True or false? The Bedroom

• Art and design
• Primary Education

Introduction

The class will first look at the painting 'The Bedroom' and then decide whether some statements about it are true or false.

Instructions

General learning objectives

- The lesson will introduce children to Vincent van Gogh and one of his most famous paintings.

- The children will decide whether some statements about the painting are true or false. When they answer 'false', they will say why.

You can use this short lesson at the start of an art class or as a fun break in the middle of class.

Preparing

Decide whether you want the children to answer by raising their hands for 'true' and leaving them down for 'false', or by holding up coloured strips of paper: green for 'true' and red for 'false'.

Materials required

- Optional: one red and one green strip of paper for each student 

Variations

1.  Before you read the statements aloud, you can discuss some striking features of the painting with the students.

2. You can discuss the meaning of challenging words with the students.

3. After reading a few statements aloud, you can have the students make up their own true-or-false statements.

Background information

This painting from 1888 shows Vincent's bedroom in the yellow house that he rented in the southern French city of Arles. The paintings over his bed are a landscape and portraits of two of Vincent's friends.

Story: This is a self-portrait by a very famous artist, Vincent van Gogh. He made lots and lots of paintings. (How can you tell he's an artist?) We're going to look at a different painting by Vincent and play a game. But first I'll show you how it works. First, take a very good look at this picture, without saying anything. Now I'll count to 10 and then take away the picture. (Or use a different number or time limit.)

true or false?

vincent is wearing a blue coat.

Tell the class: Now I'll read a sentence. Listen carefully and tell me if the sentence is true or false.

Tell the children how to indicate their choice. Then read the first statement. After you read the statement and the children respond, you can look at the next slide and discuss the answer before going on to the next one.

True.

Story: This is a painting that Vincent made of his bedroom. Take a good look, and then I'll count to...When their time is up, go on to the next slide.

The Bedroom, 1888

true or false?

there is one pillow on vincent's bed.

False, there are two.

true or false?

the blanket on the bed is green.

The blanket on the bed is green.

true or false?

there's a yellow hat hanging on the wall.

True. Now the whole painting is shown again, so that the class can take another look before the next statement. Point out the hat or use the pencil in the menu to circle it on the board.

true or false?

there are three chairs in the bedroom.

False. There are two.

true or false?

there's a cat on the bed.

False.

true or false?

the window is ajar. 

You could explain that 'ajar' means just a little bit open.

True, but you have to look very closely to see it.

true or false?

there's a mirror on the wall.

True. The mirror is to the left of the window. Now the whole painting is shown again, so that the class can take another look before the next statement. You can point out the mirror or use the pencil in the menu to circle it on the board.

true or false?

vincent's shoes are under the little table. 

False.

true or false?

there's a drawer in the little table.

True. (What could be in there?)

www.vangoghmuseum.nl

On the website of the Van Gogh Museum, you can zoom in on details of Vincent's painting The Bedroom.

Finish the lesson by asking the class what they think of the painting (and why).