Art Extension: Van Gogh’s Starry Night
Goals

• Recognize The Starry Night as a famous artwork showing the night sky
• Understand that stars are made of hot gas and create elements through nuclear fusion
• Create their own “starry sky” artwork using swirling, layered colors to reflect movement and energy
• Make connections between art, emotion, and cosmic processes

Step 1: Art & Observation

Show: The Starry Night (print or web)

Ask:

• What do you see?
• How do you think van Gogh felt when he painted this?
• Where are the stars?
• What words would you use to describe the sky?
  
  

Step 2: Science Connection – What Are Stars?
Big Idea: Stars are made of hot gas. Inside stars, new elements are created.
When stars explode (supernova), those elements spread out into space—those elements make up everything, including us!
Talking Points:

• The bright glowing parts in The Starry Night look like stars.
• Real stars are fiery balls of gas that make light and heat.
• Swirls and bursts in the painting remind us of how stars move energy and material through space.
• Supernovae spread the elements that form planets, Earth, and even our bodies!

Step 3: Art Making – Your Own Starry Sky
If you prefer non video instructions heres a project:
https://thecraftyclassroom.com/crafts/famous-artist-crafts-for-kids/van-gogh-art-project/