Curated OER
Legacy of the Dust Bowl: Dust Storm Media 1930s
Some learners might not realize that the term dust bowl was not figurative. Show the reality of 1930s America with eight primary source photographs. Slides depict images of dust storms or their aftermath.
Captioned Media
Creating Dramatic Monologues from The Grapes of Wrath
Set in Oklahoma in the 1930s, The Grapes of Wrath presents a powerful view of life during the Great Depression. An insightful lesson plan takes a closer look at the characters in John Steinbeck's classic novel, combining the...
Curated OER
The Dust Bowl: Images
Introduce learners to the hardships that followed the onset of the Dust Bowl. There is a quote taken from The Dust Bowl, Men, Dirt and Depression by Paul Bonnifield followed by 10 primary-source images.
Curated OER
Great Depression: Entertainment
Students explore forms of entertainment during the Great Depression. In this 1930's America lesson, students consider what they do for fun today and compare to what Americans did for fun during the depression.
Curated OER
The Great Depression
Eighth graders examine the relief, recovery, and reform legislation to combat the Great Depression. In this New Deal instructional activity, 8th graders investigate New Deal programs as well as images from the depression era. Students...
Curated OER
The Great Depression: An Oral History
Students examine the hardships experienced during the Great Depression through an oral history interview with person who lived through the event. Students transcribe their interviews and discover the contributions oral history can make...
Curated OER
How the Great Depression Affected California and C¿¿sar E. Ch¿¿vez
Fourth graders examine the effect of the Great Depression on California. After reading a summary, they discover how the depression and Dust Bowl led to the immigration of great numbers of farm workers into California. They also...
Curated OER
Unemployment During the Great Depression
Young scholars examine unemployment during the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, students watch "The Great Depression: A Job at Ford." Young scholars then discuss how unemployment was described in the video and write...
Curated OER
Family Life During the Great Depression
Students practice the skill of photo analysis. In this Great Depression instructional activity, students analyze photographs from the era and write fictitious diary entries based on the images.
Curated OER
Worksheet: The Great Depression
In this Great Depression learning exercise, students respond to 8 short answer questions about the migration during the era, Hoovervilles, and the impact of movies.
Curated OER
Life During the Great Depression
Eleventh graders explore life during the Great Depression and how Americans responded to the problem. Using information discussed, 11th graders complete a flow chart activity depicting the Dust Bowl. After watching clips of movies...
Curated OER
The Great Depression: A Study Guide Through Song
Students take a closer look at the political and social outlook during the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson plan, students analyze selected songs from the time period. Students use the provided lyric sheets and song...
Penguin Books
A Teacher’s Guide to the Penguin Edition of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath
The dry Oklahoma landscape in America's Dust Bowl sent many farmers in search of the promised land. A teacher's guide to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath discusses the characters' desire for a better home along with other themes...
New York State Education Department
US History and Government Examination: June 2011
Those who lived during the Great Depression could clearly draw a line between the roaring 1920s and the desolation of the following decade. Class members examine these two periods and compare them using an essay question prompt and...
Curated OER
The Great Depression and the 1990s
Students examine government-funded programs. In this government lesson, students research legislation from the Depressions era as well as current legislation regarding government-funded programs. Students evaluate the current need of...
Curated OER
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Use this handy presentation to prepare your class before reading the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Segregation, the stock market, and the sociopolitical climate of the times is covered. This will really help build a...
Curated OER
World War II - The Holocaust
The Holocaust is the focus of this world history PowerPoint. Viewers are presented with important facts regarding the Holocaust, and the rise of Nazi Germany. They must answer questions such as: "Describe Nazi anti-Semitism in the...
Curated OER
Growing a Nation
Eleventh graders examine the Dust Bowl in American History. In this US History lesson, 11th graders read a transcript on the Dust Bowl. Students analyze a video on the Dust Bowl.
National Endowment for the Humanities
NAACP's Anti-Lynching Campaign in the 1930s
Young scholars examine the anti-lynching campaign sponsored by the NAACP in the 1930's. In this social justice lesson, students study the history of the anti-lynching campaign and determine why it was not successful. Young scholars...
Curated OER
Immigration/Migration: Today and During the Great Depression
Eleventh graders compare experiences of their families to those living through the Great Depression using famiy interviews, photographs, films and document from the Library of Congress.
Curated OER
The Great Depression: Eating on a Shoestring
Students explore the realities of feeding a family on a very limited budget by comparing the cost of living in the 1930s to the cost of living today. Using primary documents and technology to make the comparison, they identify the impact...
Curated OER
The Social Security Act
Students examine the Social Security Act of 1935. In this U.S. history lesson plan, students research primary sources in order to prepare for a mock debate of the act prior to it becoming legislation.
Curated OER
Of Mice and Men and The Great Depression
Provide a context for Of Mice and Men with a presentation that includes biographical information about John Steinbeck, as well information about the Great Depression and the drought of the early 1930s. The photos of Dorothea Lange,...
Curated OER
Dust Bowl Exodus: How Drought and the Depression Took Their Toll
Students examine the migration of refugees. In this California history instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of how the Dust Bowl and Great Depression led to a California...