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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Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

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 a primary source photograph. 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

Discovery Reading

A printable Discovery Reading is included in the student pack as a support for understanding the experience’s core content and concepts. This Discovery Reading is not necessary to complete the experience and serves as an optional support resource.

Vocabulary Words:

These vocabulary words are used in the experience or connect closely to the standards and content students examine. Students should understand these terms as they work through the experience.

  • Roaring Twenties: the 1920s, a time of rapid economic growth and cultural change in the United States before the Great Depression.
  • stock market crash: the sudden drop in stock prices in 1929 that caused many people to lose money and helped lead to the Great Depression.
  • Great Depression: a long period in the 1930s when the U.S. economy was very weak, many banks and businesses failed, and millions of people lost their jobs.
  • Dust Bowl: a severe environmental disaster in the Great Plains during the 1930s when drought and poor farming practices led to huge dust storms and failed crops.
  • erosion: the wearing away or blowing away of soil; in the Dust Bowl, wind carried off exposed topsoil.
  • primary source: a firsthand source from the time being studied, such as a photograph taken during the Great Depression.
  • New Deal: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s group of programs that created jobs and gave other help to people during the Great Depression.
 

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 brought rapid economic growth and change to much of the United States. The country also became more important in the world economy. This period became known as the Roaring Twenties. Automobiles, radio, and movies changed the ways many Americans traveled, communicated, and spent their free time. Jazz, which grew from Black American musical traditions, became increasingly popular, along with new styles of dancing. However, the prosperity of the 1920s was not shared equally, and it 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 examining the Great Depression, let’s take a look at a special form of music, jazz. Jazz developed in New Orleans in the late 1800s and early 1900s, before the Roaring Twenties. New Orleans was home to people from many different cultures. Black musicians played a central role in creating jazz, drawing from African American musical traditions such as blues and ragtime, along with brass-band and other musical traditions heard in the city. During the 1920s, jazz became increasingly popular across the United States. Recordings, live performances, and radio helped more people hear the new music.

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

Jazz is important to this lesson because it reflects the cultural changes of the 1920s and the growing influence of Black American art and music on U.S. culture. Before students listen, remind them that jazz developed earlier in New Orleans but became much more widely popular during the Roaring Twenties. Encourage students to listen for features such as rhythm, instruments, energy, and mood. If students have prior knowledge of jazz, invite them to share what they know. After listening, use their words and phrases to briefly discuss what may have made jazz feel new or exciting to listeners at the time.


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