The image for this lesson plan is entitled "Stock Market Crash" and can be retrieved on the AP Multimedia Archive by entering 'Black Thursday' in the WHAT field and 10/24/1929 in the WHEN field on the search page.

Grade Level(s):
9-12

Subject(s):
Social Studies/U.S. History


Purpose:
This lesson was designed to familiarize high school students with the causes of the Great Depression, the effects it had on the American public and the relief effort that the U.S. Government made to curtail the catastrophe.

Following the conclusion of the lesson, students will be able to recite in a written examination the effects of the cultural and economic strains that existed during this time period with one hundred percent accuracy.


Objective(s):
Students will be able to:
  1. List the causes of the Great Depression.
  2. Recite the effects that the Great Depression had on American society.
  3. Articulate the recovery measures that our country enacted to curtail the Great Depression.

Materials:
Specific information regarding the Depression, which can be given to the students in groups.

Activities:
  1. Begin class with a five-minute overview of the 1920s and background information regarding the causes of the Great Depression. Divide students into groups of four or six. In their groups, the students will be provided information regarding the depression. Half of the group will master the material on the effects of the depression on American society, and half will become experts on the material about relief efforts.
  2. Have students participate in reciprocal learning by teaching each other what they have learned.
  3. Following the group work, answer and ask questions to clarify any misconceptions regarding the material.


Assessment:
Students will be informally evaluated during the group activity according to how well they cooperate and work as a team. The students will be formally evaluated and held individually accountable by completing an essay style examination. Also, students will be required to conduct an interview with a family member of friend that was alive during the Great Depression. They will ask questions that are relevant to the time period and to the lesson.


Web Links:
AccuNet/AP Multimedia Archive
http://ap.accuweather.com/
New Deal Network
http://newdeal.feri.org/



This lesson plan was written by Dolores Carnahan, and is copyrighted by and provided courtesy of Columbia Education Center.


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