Students identify the causes of the Great Depression. They describe the ways in which the Great Depression affected American workers and analyze the impact of the Great Depression in Texas.
Students identify the causes of the Great Depression. They describe the ways in which the Great Depression affected American workers and analyze the impact of the Great Depression in Texas.
Students are introduced to the Great Depression as a period from 1929 to 1942 and review the lesson objectives. They view the photograph “Migrant Mother, 1936” and respond to a word cloud prompt by sharing a word or short phrase about what they think of when they hear the word “depression.”
Teacher MovesPresent the overview and objectives of the experience. Review student word cloud responses, highlighting that “depression” can describe emotions, physical features, and economic downturns, and prepare students to explore the economic meaning in the context of the Great Depression.
Students read background text about the economic boom of the “Roaring ’20s,” stock market investing, and the 1929 crash. They watch the first two minutes of the video The 1929 Stock Market Crash to see how the crash unfolded and its immediate effects. Students then complete a drag-and-drop activity to sequence key events related to the crash and read additional text explaining how overproduction, falling prices, the Dust Bowl, and reduced consumer spending contributed to the Great Depression and unemployment in Texas, including among East Texas timber workers. Finally, they post a response on a class wall explaining why many East Texas timber workers lost their jobs.
Teacher MovesClarify key economic ideas such as stock ownership, borrowing to invest, overproduction, and the chain reaction from bank failures to unemployment. Support students as they sequence events in the drag-and-drop activity, and use the wall responses to reinforce that reduced demand for new housing led to decreased demand for lumber and job losses in the timber industry. Address misconceptions and connect national economic changes to their impact on Texas workers.
Students read about the severity of the Great Depression by 1933, including widespread bank failures, high unemployment, and the disproportionate impact on minorities and immigrants, especially African Americans and Mexican and Mexican American communities in Texas. They examine a 1939 photograph of a Mexican woman and children traveling by truck, respond to a word cloud prompt about how the image makes them feel, post questions about the photograph in a shared table, and contribute to a class wall describing what they think the story behind the photograph is, using what they have learned about the Great Depression.
Teacher MovesGuide students in closely observing the photograph and connecting it to the text about migration, deportation, and job scarcity during the Great Depression. Facilitate discussion using students’ questions and interpretations, then share the Library of Congress caption to provide historical context. Prompt students to reflect on what makes the photograph powerful and how it shapes their understanding of life during the Great Depression, particularly for Mexican and Mexican American families in Texas.
Students are introduced to the popular Great Depression–era song “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” Volunteers read the verses aloud, and students may also listen to a recording of “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” to better understand its tone and message. They then post on a class wall a summary of the song’s main idea and select a specific verse to explain how it supports that main idea.
Teacher MovesOrganize volunteers to read the song verses and, if available, play the recording to highlight mood and perspective. Lead students in analyzing the lyrics, emphasizing how the song questions why workers and veterans who helped build the nation and fought in World War I now find themselves unemployed and in bread lines. Use student wall responses to deepen discussion about workers’ experiences and feelings of abandonment during the Great Depression.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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