Get your party rockin’ with 1950s-style food, fun, and games. Use these ideas to have the best swingin’ sock hop ever!

JUKEBOX JIVETry out your best sock hop moves to these hits from the 1950s. • “Rock Around the Clock” popularized by Bill Haley & His Comets• “Shake, Rattle and Roll” popularized by Bill Haley & His Comets• “Sh-Boom” popularized by The Crew-Cuts• “Hound Dog” popularized by Elvis Presley• “All Shook Up” popularized by Elvis Presley• “Mr. Sandman” popularized by The Chordettes• “Party Doll” popularized by Bobby Knox• “That’ll Be the Day” popularized by The Crickets• “Wake Up Little Susie” popularized by The Everly Brothers• “Tutti Frutti” popularized by Little Richard• “Honeycomb” popularized by Jimmie Rodgers

LARKIN LIMBOTry this Larkin family favorite. Have two people hold up a broomstick about 4 feet off the floor. As music plays, have players form a line and take turns walking under the stick while bending backward. If a player touches the stick, she is out. Once everyone has had a turn, lower the stick a few inches and start again. Keep playing until you have a winner.

HOOP-LAHave a Hula Hoop® contest! The Hula Hoop® was invented in the ’50s and was a swingin’ success with girls like Maryellen. Give each contestant a Hula Hoop®. See which girl can keep her hoop around her hips (or another body part) the longest without letting the hoop fall.

BOPPIN’ BURGER BAR Ask an adult to help you create a burger bar. Set out burgers, buns, fries,

and the toppings listed below. Use mini burgers and buns so that guests can try more than one combination.

• Chili Cheeseburger: chili, pepper jack cheese, sour cream• Pizza Burger: marinara sauce, sliced black olives, mozzarella cheese• Taco Burger: shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream• All-American Cheeseburger: American cheese, fries, ketchup, mustard

HOP DOGS Ask an adult to make mini hot dogs. Serve each hot dog in a dinner roll

inside a paper cupcake liner. Put out ketchup, mustard, and other toppings your guests will want on their dogs.

SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL Ask an adult to help you make shakes for your guests. To make a

shake, put one or two scoops of vanilla ice cream, ½ cup cold milk, and ingredients for the flavor you’d like (see list below) into a blender. Cover. Blend on high until smooth. Serve in a classic sundae glass with a straw.

Strawberry: ½ cup fresh strawberriesChocolate: chocolate syrupVanilla: ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

SNEAKY SODASSurprise your friends with this tricky treat. Serve chocolate pudding in classic soda fountain glasses. Top with spray whipped cream and a cherry. Then add a straw to make your dessert look like a ’50s drive-in soda.

Copyright © 2015 American Girl. All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl.®

Maryellen’s Swingin’ Sock Hop Fun

Safety first! Some of our projects and activities require an adult’s help. When you see this symbol, be sure to ask an adult to work with you.

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Copyright © 2015 American Girl. All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl.®

Maryellen’s Swingin’ Sock Hop Invitation Print an invitation for each person you’d like to invite to your party. Fill in the blanks on each card. Cut out the invitations along the outer edges only. Fold the invitations down

the center so that the front and back line up. Use double-stick tape to hold the front and back of the invitation together. Give an invitation to each person on your guest list.

Let’s Rock Around the Clock!Put on your bobby socks and come to my

swingin’ sock hop! Get ready for some nifty ’50s music, food, and fun.

Date: ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Time: ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Location: ..........................................................................................................................................................................

TO: ..........................................................................................................................................................................

FROM: ..........................................................................................................................................................................

RSVP: ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Safety first! Some of our projects and activities require an adult’s help. When you see this symbol, be sure to ask an adult to work with you.