Painters Born in the 1800s 1800s Painters    

Lesson 15: The Party Favor

by Norman Rockwell

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

In Norman Rockwell's 'The Party Favor,' a girl and a boy dressed in party clothes tug on the ends of a noisemaker. They wince in anticipation of the 'pop.' The dog, dressed in big pink bow, looks on with excitement. The boy has a second noisemaker in his pocket. Which holiday are they children celebrating? Is it a birthday party? It is most likely Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July. The girl wears an old-fashioned military hat, and the noisemaker is decorated with the Union Jack, the United Kingdom flag.

Vocabulary

Party Favor: A gift, usually small and inexpensive, given to guests at a party.
Noisemaker: A device for making a loud noise, as at a party or sporting event.
Independence Day: Another term for Fourth of July.
Military: Relating to armed forces such as the army, marines, navy and air force.
Union Jack: The flag of the United Kingdom, consisting of the flags of England (St. George's Cross), Scotland (St. Andrew's Cross), and Ireland (St. Patrick's Cross) now only used in Northern Ireland combined
United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and six counties of Ireland.

Concepts

1. Norman Rockwell was born in 1894 in New York City, New York.

2. Zoom in and find Rockwell's birth state on the map of the United States.

3. Rockwell painted brightly colored, oftentimes humorous snapshots of American life.
4. At times, Rockwell also portrayed serious social issues, such as the civil rights movement and school desegregation.
5. Between 1916 and 1963, Rockwell painted many covers for the Saturday Evening Post, a bimonthly American magazine.
6. Rockwell died in 1978 in Massachusetts at the age of 84.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Boy
• Girl
• Dog
• Bows (3)
• Red Hat
• Noisemakers (2)
• Suit and Tie
• Dress
• Bracelet
• Union Jack
• Socks (4)
• Shoes (4)
• Wagging Tail
• Tongue
• Closed or squinted eyes (3)
• Lace Sleeves (2)
• Pink Sash

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

• After studying the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 21 of 'First Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are a boy, a girl, and a dog.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is most likely at a Fourth of July party.

2 / 5

Question 3

What are the boy and girl pulling?

3 / 5

Answer 3

The boy and girl pull a noisemaker.

3 / 5

Question 4

Why does the girl plug her ear?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The girl plugs her ear because the noisemaker will make a loud pop.

4 / 5

Question 5

Why is the painting called 'The Party Favor?'

5 / 5

Answer 5

The painting is called 'The Party Favor' because the boy and girl pull a noisemaker party favor from a party.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? The characters are a boy, a girl, and a dog.
2. What is the setting of the painting? The setting is most likely at a Fourth of July party.
3. What are the boy and girl pulling? The boy and girl pull a noisemaker.
4. Why does the girl plug her ear? The girl plugs her ear because the noisemaker will make a loud pop.
5. Why is the painting called 'The Party Favor?' The painting is called 'The Party Favor' because the boy and girl pull a noisemaker party favor from a party.

References

'Norman Rockwell.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Party Favor.' Wikiart. Wikiart.org. n.p.