Great Depression Lesson Plans

Students examine the Great Depression. In this lesson the ups and downs in the American Economy, students examine several documents dealing with the causes of the Great Depression. They will then have to develop their own plan for helping the nation deal with the crisis. The students will then write a “fireside” chat to present to the class.

Young scholars barter for goods within the class. In this economics lesson based on the Great Depression, the teacher introduces the lesson with a picture book, then students are allowed to barter with teacher supplied goods as they examine how bartering works within small groups, then within larger groups.

Students use Internet research to try to figure out how the Great Depression occurred.

Students explore issues of the Great Depression. In this economic comparison lesson, students examine several themes and concepts including: needs v. wants, economic depression, analysis of the effects of the Great Depression, and Big government v. small government. Students will compare the Great Depression to the current economic situation.

Young scholars discuss what the nation was like during the 1920s including the economy, society, politics, and arts and culture. After watching a Discovery video "From the Great War to the Great Depression", they research the life of a famous person from the 1920s and present their information to the class in a creative way.

Students graph data from the Great Depression. For this economics lesson, students use data to build an understanding of what the Great Depression was all about. They analyze images and build a digital storytelling presentation using preselected images.

Students explore The Great Depression. In this Great Depression instructional activity, students discover the reasons for the Great Depression. Students determine cause and effect and the many problems people faced during this time. Students write as if they are a child living during the Great Depression and describe the changes in their lives.

Learners create a journal from the view point of a child during the Great Depression. In this descriptive writing instructional activity students view primary source images of children during the Great Depression. The images used are both photographs and cartoons.

Students explore the concepts of immigration and migration. In this American history lesson, students conduct research regarding the mass movement of Americans during the Great Depression and today. Students read and analyze several primary and secondary sources in order to create web sites.

Students discuss causes of the Great Depression and analyze artifacts from the era. In this Great Depression era lesson, students discuss the impact of the Depression and analyze photographs and music lyrics. Students write a journal entry and create a song or narrative describing the struggles of Americans.