This lesson will address Norman Rockwell’s points of inspiration including daily life in America and American culture. Students will then begin a long-term illustration project including a schematic layout, draft and final piece. Each student will consider Rockwell’s quote, “I was showing the America I knew and observed to others that might not have noticed.”

Seven or eight 60 minute class periods:
Class 1: Presentation
Class 2 – 3: Drafting
Class 4-6:  Work to complete illustration
Class 7: Critique
Class 8: (Optional) Adjustments

GRADE
5-8

THEME
Four Freedoms, Artistic Process

LENGTH
These activities may take eight 60 minute periods.

DISCIPLINE
Art

VOCABULARY
Boy Scouts of America; Critique; Culture; Cool Colors; Environment; Idioms; Inspire/Inspiration; Schematic Layout; Representational Art; Symbol; Visual Narrative; Warm Colors

1. Norman Rockwell was inspired by his own experiences and life around him. Generally, he was influenced by what he experienced on his vacations, nature, his neighbors and friends. He was inspired by American culture in general, including holidays, and celebrations. Norman Rockwell was also inspired by specific groups, such as the Boy Scouts of America although he, himself, was not a member of the group.

• What inspired Norman Rockwell?
• What do you find inspirational?
• How might you be “inspired” to create an illustration representational of what you know and observe in your everyday life?
• How will you use color to emphasize a mood or atmosphere?

• Students will view reproductions of Rockwell’s illustrations from various books.
• Students will consider everyday American life and cultural events as a means of inspiration (both for Rockwell and in preparation for their own piece of artwork).
• Students will look at and analyze Norman Rockwell’s painting, The Gossips, from a cultural point of view.
• Students will complete the worksheet: Story Sequence of My Life Think Sheet (5-8) in order to create a schematic layout design for their own personal sequential illustration.
• Students will demonstrate understanding of color theory regarding association with mood and emotion.
• Students will participate in a group critique and then prepare and hang their illustration for display.

Norman Rockwell was surrounded by a supportive (and inspirational) community of friends and fellow artists when he lived in Arlington, Vermont from 1939 to 1953. During this time he created The Gossips which became the most popular Saturday Evening Post cover in 33 years. Norman Rockwell used his neighbors as models, but did not want to insult them so he put himself and his wife into the cover design to avoid any suspicions his friends might have. The very first version began with just two gossips, then ten and finally developed into the multiple frames you see today.

• American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell by Linds Szekely Pero
• Worksheet: Think Sheet: Story Sequence (5-8)
• Colored pencils, fine tipped pens
• Final Draft Paper
• Biography DVD: Norman Rockwell by A&E Television Networks, 2008

Additional Teaching Resources:

The Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge by The Norman Rockwell Museum  

Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera by Ron Schick

Norman Rockwell’s America by Christopher Finch

Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms: Images that Inspire a Nation by Stuart Murray, and James McCabe

Norman Rockwell’s Counting Book by Gloria Tabor

Norman Rockwell: Storyteller with a Brush by Beverly Sherman

My Adventures as an Illustrator by Norman Rockwell

A Rockwell Portrait: An Intimate Biography by Donald Walton

Class 1

The students will be seated in a comfortable way so they are able to see one another and can participate in a class conversation led by the instructor. The teacher will have a marker/chalk/crayon and a board or easel to write on.

1. Ask the students to listen attentively to one another as they share personal responses throughout the lesson.  Ask a student to define the words inspire and inspiration. A definition will be written on the board to refer to later on in the lesson.

2. An index card and a pencil will be given to each student. The students will be asked to respond to one or both of the following questions (on the index card), “What inspires you?” or “Who inspires you?” Students will be given three to five minutes to write down their ideas.

3. Show an image of The Gossips by Norman Rockwell and ask the students if anyone has seen this illustration before. Ask the students to point out only what they see, not what they perceive; the class will collectively take a visual inventory. As each student contributes, restate their observation and write it on the board. You might be able to elaborate on what they have said to add more visual detail or you might ask them for clarification. You might encourage them to look more closely and carefully. By doing this, the students will analyze the work and find clues and symbols to help read the visual image, revealing American culture.

4. Read an excerpt from American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell, by Linda Szekely Pero explaining what inspired Norman Rockwell and how his family and surroundings helped grant him creative ideas for his artwork (page 99-100.) A group discussion will be prompted regarding Rockwell’s points of inspiration. The instructor will then ask the students to share with the class what they wrote down earlier about what inspires them. Student participation is critical to this discussion.

5. Show two other images by Rockwell and allow for time for the children to look at closely: Day in the Life of a Little Girl, Day in the Life of a Little Boy. Ask the students to explain the sequence of the images looking closely and using the clues that Rockwell provides.

Class 2-3

6. Briefly review the list created last class about what inspired Norman Rockwell. Distribute a copy of the worksheet Think Sheet- My America Sequence 5-8 to all of the students. Read over the worksheet and explain that this is meant to help them brainstorm their ideas and create a plan for their illustration ideas. Ask the students to create a schematic layout on the back of the worksheet (first draft) based off of the following considerations: 6-8 frames must be used, color will be used to represent mood or emotion at least in one frame, clues will be given to help the viewer understand the character best. Walk around the room for informal checks of understanding and to help students. Throughout the first week working on the project, the students will be able to talk with the instructor regarding their ideas, drawings, questions and frustrations asking for help or feedback. You may ask the students to share their ideas with the group, if time allows.

Class 4-7

7. During class 4, the students will pause on their individual projects to talk about idioms and color theory regarding American culture as well as other cultures. Ask the students what they have heard being said in American culture relating to color to a mood. Record a list of what the students offer. Ask each student to reflect on their own work and apply color to their illustration in at least one area to emphasize a mood or emotion (for example: seeing red, feeling blue.)

8. Allow for three more classes for the students to complete their narrative illustrations. When most of the students have finished the project, ask the group to come together to conclude the project by presenting their illustrations to one another during a group critique to gain further feedback from their peers about their personal piece. Ask the students to present their project and explain their thoughts, particularly pointing out the one area where color has been intentionally used to emphasize a mood. Ask each student to point out what clues they have used so another may understand the setting and action. Once the artist has spoken, allow a couple of comments from classmates to be given. The comments must be given in a respectful manner, demonstrate critical thoughts and be relevant to the project. For example, a student might say, “I like the way you tinted the thumb green to emphasize she is good with gardening .”

Class 8

9. If time permits, allow for one final class period for any adjustments to be made on the final illustration. Students that have completed the project will hang their illustration on a bulletin board in the school hallway. The instructor will play the biography DVD titled, Norman Rockwell by A&E Television Networks. All students, finished or still working will be enriched by watching and listening to the information presented in the DVD.

Students will be evaluated on their participation in the class discussion and in the group critique (informal checks of understanding through questions.)

• Students will be evaluated on the completion of the worksheet, including thumbnail sketches for the final, individual project regarding their own interpretation of American life as they know it. Students will be expected to revise their work before completion of their final illustration.
• Students will be evaluated with a teacher designed rubric that evaluates student understanding of assignment.

This curriculum meets the standards listed below. Look for more details on these standards please visit: ELA and Math Standards, Social Studies Standards, Visual Arts Standards.