The Great Depression and Dust Bowl Era

Mary Ledbetter, M. Ed.UT Elementary School - Austin, TexasFifth Grade Teacher

An Integrated Instructional Approach

The important thing about teaching the Great Depression, is that it gives your students an opportunity to develop empathy and understanding about the past so that they can apply those lessons to the future.

It is fun, meaningful and relevant to their lives. It isn’t rote memorization of dates and names. It is full of sights, sounds, and experiences that

make them want to know more. The important thing about teaching the Great

Depression is that it gives my students a frame of reference for their lives and helps them become empathetic, thoughtful citizens.

Language Arts and Social Studies integrated through Literature and Multi-Media Experiences

Great Depression Art and Literature: Novels – Out of the Dust, Hesse &

Esperanza Rising, Muñoz-Ryan Picture books – Rudy Rides the Rails,

Mackall Poetry – Celebrating America complied by

Whipple Art – No Work (1935) Blanche Grambs Photos - Migrant Mother (1936)

Dorothea Lange Letters – Dear Mrs. Roosevelt…

Language Arts and Social Studies integrated through Literature and Multi-Media Experiences

Great Depression Multi-Media: Artifacts – JackDaw, Pub. and Teacher

Created Materials, Inc. On-line Museum and supplemental

resources – The Price of Freedom: Americans at War

On-line Radio, News, and Music recordings/lyrics

On-line Video footage – United Streaming

On-line lessons - Brain Pop PBS – The American Experience website

If I Were…

Migrant Mother lesson using poetry writing, art, & read alouds Photographic Art analysis Read aloud Student Writing - If I Were… Student Art"Nipomo, Calif. March 1936.

Migrant agricultural worker's family.Seven hungry children and theirmother, aged 32. The father

is a native Californian." Migrant Mother, 1936

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/migrantmother.htm

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

The Important Thing…

…about teaching the Great Depression is _____________________________________. It is ________________________________. It isn’t ______________________________.It __________________________________.But the important thing about

teaching the Great Depression is_____________________.