ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

PSALM 8
ART WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Psalm 8
Key/Memory Verse: Psalm 8

PURPOSE

See Bible Background.

Objective(s) for Rotation

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Art workshop

Using stargazing as an example, discuss God’s amazing creation and the feelings of wonder and awe they invoke. View a print of Van Gogh’s painting “Starry Night.” Students will create their own starry night with a crayon resist technique and use silhouettes to place themselves in their picture.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

Bibles
Construction paper, black
Copy machine
Covered container, to store mixed paint
Crayons, including neon colors
Cups to use for paint, such as yogurt containers
Paint brushes (not foam-type), one per student
Paint smocks
Paper for copier
Print of Van Gogh’s "Starry Night"
Scissors
Table covering
Tempera paint, black
Water
Watercolor paper - 75 lb. or heavier (larger number)

Optional for older students

Black construction paper wider than watercolor paper
white chalk

Advance Preparation Requirements

Try out the materials so you know how hard the students must press with the crayons. Important Note: If you create a sample, do not show it to the students. Showing a sample has been known to dampen student creativity as students attempt to create one “just like the teacher.”

Prepare one silhouette large enough to fit on your Van Gogh print.

Cover the tables.

Mix black tempera paint and add a small amount of water to thin it down to a milky consistency. It should be able to slowly drip off a loaded brush. Fill several yogurt cups (one for every 4 students).

Create Psalm 8 verse strips - enlarge a copy of Psalm 8 without verse numbers. Cut it so that each verse is one strip.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Greet your students warmly, welcoming them to the Art Workshop. Introduce yourself and any other adults. Open with prayer. Ask for any prayer requests. Ask if anyone would like to lead the group in prayer. Be prepared to say a prayer yourself, working in prayer requests. A suggestion: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! We are thankful to be here today. It is reassuring to learn that you love us. Help us to be mindful of your creation, the works of your fingers, and your gifts to us. Amen”

Say: Tell me about the last time you went outside at night and looked up at the stars. (Encourage the children to briefly tell you about their experiences with stargazing.)
Ask: How did you feel about what you saw? Did it make you sleepy? Did it make you wonder about things?

I wonder how many stars we can see? (accept all answers; admit that there are so many we couldn’t count them all)

Did seeing all those stars make you think about God’s amazing power in creating stars, planets, moons, and earth?

Does God’s awesome creation ever make you feel like singing?

Say: There is a song in the Bible written by David, which expresses his feelings about God’s creation.

Ask: Who remembers who David is? (King David, David & Goliath)

Say: David spent part of his life as a shepherd, watching over sheep. In Bible times sheep slept outside at night, with their shepherd, under the stars. Let’s find David’s song in our Bibles.

Distribute Bibles.

Ask: Where do we find the book of Psalms in the Bible? (Old Testament)

Say: The Bible gives us guidelines for how we should live. The book of Psalms helps us understand how to talk to God and how to worship God.

Have everyone find Psalm 8 in his or her Bible. [Remind them that opening their Bible in the middle generally brings them close to the Psalms.]

Slowly read to them Psalm 8.

Ask: Did that sound like a poem or a song? (accept all answers)

How could David’s words in this Psalm help us worship God? (accept all answers)

Say: The Psalms are considered poetry or songs. Hebrew poetry didn’t rhyme words; Instead it repeated ideas.

Ask: Did you hear something repeated in Psalm 8? (first & last verse)

Dig - Main Content

Show the Van Gogh print.

Say: Here is a print of painting done by a famous artist by the name of Vincent Van Gogh. He called his painting, "Starry Night."

Ask: Do you suppose this artist ever went out at night to watch stars?

Say: Van Gogh's painting style is called "impressionism." That means he painted things that looked like real life. But Van Gogh was one of the first impressionist painters to not just paint what he saw, but to paint what he felt. He actually started a new painting style that was later called "expressionism."

Say: Close your eyes and listen as I reread parts of Psalm 8. As you hear these words, think about your feelings while stargazing. Think about how Psalm 8 tells us that David was awed by God’s night sky.

Reread verse 1, and verses 3-5. Ask the students to reopen their eyes.

Art Process – Part 1

Say: Let’s create our own starry night pictures. We will start with crayons. You may draw other parts of the picture as well, but concentrate on the stars. Remember that Van Gogh did not show a lot of detail in his painting. In our pictures we want some white space on the page because when we finish crayoning, we will use black paint to cover the entire page. This creates what is called a crayon resist painting.

Quickly demonstrate the crayoning – how hard they have to press down and the effect of the black paint wash. Make sure everyone understands that they should not cover the entire page with crayon. Explain that they may crayon themselves into their drawing or use another method. Place the specially cut silhouette in the bottom of the Van Gogh print.

Say: When I add what is called a silhouette, it looks a bit like someone sitting on the hillside looking at the stars. That’s another way can add yourself into your painting.

Pass out paper and crayons. Have the students write their name (first and last) on the back of their paper before they start. [Add their grade too. Ask the Shepherd to help with this.]

When it appears that everyone knows what to do and has started working, begin the “discussion” portion of lesson.

Discussion - while the kids are working

David is credited with writing many of the Psalms. The book of Psalms contains 150 chapters. Scholars think David may have written half of the Psalms. The book of Psalms is interesting. There are short Psalms – Psalm 117 has only 2 verses. Then we have a Psalm that has more verses than any other chapter in the Bible. Psalm 119 has 176 verses.

We have talked about how stars in the sky make us feel awed by God’s amazing creation. Name other things in nature that amaze you.

If we never went outside at night we could easily miss the beauty of God’s creation. If we stay inside on a rainy day we might miss seeing a rainbow.

Ask: What can keep us from noticing what God has created? (we get too busy, we forget to look)

Say: It almost takes practice to notice God’s magnificent creation.
Ask: What are ways to make sure we pay attention to God’s world around us? (we can remind each other. For example: IM a friend if the sunset is pretty)

Say: God wants us to notice his creation and to thank him.

David had a close relationship with God. David spent many nights in the fields with his sheep. I bet he spent a lot of time talking to God in prayer. We have heard how David was awed by God’s creation. David was also amazed to realize what God thought of people.

Ask: What is it that David came to understand? (if necessary read verses 4-6) [The CEV version is easiest to understand for these verses.]

Say: David realized that God, our great, all-powerful creator, cares for us! God thinks we are important. God has given us important work to do.

Ask: How does it feel to discover that God thinks you are important? (allow responses; share a story from your own faith journey)

Approximately 12 minutes before the end of class, give a two-minute warning to finish up before the next step.

Art Process – Part 2

Supply smocks, paintbrushes and watered-down black paint. Instruct the students to paint in strokes from left to right, starting at the top of the page and working to the bottom. Show them how to lightly touch the paper with the brush. Do not over-paint.

Students that didn’t draw themselves into the painting should pick out a “silhouette.” Use chalk to write their name on the back. Explain that the paintings must dry and then you will add the silhouette for them.

Reflect - Closure

Have the students share their creations briefly telling about their starry night scenes.
Say: When we take time to think about our amazing God – God's awesome power and deep love for us, we say: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

If you have extra time

Have each student describe a special place they can hang or position their work to remind them about being watchful for God’s amazing creation.

Using the Psalm 8 Verse Strips, have the students attempt to put the strips together in the correct order. If they are doing well, cut the strips into smaller sections, breaking up sentences. Have the Shepherd help with this activity and decide when to cut the strips into smaller pieces.

Adaptations - Younger Children

Ahead of time, cut the white paper to reduce the size of the drawing area.

Reduce the number of choices of possible silhouettes, or use only one choice.

Choose discussion questions appropriate for the age of the students.

Forgo having the students find Psalm 8. Do allow them to practice opening a Bible to the middle. Point out “Psalms” in the upper corner of the page to indicate they have found the book of Psalms. (You may wish to note that the “P” is silent in the word “Psalm.”)

Adaptations - Older Children

If time allows, older students may design and cut their own silhouette. Provide them with black construction paper, white chalk, and scissors. (In this case the black construction paper needs to be wider than the paper used to draw the picture.) Model how to trace out a design on one side of the black paper, leaving the lower edge, or baseline, intact. They may wish to include buildings or trees as Van Gogh did. Strongly encourage them to put themselves in the picture! Have them cut along the chalk lines. Write names on the chalk side of the silhouette.

SOURCES

Slotnick, Cindy. “Starry Night” (A lesson plan submitted to Incredible Art Department). Year unknown.
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/elem67.html

Van Gogh’s Starry Night Posters or prints
Shorewood prints (1-800-494-3824) are 22" x 28" and sell for around $8.00 each.
Art Image Publications (1-800-361-2598) are a little smaller - and sell for around $6.00 each.

Thumbnail image of print (larger image possible)
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/V/van_gogh/starry_night.jpg.html

Source for children’s silhouettes (Print out & enlarge to desired size with copier or draw your own silhouettes):
http://www.neisd.net/trans/busrouteinfo.htm
http://www.designedtoat.com/children2.shtml
http://members.aol.com/ltriche/color51.html
http://school.discovery.com/clipart/clip/listengirl.html
http://school.discovery.com/clipart/clip/listenboy.html
http://dmariedirect.com/default.asp?product=DMDCHILDBLUE

Or use a Google image search for “star gazing”.

CONTRIBUTOR: Carol Hulbert