Painters Born in the 1800s 1800s Painters    

Lesson 13: A Drum for Tommy

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

Norman Rockwell's 'A Drum for Tommy' shows a rosy faced, white bearded Santa Claus wearing a sprig of holly behind his ear and holding a drum with a tag reading 'Tommy.' Santa also holds his black bag of toys from which a rocket ship is visible. One hand raises a note and a small stocking. The misspelled note reads, 'PLESE GIVE ME A DRUM TOMMY.'

Vocabulary

Drum: A instrument sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands, often cylindrical, with a taut membrane over one or both ends.
Rosy: Colored like a pink or red rose.
Beard: A growth of hair on the chin and lower cheeks of a man's face.
Sprig: A small stem bearing leaves or flowers.
Holly: A shrub with prickly dark green leaves, small white flowers, and red berries.
Rocket ship: A spacecraft propelled a great distance by its rocket engine.
Stocking: A long sock hung up by children on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill with presents.
Misspelled: A word spelled with the wrong letters.

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:

• Santa Claus
• Hat
• Sprig of Holly
• Coat
• Striped Mitten
• Drum
• Rocket Ship
• Christmas Stocking
• Note
• Rosy Cheeks
• Santa's Sack
• Drum

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 19 of 'First Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The characters are Santa Claus and Tommy (who is not pictured).

1 / 3

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The setting is most likely at Tommy's house.

2 / 3

Question 3

Which present will Tommy receive?

3 / 3

Answer 3

Tommy will receive a drum for a present.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? The characters are Santa Claus and Tommy (who is not pictured).
2. What is the setting of the painting? The setting is most likely at Tommy's house.
3. Which present will Tommy receive? Tommy will receive a drum for a present.

References

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

'A Drum for Tommy.' Wikiart. Wikiart.org. n.p.