Artist profile
Vincent van Gogh 1853–1890 · Post-Impressionism
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) was part of Post-Impressionism — painters after the Impressionists who used bold colour and shape to show feeling. Their most famous work is The Starry Night.
Set the room
Shape the lesson
The painting adapts to your focus — chosen now: The Starry Night .
CEFR level A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Language focus Pick one thing your students will actually walk out able to do.
Grammar Vocabulary Function
have got / has got (A1–A2) articles a / an / the (A1–B1) plural nouns (-s) (A1–A2) possessive 's (A1–B1) subject & object pronouns (A1–B1) can / can't for ability, offers, requests, possibility (A1–B1) imperatives (affirmative & negative) (A1–B1) this / that / these / those (demonstratives) (A1–B1) coordinating conjunctions: and / but / or (A1–B1) how much / how many (A1–B1) like + noun / like + -ing (A1–B1) would like (invitations, wishes, preferences) (A1–B1) because — giving reasons (A1–B1) past simple 'was / were' (A1–A2) future 'will' — plans & intentions (affirmative) (A1–A2) indefinite pronouns: something / someone / anything … (A1–B1) past simple (regular & irregular) — affirmative, negative, questions (A2–B1) past continuous (A2–B1) past simple vs past continuous (A2–B2) will for predictions, offers, requests & willingness (A2–B2) adverbs of manner (-ly) (A2–B2) countable & uncountable nouns + quantifiers (A2–B1) some / any / no / every compounds (A2–B2) much / many / a lot of / a little / a few (A2–B1) have to / don't have to (obligation & absence of obligation) (A2–B1) must / mustn't (obligation & prohibition) (A2–B2) should / shouldn't for advice & suggestions (A2–B2) shall for offers & suggestions (A2–B2) will be able to (future ability) (A2–B1) present perfect with ever / never / just / already / yet (A2–B2) first / then / next / finally (sequencers) (A2–B1) infinitive of purpose (to + verb) (A2–B2) verb + -ing (like / love / hate / enjoy + -ing) (A2–B2) verb + to-infinitive (want / need / decide + to …) (A2–B2) would like / would prefer / would love (A2–B2) reported statements with say / tell (basic) (A2–B1) past simple passive (basic) (A2–B1) reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself …) (A2–B2) possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers …) (A2–B2) 'look forward to' + -ing (A2–B2) Duration 30 min 45 min 60 min 90 min
Optional finish End with an art response (students make their own) Learners create their own artwork inspired by the painting's style, subject or mood — and use the target language while planning, labelling and presenting it.
Paint my lesson A complete lesson, painted around The Starry Night.
