| Major Themes/Concepts: |
| This lesson explores several themes and concepts including: needs v. wants, economic depression, analysis of the effects of the Great Depression, Big government v. small government . |
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| Lesson Objectives: |
| At the end of the lesson, students will be able to describe how the Great Depression affected Americans, specifically in relation to obstacles and problems individuals and families faced. |
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| Introduction/Anticipatory Set: |
| On an overhead or white board, write the question: “If your family’s income was cut in half, what could you and your family do to reduce expenses? (list five expenses that could be cut or reduced” Teacher could model activity by making his/her own list. Idea is to get students thinking about necessary expenses (food, shelter, clothing, medicine) and luxuries (cell phones, cable TV, eating out, brand name clothing). Have students share lists with class.
Share with the class that in the 1930s the average family income in the US went from $2,300 t0 $1,500. That is the equivalent today of an income going from $39,000 to $25, 500
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| Material/Resources: |
| see attachments |
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| The Process/Procedures of Instruction: |
| 1. Input knowledge of the human impact of the Great Depression through a short lecture/PowerPoint presentation. Be sure to keep lecture short (10 – 15 minutes, content will be explore in depth later in lesson).
2. Present pictures one at a time to students. This may be done by a PowerPoint presentation, handouts, or transparencies.
3. Ask the students guided questions about each of the pictures either as a whole class activities or have the students divide into groups to come up with group answers.
a. For each picture use the spiral question method to have students gather evidence from pictures.
b. First, ask students basic questions about what they see in the picture (what do you see, what are the details, what would you smell, or hear in this scene?)
c. Second, ask questions that require students to interpret picture. Examples: where do you think this picture was taken, when was this picture taken 9after a particular event, what do you think is going on in this picture?
d. Third, ask question that require students to form hypotheses about the events/people in the pictures. Examples of questions: How do you think these people are feeling when this picture was taken, where do you think they went next, what happened after the picture was taken?
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| Learning Advice: |
| For pictorial assignments like this, I like to make PowerPoint handouts for the students in which they can record their discoveries and place in their Interactive notebooks. The handbooks also give students who have difficulty processing info fast a way to take the pictures home and review them. The handouts are also useful for study materials. |
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| Summary/Conclusion: |
| This lesson is structured to get students thinking about drastically life changed for so many Americans and the difficult challenges that so many Americans faced. At the end of the lesson, I lead a discussion with the students about what would be the most difficult about the life during depression. |
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| Assessment Activities: |
| 1. Assessment Activities (Include a rubric): Writing assignment: Each student will pretend that they are an citizen in the US during the Depression who is keeping a journal of his/her experiences during the depression. Each student will write a journal entry detailing how the depression is affecting them by utilizing the information they have gathered during the assignment.
Writing assignment Rubric:
Journal format ______3pts
Writing mechanics ___ ___5pts
At least 5 different details/experiences from depression ________12pts
Creativity ________ 5pts
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| Bibliography: |
| Books:
Bower, Bert, Jim Lobdell, and Sherry Owens. Bring Learning Alive: the TCI Approach for Middle and High School Social Studies. Palo Alto: Teachers' Curriculum Institute, 2005. 28-37.
Goff, Brett, ed. History Alive!: Pursuing American Ideals. Teachers' Curriculum Institute, 2008. 401-411.
Periodicals:
Newspapers:
Internet (list title as well as address):
"America From the Great Depression to WWII: Photographs From the FSA-OWI 1935-1945." Library of Congress. 16 July 2008 .
Picture History: the primary source for history online . 16 July 2008 http://www.picturehistory.com/
"Life During the Great Despression." All About History. 16 July 2008 .
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