Suggested Activities > Image Specific Activities

“Freedom From Want” As Norman Rockwell tells the story, he awoke at 3 a.m., unable to get Franklin Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech out of his head. At the time, World War II had not been going well for the United States and its allies, and morale at home was sorely lacking. Rockwell was determined to remind people with his paintings of what they were fighting for, the freedoms that make us, as Americans, special. We wish for these freedoms for people everywhere. After the images appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, on March 6, 1943, Rockwell received more than 70,000 letters from proud and grateful Americans. The government sold copies of the Four Freedoms* and raised more than $130 million for the war effort. *”Freedom From Want,” “Freedom to Worship,” Freedom of Speech” and “Freedom From Fear”

Suggested Activity: Giving Thanks/Holiday Traditions

Objectives

Students will:

• Use visual-thinking strategies to analyze the “Freedom from Want” image.
• Identify people and things for whom or which they are thankful.
• Discuss holiday traditions, specifically those associated with Thanksgiving.
• Identify ingredients needed for a great Thanksgiving feast.
• Create a visual representation of their own family’s Thanksgiving table.
• Write a short story or poem about being thankful.
• Write a short story or poem about thanksgiving from a turkey’s point of view.
• Share work with class.

Academic Standards

Supplies needed

• selected Rockwell image for students to view
• art supplies (paper, colored pencils, etc.)
• writing supplies
• scanner or digital camera

Optional:

• drawing software
• word-processing software

Procedure

1. Use “A Teacher’s Guide to Looking at and Talking About Art” to introduce visual-thinking strategies to your class. Complete this activity with the following “Be an Art Detective” activity.
2. Lead a class discussion about being thankful and celebrating our thankfulness on the Thanksgiving holiday. Why is it important for families to gather for holiday celebrations?
3. Discuss similarities and differences between the Thanksgiving meal portrayed by Norman Rockwell and our present day Thanksgiving meals. Further discussion might include Thanksgiving traditions/holidays in other parts of the world.
4. Make a list (classroom or individual) of Thanksgiving traditions, typical Thanksgiving foods and things/people for which/whom to be thankful.
5. Students create pictures of their Thanksgiving table, including foods eaten and guests seated at the table.
6. Students write short stories or poems (younger grades may want to write a class story) about giving thanks and/or thankfulness.
7. Convert student work to digital format.
8. Make an e-scrapbook.

Enrichment Activities

• Use a graphic organizer to show differentiation between wants and needs.
• Have a classroom feast with a concentration on using good manners.
• Create a cookbook of favorite Thanksgiving recipes.
• Categorize foods eaten during the Thanksgiving meal according to the new food pyramid.

Resources

• Books
  
  

  K-2 • THANKSGIVING AT OUR HOUSE. Wendy Watson. • THANKSGIVING IS FOR GIVING THANKS. Margaret Sutherland. • THE PERFECT THANKSGIVING. Eileen Spinelli. • FEELING THANKFUL. Shelley Rotner. 3-5 • AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING. Louisa May Alcott. • 1621: A NEW LOOK AT THANKSGIVING. Catherine O'Neill Grace. • THANK YOU, SARAH: THE WOMAN WHO SAVED THANKSGIVING. Laurie Halse Anderson. • THE FIRST THANKSGIVING FEAST. Joan Anderson.



• Web sites
  
  

  The First Thanksgiving (Scholastic) Rosie's Thanksgiving Dinner Bethany Robers' Thanksgiving Fun for Kids Bethany Roberts' Give Thanks Activities for ESL Students Thanksgiving Meal The Family Culture A Multicultural Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Canada

• Discuss your family’s holiday traditions. How did they get started? What favorite family holiday stories can you share? Create a “Family Traditions” scrapbook. Use this interview worksheet to get started.
• A speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt about the Four Freedoms is the basis of this painting. Research this speech and find out about the Four Freedoms. Why were they important then? Are they still important to us today? Are there other freedoms we value more?

Assessment

K-2 checklist

3-5 story rubric

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