The Great Depression

Social Studies American History The United States in the 20th Century The Great Depression
Students are introduced to the Roaring Twenties and listen to an early jazz recording by Louis Armstrong. Then they examine the causes and effects of the Great Depression. Next they learn about the Dust Bowl and analyze the photograph “Migrant Mother.” Finally they explore the New Deal and present a WPA project from their state.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Here are the teacher pack items for The Great Depression:

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Overview

In this experience, students are introduced to the Roaring Twenties and listen to an early jazz recording by Louis Armstrong. Then they examine the causes and effects of the Great Depression. Next they learn about the Dust Bowl and analyze the photograph “Migrant Mother.” Finally they explore the New Deal and present a WPA project from their state.

If you have access to leveled readers that relate to any of the topics of this era—the Roaring Twenties and early jazz greats, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, Franklin or Eleanor Roosevelt—assign them to the students in parallel to this experience.

Estimated duration: 45-55 minutes

Vocabulary words:

  • finance
  • modernity
  • leisure
  • stock market
  • withdraw
  • earn
  • mortgage
  • desperate
  • erosion

Objectives

  • Identify the causes of the Great Depression.
  • Analyze how human activity contributed to the Dust Bowl.
  • Explain how employers treated workers during the Great Depression.
  • Describe the New Deal.


Engage


The decade following World War I saw great economic development in the United States, which became a major force in world finance. The period is known as the Roaring Twenties. It was marked by a feeling of modernity and change. New technology such as automobiles, movies, and radio brought a new form of leisure. Jazz and dancing became popular. However, the prosperity did not last. In this experience, you will learn about the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Objectives

  • Identify the causes of the Great Depression.
  • Analyze how human activity contributed to the Dust Bowl.
  • Explain how employers treated workers during the Great Depression.
  • Describe the New Deal.


old photograph of a jazz band with five musicians

The King & Carter Jazzing Orchestra in 1921


Before moving on to the Great Depression, let’s take a look at a special form of music, jazz, which was born in the United States during the Roaring Twenties. In the early twentieth century, New Orleans had one of the most diverse populations in the United States, with residents of African, French, Caribbean, Italian, German, Mexican, American Indian, and English origins. Jazz formed from a blend of other kinds of music from these different ethnicities, such as ragtime and marches. Most of the early jazz musicians were African American. After new technology enabled recordings as early as 1917, the popularity of jazz spread rapidly.

Listen to this short recording of a song by Louis Armstrong, an early jazz trumpet player. The recording was made in 1923-24.


In a word or short phrase, describe the music that you just heard.

Post your answer

If any of your students have knowledge of jazz, give them the opportunity to describe the music and culture to the class.


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

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