TM

EDUCATION MATERIALS
TEACHER GUIDE
Dear Teachers,

Top of the RockTM at Rockefeller Center is an exciting destination for New York City students.

Located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Top of the Rock

Observation Deck reopened to the public in November 2005 after being closed for nearly 20

years. It provides a unique educational opportunity in the heart of New York City. To support

the vital work of teachers and to encourage inquiry and exploration among students, Tishman

Speyer is proud to present Top of the Rock Education Materials. In the Teacher Guide, you will

find discussion questions, a suggested reading list, and detailed plans to help you make the

most of your visit. The Student Activities section includes trip sheets and student sheets with

activities that will enhance your students’ learning experiences at the Observation Deck.

These materials are correlated to local, state, and national curriculum standards in Grades 3

through 8, but can be adapted to suit the needs of younger and older students with various

aptitudes. We hope that you find these education materials to be useful resources as you

explore one of the most dazzling places in all of New York City. Enjoy the trip!

Sincerely,

General Manager
Top of the Rock Observation Deck

30 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 101 12 T: 212 698 -2000 877 NYC-ROCK (877 692-7625) F: 212 332-6550
www.topoftherocknyc.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Teacher Guide

Before Your Visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1

During Your Visit ................................................... Page 2

After Your Visit .................................................... Page 6

Suggested Reading List ......................................... Page 9

Cultural Organizations .......................................... Page 10

Student Activities

Trip Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13

Student Sheets .................................................... Page 18

New York City by the Numbers .............................. Page 25

BEFORE YOUR VISIT
Generate excitement and build background knowledge in the days before your trip with the following
discussion questions and activities. Depending on your schedule, you may want to start preparing
students for the trip a week or two in advance.

Discussion
Explain to students that the class will be taking a trip to Rockefeller Center. They will be visiting Top of the Rock, the Observation
Deck located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Ask: Has anyone ever been to Rockefeller Center? What do you know about Rockefeller Center? (Students might say: It has an
ice-skating rink; It’s where they light the big Christmas tree; I've seen it on the Today Show.)

Activities
• Write students’ responses to the discussion question on a K-W-L chart. Label the chart “Rockefeller Center/Top of the Rock.”
Create three columns. Label columns K, for “What we already KNOW,” W for “What we WANT to know,” and L for “What we
LEARNED.” (You will fill in the last column after your trip.)

Tip: You may want to make a copy of this list and include it as one of your trip sheets. Students can fill out the third column
during your visit.

• Find Rockefeller Center on a New York City street map. (It is located between 48th and 51st Streets, between Fifth and Sixth
Avenues.) Ask: What do you think we’ll be able to see from Top of the Rock? Prompt
students to think about what might be visible to the north, east, south, and west. List
Get Ready! students’ responses on chart paper. Save the chart so you can review it after your trip.
Possible responses include buildings (Empire State Building, Chrysler Building), bridges
Students will be working on
(Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge), rivers (East River, Hudson River), and
trip sheets during their visit to
Top of the Rock. They will
natural elements (birds, clouds, sky, trees in Central Park).
need a sturdy surface on which • Map your journey. If you are traveling by subway, use an MTA/New York City transit map
to write. Photocopy the trip to find the station where you will begin your trip and the station where you will get off
sheets. Staple sets of trip the train: 47th-50th Streets–Rockefeller Center. (This station is accessible from the B, D,
sheets in the upper left-hand F, and V lines.) If you are traveling by bus, use a street map to locate your school, then
corner and attach each set to trace the route to your drop-off point at Rockefeller Center.
a clipboard. Or, arrange the
• Visit www.rockefellercenter.com. Click on “History” to learn more. Maps and photographs
pages on an 8 1/2” by 11” piece
round out this comprehensive website. Follow the link to the Top of the Rock Observation
of cardboard and staple them
Deck (www.topoftherocknyc.com) for historical photos and views.
along the top.

Sharpen pencils. Make sure

you have enough to give two
52
T

pencils to each student.

H
ST

Preview the After Your Visit

section of this guide before
your trip. Many of the activities
50
TH

are built upon work that

ST

students will do while visiting

49

Top of the Rock. Some require

T
H

extra steps. For example, to

ST
48

make an interactive scrapbook

TH

of their trip, students may

ST

want to bring digital cameras.

E
U
EN
S

Those students who want to

ER F
A
M O
IC

AV
A E

write news articles about the

E NU

H
TH VE

trip, and conduct interviews

FT
A

FI

while on the Observation Deck,

may want to prepare questions
in advance.

1
DURING YOUR VISIT
Trip sheets are a great way to focus any field trip. They will help you get the most out of your visit to
Top of the Rock. Download the trip sheets from www.topoftherocknyc.com. You may also want to
include additional trip sheets of your own design, and blank sheets of paper for drawing and note
taking. Review trip sheets with students before your visit.
Tip: Whenever possible, it’s helpful to visit trip sites before bringing your class. A pre-trip
visit to Top of the Rock will give you a better idea of what to expect when you arrive with Math Connections
students. For more information, contact the Top of the Rock office: 212-332-6517
Students will find great math
The Exhibit (20–30 minutes) statistics in the Fun Facts
video screen in the rear of the
Before heading up to the Observation Deck, students will visit the interactive exhibit
exhibit space.
located on the Mezzanine level of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. In the exhibit, students will learn
about the history of Rockefeller Center and come to understand the time period in which
it was built: The Great Depression. They will meet the various individuals who played an Art Connections
integral role in the Center’s development: John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife, Abby
Look to the right as you
Rockefeller; architect Raymond Hood and builder John R. Todd; Radio City Music Hall
enter the exhibit. Through the
promoter Samuel Lionel “Roxy” Rothafel; countless artists including Lee Lawrie, Paul
window you will see the
Manship, and Gwen Lux; and the thousands of construction workers who dedicated eight
southern façade of Radio City
years of their lives to building what has become one of New York City’s most beloved
Music Hall and three metal
landmarks. The exhibit includes an original basswood model of Rockefeller Center, a mock
plaques—“Song,” “Drama,” and
steel beam that simulates the experience of the construction crew, and three short films
“Dance” by Hildreth Meiere,
narrated by David Rockefeller, Tom Brokaw, and Radio City Rockette Kandice Pelletier.
one of the few women artists
Students will complete Trip Sheet 1 while visiting the exhibit.
whose work is represented at
Trip Sheet 1: Students will write three things they learned from the exhibit, two questions Rockefeller Center.
about what they learned, and will draw one picture of an artifact from the exhibit.

Tip: Prepare students to complete Trip Sheet 1 by briefly discussing the difference between fact and opinion. For example, “The
stock market crashed on October 29, 1929” is a fact; “Without John R. Todd, Rockefeller Center would never have been built” is
an opinion. Help students maintain their focus by encouraging them to seek facts that answer Who, What, When, Where, Why,
and How questions such as:

• Who is Rockefeller Center named after? • Who designed Rockefeller Center?

• Who built Rockefeller Center? • What was happening in the U.S. when construction began?
• What companies make their home at Rockefeller Center? • When did construction begin? When was it completed?
• Where can visitors find certain works of art in the Center? • How did the original plan for Rockefeller Center change?

Radio City Music Hall

2
Exhibit Artifacts (continued from pg. 2)
As students move through the exhibit, call their attention to the various artifacts
Maximize
used to tell the story of Rockefeller Center. Artifacts to look for include: Teaching Time
• An RCA Type 88-A Microphone with NBC Flag, 1930. This kind of microphone was Circulate among students as
commonly used in the early days of radio and television. they work. Ask questions to
help focus their thinking and to
• Rockefeller Center Postcards, ca. 1940s. Colorized postcards were popular in the
lay the groundwork for post-
1930s and 40s. Today, they are collector’s items. The cards on display in the exhibit
visit discussions and activities.
depict various scenes in and around Rockefeller Center.
Why do you think the build-
• Observation Roof’s Refreshment Bar Menu, 1930s. With a ham sandwich priced at 20 ings in Manhattan are so tall?
cents and a milkshake at 15 cents, this menu will give students a sense of how costs have
Why aren’t there as many tall
increased over the years.
buildings in the surround-
Help students to differentiate primary and secondary source documents used in the ing areas?
exhibit. Primary source documents include books, photographs, newspaper articles,
Where is Brooklyn? The
political cartoons, and pamphlets created during the historical time period. For example,
Bronx? Queens? Staten Island?
a 1930s newspaper article about the Great Depression is a primary source document.
Where is New Jersey? The
A 2006 book about the Great Depression is a secondary source document.
Hudson River? The East River?
If students aren’t sure, point
The Observation Deck (45–60 minutes)
out the areas yourself.
After viewing the exhibit, students will ride the elevator to the Observation Deck. They will
complete the rest of their trip sheets while on the Observation Deck. Don’t worry if
Math Connections
students don’t get started right away. Give them time to take in the incredible view! Many
of your students have probably never seen New York City from this perspective. Challenge students to find
as many shapes as they can in
Trip Sheet 2: Students will locate specific buildings and locations in Manhattan and the
the buildings all around them.
surrounding area.
Rectangles and squares aren’t
Trip Sheet 3: Students will sketch the view from the Observation Deck. They will focus hard to spot. Triangles, pyra-
on specific buildings as well as on the general view. (Note: If you have enough chaperones mids, circles, and arches are
you may wish to divide the class into four groups and position them on each side of the out there too. So are prisms,
Observation Deck. These groups will work together in a post-visit activity.) spheres, and cylinders.
Trip Sheet 4: Students will spend 5-10 minutes observing the city and recording their
responses to it in writing. Students will use their five senses to take note of all that they see, hear, feel, taste, and smell.
(Note: Students will refer to these notes in post-visit activities.)

Before leaving the Observation Deck, gather students for one last look. Ask: What is it like to see New York City from this
vantage point? What did you notice? What questions came up? Put your location in context by having students point in the
direction of your school and their homes.

Northern view from Top of the Rock

3
The Plaza (20–30 minutes)
When you leave the Observation Deck and exit the elevator you will be in the
Concourse Level of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Follow the signs to the street level lobby.
Here, you will find works of art by José-Maria Sert.

• American Progress (1937) is located behind the reception desk. This

large-scale mural depicts President Abraham Lincoln as “Man of Action.” The
seated figure below him is poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Man of
Thought.” In the background, 30 Rockefeller Center symbolizes Modern America.
Sert’s mural replaced the one originally painted by Mexican artist Diego Rivera,
which Nelson Rockefeller rejected when he saw that Rivera had included an
image of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, at its center.

• The mural Time (1941) is visible on the ceiling. It features three figures that
represent past, present, and future. They stand on top of columns in the lobby.
Viewed from different vantage points, the figures appear to be moving.

• Additional Sert murals can be seen in the building’s north corridor.

Next, head outdoors. Stand in front of the main entrance to 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Point out the artwork above the doorways.

• Wisdom (1933) is in the middle. Created by artist Lee Lawrie, this limestone relief depicts Wisdom as ruler of human
knowledge and interpreter of the laws of nature. In his hand, Wisdom grips a compass. He points to light and sound waves
etched in the glass screen below, which is made of 240 Pyrex blocks. The inscription is based on a biblical passage (Isaiah
33:6). Light and sound are also depicted above the left and
right doorways. In total, Mr. Lawrie created 14 works for
30 Rockefeller Plaza
Rockefeller Center, more than any other artist.

• Atlas (1937) on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st

Streets, is a companion piece to Paul Manship’s Prometheus
(see description on the next page). In this massive work,
Lawrie depicts Atlas shouldering the heavens as punishment
for disobeying Zeus’s orders. It is the largest sculpture in
Rockefeller Center.

Next, walk toward the other side of the sunken plaza. (In the
Winter it is a skating rink; in the Spring and Summer it becomes
an outdoor café.) From here, you will have a spectacular view
of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Architecture fans have an affectionate
name for this Art Deco icon - they call it “The Slab.” Built
of brick, granite, steel, and Indiana limestone, and standing
850 ft. tall, it is one of New York City’s tallest skyscrapers. Have
students sit on the benches along the Channel Gardens or
stand off to the side to complete Trip Sheet 5.

Trip Sheet 5: Students will complete a sketch of 30

Rockefeller Plaza.

Note: Want to avoid the lunchtime crowds? Plan for students

to complete this activity before you visit Top of the Rock, or
after the midday rush.

4
 Artwork at
Rockefeller Center
All of the artwork in
Rockefeller Center was
specially commissioned. It is an
impressive collection and was
meant to evoke a unified
theme: New Frontiers and the
March of Civilization. During
your visit, look for these 20th
News by Isamu Noguchi century gems including:

Prometheus (1934) by Paul

Manship. This mythological
Greek figure is shown stealing
fire from the gods as a gift for
mortals. The sculpture is cast
in bronze and covered in gold
leaf. It is one of the Center’s
most recognizable works of art.

News (1940) by Isamu

Noguchi. This stainless steel
relief is located above the main
entrance to the Bank of
America Building at 50
Rockefeller Plaza between
50th and 51st Streets. The
figures are holding the tools of
the reporter’s trade: a notepad,
camera, telephone, and
typewriter. Of all the artwork
Atlas by Lee Lawrie in Rockefeller Center, News is
considered to be one of the
most important.

Intelligence Awakening
Mankind (1933) by Barry
Faulkner. Located above 30
Rockefeller Plaza’s Sixth
Avenue entrance between
49th and 50th Streets, this
mosaic mural is made of
more than a million glass
tiles in over 250 colors.

Prometheus by Paul Manship For detailed information about

all of the artwork at
Rockefeller Center visit
www.rockefellercenter.com
Or, pick up a Rockefeller
Center Visitor’s Guide and
Walking Tour brochure from
the reception desk in 30
Rockefeller Plaza.
Wisdom by Lee Lawrie

5
AFTER YOUR VISIT
Start your class with a discussion about your trip to Top of the Rock. Then, return to your K-W-L chart.
See if students can now answer any of the questions in the W column (“What we WANT to know”).
Next, move on to the L column (“What we LEARNED”). Students may want to refer back to their trip
sheets to refresh their memories.

Discussion Questions
1. Why should people visit Top of the Rock? Is it just for tourists, or is it a good place for New Yorkers to visit too? Explain your
thinking. Remember, when the Observation Deck first opened it was characterized as John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s gift to New
Yorkers. What does this mean?

2. What is a landmark? Rockefeller Center was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It is a New York City landmark as
well. What other landmarks can you think of? (The Statue of Liberty; the Grand Canyon; the Golden Gate Bridge) What do
these places have in common? Why are landmarks important? Why do people want to protect and preserve them? What do
landmarks tell us about the history of our city and of our country?

3. What role does art play in your life? John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s wife, Abby Rockefeller, cared deeply about art. She was in charge
of selecting the artists whose work would appear in Rockefeller Plaza. “Art is one of the greatest resources of my life,” she
once said. “I believe that it not only enriches the spiritual life, but that it makes one more sane and sympathetic.” Think about
what Mrs. Rockefeller meant by this. Do you agree with Mrs. Rockefeller? Does art make people more sane and sympathetic?
If so, then how? Why? How does art make you feel? What effect does it have on you?

4. What kinds of jobs did Rockefeller Center provide during the Great Depression? What effect do you think the project had on
the people of New York during this difficult time in our nation’s history? How does Rockefeller Center benefit the economy today?

5. The Rockefeller family was one of the country’s wealthiest. They used their wealth to support education, public health, and
the arts, among other things. In fact, John D. Rockefeller Jr. believed that “Unto he who is given much, much shall be required.”
What does this mean? Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Discuss the meaning of philanthropy. What can
we do help make our society a better place?

6. New York’s Metropolitan Opera was supposed to be Rockefeller Center’s main tenant. But when the stock market crashed in
1929, the Opera decided not to move to Rockefeller Center. John D. Rockefeller Jr. had to quickly find another group to take
The Met’s place. He chose RCA (Radio Corporation of America). At the time, radio was a new technology. RCA was a young
company. No one knew for sure if radio would be successful. Rockefeller took a chance with RCA. He “bet on the future.” What
businesses or companies would you take a chance on? What new technology or company do you think is the wave of the future?

7. Over the years, many television shows have been broadcast from NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, including Saturday
Night Live and NBC Nightly News. In the company’s early days, RCA chairman David Sarnoff said, “[Television] is a creative
force we must learn to utilize for the benefit of all mankind.” What do you think he meant by this? Have we learned to utilize
television for the benefit of all mankind? Give examples. How has television impacted our culture in positive and negative ways?

Top of the Rock observation Deck, 1930s

6
Activities
A visit to Top of the Rock is sure to inspire students’ creativity. The project-based activities
below are designed to appeal to a wide range of interests and abilities. Some activities can Math Connections
be completed individually. Others are best suited for group work. You may wish to assign
a particular activity or allow students to choose their own. Have students: When the Top of the Rock
Observation Deck first opened
1. Write and design a postcard. The postcard will commemorate the students’ trip to Top visitors could enjoy snacks
of the Rock. Give students a postcard-sized piece of oaktag. On one side, students will from an outdoor refreshment
draw a picture (for example, the view from Top of the Rock, a scene from the bar. The menu included lettuce
Mezzanine-level exhibit, a portrait of 30 Rockefeller Plaza). On the other side, students and tomato sandwiches (20
will draw a line down the center. They will write a message to a friend or loved one cents), milk (10 cents), and
on the left side. They will address the postcard on the right side. Have students mail layer cake (15 cents). For fun,
their postcards. have students design an
2. Create a timeline of important events that have happened in New York and the world updated menu for Top of the
since the construction of Rockefeller Center began in 1931. Use icons to show world and Rock. Students should include
local events (e.g., a globe for the world, an apple for New York City). a selection of sandwiches,
desserts, and drinks, with
3. Design a travel brochure and/or poster to attract visitors to the Top of the Rock
healthful choices and modern
Observation Deck. As an alternative, students might create a television commercial,
prices. As a bonus activity,
complete with a story board and script.
have students figure out what
4. Write a New York City poem inspired by their experience at Top of the Rock. To get combinations of items they
ideas, students can look back at Trip Sheet 4. They may also look for inspiration in the can buy with a certain amount
books of poetry included in this guide’s suggested reading list. of money.

5. Create an interactive scrapbook of your trip to Top of the Rock. Include scanned images Have students create a bar
of souvenirs including ticket stubs and brochures. If your class has access to a digital graph to compare the sizes of
camera, bring it along to document the trip. Post the images online and write vivid different New York City sky-
captions to tell others about the experience. scrapers including the Empire
State Building, the Chrysler
6. Make a New York City map based on the view from Top of the Rock. Students should
Building, the Statue of Liberty,
show New York City’s five boroughs (Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and
and 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Staten Island). They may also wish to label landmarks, bridges, notable buildings, and
streets (such as Broadway, which starts at the tip of Manhattan and runs all the way north).
Observation Roof Menu, 1943

S OUPS AND A PPETIZERS M E N U H OT B EVERAGES

Soups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Orange Juice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Tomato Juice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Hot Chocolate (wafers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

S ANDWICHES C OLD B EVERAGES

Sliced Ham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Coca Cola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Swiss Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Root Beer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
American Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Lemon Lime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Lettuce & Tomato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cherry Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cream Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Iced Tea & Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Relish Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Peanut Butter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Peanut Butter & Jelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 M ILK D RINKS
Cream Cheese & Jelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Milk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Egg Salad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Milk Shake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Liverwurst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Frosted Milk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Ham Boloney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Frosted Malt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Tunafish Salad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Milk Float . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Ham & Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Sliced Egg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 F RESH F RUIT D RINKS
Sliced Egg & Tomato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Cream Cheese & Pineapple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Orangeade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Buttered Toast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Lemonade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Grilled Cheese & Tomato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Limeade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Ham & Tomato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Limericky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

D ESSERTS I CE C REAM S ODAS

Layer Cake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Chocolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Pie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Vanilla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Pie or Cake a la Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Strawberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Plain or Raisin Cake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Pineapple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
I CE C REAM Mocha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry or Lemon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Coffee Ice Cream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sarsaparilla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Marshmallow Sundae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Cherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

7
7. Design a series of mural panels depicting a
360-degree view from the Top of the Rock
Observation Deck. Each panel should focus on the
view from a specific direction (e.g., North, East,
South, and West). For reference, students can use
the sketches they did on their trip sheets.
Students should begin by making preliminary
sketches on drawing paper, then sketch the design
onto large sheets of butcher paper. (Decide in
advance if the panels will be displayed horizontally
or vertically). Finally, students will paint the
murals, adding as much detail as possible. When
the murals have dried, display them along the
walls of your classroom.

8. Write a news article about the trip to Top of the

Rock. Student reporters should be sure to answer
who, what, where, when, why, and how questions
in their article (e.g., who went on the trip, what the
group did or saw, etc.). They should also include
quotes from classmates. In addition, they may
wish to include a sidebar with information on
ticket prices, hours of operation, directions, etc. Original Model of 30 Rockefeller Plaza

9. Build a model of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Students

can refer to their sketches and to photographs available online and in various books to focus their work. Younger students
may wish to recreate the building with blocks, while older students can get creative with cardboard, oaktag, and other
building materials.

10. Design a city center. Completed in 1939, Rockefeller Center remains a vibrant destination in the heart of New York City.
It revitalized an area once known for speakeasies and run-down buildings. Encourage students to think about an area in your
community that might benefit from a revitalization project. Questions to consider include: How tall should the buildings be?
What kinds of businesses should the development include? What kinds of services or public attractions should the
development offer? What style of buildings should be included (for example, should the buildings be modern, old-fashioned,
or futuristic)? What is the theme of the development and how will that be depicted in the public artwork that is on display?
If residents would be displaced by the project, help students to come up with a plan to address the residents’ special needs
and concerns.

11. Study Art Deco architecture. This style of architecture was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. New York City buildings designed
in Art Deco style include the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Have students create
a booklet about the Art Deco movement and explain what these New York City buildings have in common.

Mezzanine Entrance Beam Walk Multimedia Theatre

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SUGGESTED READING LIST
For Grades 3-6
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
Picture book of New York City during the Great Depression.
My New York by Kathy Jakobsen
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young narrator details the many wonders of Manhattan, including Rockefeller Center
and its magnificent Christmas tree.
New York, New York: The Big Apple From A–Z by Laura Krauss, illustrated by Frané Lessac
The author takes readers on an alphabetical tour of her hometown in this richly illustrated picture book.
Sky Scrape/City Scape: An Anthology of City Themed Poems edited by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Ken Condon
A collection of 25 poems, with selections by Langston Hughes, Ann Turner, and others.
Skyscrapers!: Super Structures to Design and Build by Carol A. Johmann, illustrated by Michael P. Kline
Information on some of the world’s most famous skyscrapers. Provides brief histories and detailed activities using
easy-to-find materials.
Street Music: City Poems by Arnold Adoff
Fifteen free-verse poems capture the essence of life in the urban environment.

For Grades 6-8

Children of the Great Depression by Russell Freedman
Original black & white photography by Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Ben Shahn and others illustrate Freedman’s
well-researched and accessible account of American life in the 1930s.
Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift by Katherine Lasky
Part of the Dear America series, this fictional diary offers young readers an up-close and personal look at life during the Depression.

For Teachers
Many of the books on this list will also be of interest to students, particularly the photography books, which offer a visual tour of
New York City history. They are noted with an asterisk (*).
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller: The Woman in the Family by Bernice Kent
The first comprehensive biography of the Rockefeller family’s powerful matriarch details her contributions to the artsand philanthropy.
The Art of Rockefeller Center and The Guide to The Art of Rockefeller Center by Christine Roussel*
Both volumes introduce readers to the sculpture, murals, mosaics, and reliefs of Rockefeller Center.
Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from Children of the Great Depression by Robert Cohen
The Encyclopedia of New York City by Kenneth T. Jackson (ed.)
An awe-inspiring and addictive compendium of all things New York, including Rockefeller Center.
Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center by Daniel Okrent
This thorough volume chronicles the history of Rockefeller Center with intriguing, real-life stories and little-known facts.

New York Changing: Revisiting Berenice Abbott’s New York by Douglas Levere and Berenice Abbott, with text by
Bonnie Yochelson* Abbot’s own photography is juxtaposed with modern images, illustrating the ever-changing face of New York.
New York, Empire City 1920-1945 by David Stravitz*
Rare photographs of New York City between the two World Wars are accompanied by commentary by historian Christopher Gray.
New York Then and Now: 83 Manhattan Sites Photographed in the Past and Present by Edmund V. Gillon, Jr.*
Vintage and contemporary photographs, side by side, dramatize the city’s evolution.
See the City: The Journey of Manhattan Unfurled by Matteo Pericoli*
Detailed pen-and-ink drawings of the Manhattan skyline, as seen from the East River, and the Hudson, unfold on accordion pages.
Skyscraper: The Search for an American Style 1891-1941 by Roger Shepherd*
The history and significance of several iconic skyscrapers, including 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr. by Ron Chernow
An engaging biography of the Rockefeller family patriarch and Standard Oil founder.

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CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Learn more about New York City and its incredible history by visiting one of the organizations listed below.

Gotham Center for New York City History

www.gothamcenter.org
The Graduate Center
City University of New York
365 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212-817-8460

The Museum of the City of New York

www.mcny.org
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
New York, NY 10029
212-534-1672

New-York Historical Society

www.nyhistory.org
2 West 77th Street at Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
212-873-3400

The Skyscraper Museum

www.skyscraper.org
39 Battery Place
New York, NY 10280
212-968-1961

Credits
Teaching Guide written by Jaime Joyce, Educational Consultant, Brooklyn, NY

Historical photos courtesy of Rockefeller Center Archives

© Top of the Rock LLC, 2006

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30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112-0002

1-212-698-2000
1-877-692-7625

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