflect

1. Write a poem in two voices. Ask the students to use their 'Student Journal Worksheets' referenced earlier as a guide. The two voices will be the sunflower and the student. The voices will alternate with each line. For example:

The sun warmed my soil.

I grew impatient waiting for your arrival.

I emerged but was all alone.

I learned to dance on my toes today.

I danced in the sunlight.

I watched you reach for the sun.

I am growing quickly.

Today I measured you and me. We’re both sprouting!

…and so on.

2. Create a sunflower exhibit. Post the artwork and poetry for students to view. Ask students:

• How are the sunflower art pieces the same?
• How are they different?
• What similar things did you observe about the growing sunflower?
• What different things did you observe?
• What role did your personal journaling play in your creative writing?
• How did it feel to write a poem in two voices?
• What other living things could you observe and write about in a similar manner?
• How does knowing scientific information about your subject make your artwork stronger?

Assess

Assess your student's work using the 'Assessment Rubric' located within the Resource Carousel.

Standards

The National Standards For Arts Education:

Visual Arts

Grade K-4 Visual Arts Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes

Grade K-4 Visual Arts Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

Grade K-4 Visual Arts Standard 5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others

Visual Arts

Grade K-4 Visual Arts Standard 6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines

Science

Science Standard 4:
Understands the principles of heredity and related concepts

Science Standard 5:
Understands the structure and function of cells and organisms

Science Standard 6:
Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment

Science Standard 11:
Understands the nature of scientific knowledge

Science Standard 12:
Understands the nature of scientific inquiry

Mathematics

Math Standard 4:
Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement

Math Standard 9:
Understands the general nature and uses of mathematics

Language Arts

Language Arts Standard 1:
Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process

Language Arts Standard 2:
Uses the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing

Language Arts Standard 3:
Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions

Language Arts Standard 4:
Gathers and uses information for research purposes

Language Arts Standard 5:
Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process

Language Arts Standard 6:
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of literary texts

Language Arts Standard 7:
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational...

Language Arts

Language Arts Standard 8:
Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes