What Makes Good History? (Grades 9-12)

WHAT MAKES GOOD HISTORY? (GRADES 9-12)

The value or significance of Norman Rockwell’s representations of the Civil Rights movement as sources of historical information.

OBJECTIVES

  • Students will gain an understanding of the events represented in The Problem We All Live With.
  • Students will develop critical thinking skills by analyzing different sources of visual information.
  • Students will reflect on the subjective nature of historical information.

MATERIALS

What Makes Good History? (Grades 9-12)2018-06-05T17:31:11-04:00

Rockwell’s American Utopia (Grades 8-12)

ROCKWELL’S AMERICAN UTOPIA (GRADES 8-12)

The significance of Rockwell’s vision of an “ideal” America. The idea of utopia within American thought.

OBJECTIVES

  • Students will develop critical thinking skills by analyzing the ideals presented in Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post imagery.
  • Students will study and reflect on the notion of an ideal society through investigation of utopian writings.
  • Students will articulate their own ideas of “ideal” society through written text and […]
Rockwell’s American Utopia (Grades 8-12)2017-03-01T11:37:48-05:00

On the Twentieth Century – That Was Then, This Is Now (Grades K-12)

ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY – THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW (GRADES K-12)

OBJECTIVES

  • To compare the lifestyle changes between then and now

PREPARATION

  • To write descriptions of the people and places evident in the paintings
  • Show students prints of Rockwell illustrations that depict American life in the 20th century.
  • Discuss how NR would use his friends and neighbors to model for him.
  • […]

On the Twentieth Century – That Was Then, This Is Now (Grades K-12)2017-03-01T11:37:48-05:00

Creating America (Grades 7-10)

CREATING AMERICA (GRADES 7-10) The influence of Norman Rockwell’s imagery as a reflection of American values in the first half of the twentieth century.

OBJECTIVES

  • Students will develop critical thinking skills by analyzing Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post imagery as it relates to American values in his time period.
  • Students will critique imagery from contemporary periodicals.
  • Students will reflect on the impact and significance of mass media as a vehicle for promoting cultural values through […]
Creating America (Grades 7-10)2017-03-01T11:37:49-05:00

A New Viewpoint (Grades 7-12)

A NEW VIEWPOINT (GRADES 7-12)

To consider Norman Rockwell’s imagery as a means of helping students reconsider their familiar cultural and community contexts.

OBJECTIVES

  • Students will develop visual literacy skills by carefully observing and analyzing Norman Rockwell’s representation of the “commonplace.”
  • Students will reevaluate their own communities by giving attention to details they have overlooked.
  • Students will create photo collages or multi media presentations that focus on details of their […]
A New Viewpoint (Grades 7-12)2017-03-01T11:37:49-05:00

WWII on the Homefront – The Four Freedoms (K-12)

WWII ON THE HOMEFRONT – THE FOUR FREEDOMS

An analysis of the images Rockwell painted to describe Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms”, and a brief history of the impact these paintings had on America.

Tell the class about the speech Roosevelt made during WWII in which he described four freedoms — freedom of speech, freedom from want, freedom to worship, and freedom from fear. His point was that these freedoms should […]

WWII on the Homefront – The Four Freedoms (K-12)2017-03-01T11:37:50-05:00

Going and Coming (1947) Quick Pic Activities

GOING AND COMING (1947)

Quick Pic Activities

Elementary/Early Childhood

1. Getting in Touch With Our Senses
Pretend you are standing somewhere in the painting—situated in the car or as a bystander watching it go by. Describe in detail what you can see, hear, smell, touch or taste from the location you chose

High School/Middle School

1. Make Rockwell’s Characters Talk
If two of the characters in Norman Rockwell’s Going and Coming painting […]

Going and Coming (1947) Quick Pic Activities2017-03-01T11:37:52-05:00

Story Sparks (Grades: 6-12)

STORY SPARKS (GRADES: 6-12)

Use Norman Rockwell’s Post covers to spark creative writing.

Rockwell is known as The Saturday Evening Post’s most famous illustrator.  He submitted his first successful cover painting, “Mother’s Day Off”, to the Post in 1916. Over the next Forty-seven years his work appeared on the cover a total of 323 times.  Each cover that he created tells a story. Through his work, he presents images of everyday life in America, childhood, civil rights, war, and […]

Story Sparks (Grades: 6-12)2017-03-01T11:37:54-05:00

Freedom of Speech (Grades: 6-12)

FREEDOM OF SPEECH (GRADES: 6-12) Explore voting rights as you investigate, Rockwell’s freedom of speech.

Rockwell was inspired to paint this scene after attending a town hall meeting. In the meeting a manual laborer stood up and voiced an opinion that everyone disagreed with. Rockwell was struck by the fact that no one shouted him down even though he did not agree with the majority. Rockwell felt this scene embodied the democratic process and was […]

Freedom of Speech (Grades: 6-12)2017-03-01T11:37:55-05:00

Four Freedoms (Grades: 6-12)

FOUR FREEDOMS (GRADES: 6-12)

Discuss personal freedom as you explore Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms.”

In January 1941 President Roosevelt, shared with congress his vision for a postwar world founded on four fundamental human freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Inspired by his words, Rockwell created “Four Freedoms.” Originally published in the Post the paintings were a huge success and were later used to sell war bonds and stamps. The […]

Four Freedoms (Grades: 6-12)2017-03-01T11:37:55-05:00

What’s The Headline (Grades: 6-12)

WHAT’S THE HEADLINE (GRADES: 6-12)

Investigate the Invasion of Normandy as you explore Rockwell’s painting, “War news”.

Rockwell never finished this painting but it was intended for The Saturday Evening Post. Painted in January or February of 1944 about the proposed invasion of Normandy, it depicts a restaurant counterman with his costumers as they gather around listening to a radio report. What was the news of the day? If Rockwell had finished the painting […]

What’s The Headline (Grades: 6-12)2017-03-01T11:37:57-05:00

Curriculum (Grades 6-12): Making Positive Change

Build writing skills, media literacy, and civic responsibility as you explore ways that Jerry Pinkney helped to diversify children’s literature.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Goals:

  • Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
  • Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Curriculum (Grades 6-12): Making Positive Change2017-03-01T11:38:05-05:00
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