How did societal and cultural change affected lives during the Great Depression

Introduction

Introduction:

This WebQuest was designed to give you the opportunity to step into the life of a child living through the Great Depression. 

You will research either life on the farm or in the city during the Great Depression based on the questions you have asked your parents.  Life will be different and you are going to have to adjust to your new lifestyle. Your family will face many obstacles.  

 

Task

Task

Your task is to discover what life was life for Americans during the Great Depression.  Your family either lives on the farm or in the city.  You will think about the questions you have for you family as you research what life was like.  

Process

Process

Picture it, you live in a lovely home. You eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day and sometimes even a snack, like ice cream or candy. Your house is nice and warm in the winter and there is always wood to add to the fire. You and your family sit by the fire and listen to the radio every evening. Dad goes to work in the morning and works hard so that your family can live comfortably. Mom cleans house and takes care of you. She makes sure you have everything you need and more. Sometimes you go to town on the weekend and see a movie or go shopping with your family. Things couldn't be any better. Life couldn't be any easier. 

Then one day all of this disappears. All of these wonderful things that you are so used to. Even some of your daily meals. There are some days you don't get to eat at all. Why did this happen to you? Why did this happen to almost every single family in the United States?

 The Great Depression began with the fall of the stock market in 1929. It affected children and families in our nation and all over the world. 

STEP 1

Now it is time to check out some web sites. This information will help you find answers to your questions that you asked your family.

  1.  Take a look at the questions that you had for your family about what life was going to be like during this sad time?
  2. Use the following website to research your answers.
  3. Write the questions and answers in your Social Studies notebook
  4. Discuss your findings with your family (table).  What else have you learned?

Websites:

http://newdeal.feri.org/eleanor/er2a.htm

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraid=14&smtid=1

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snprelief1.htm

http://bigmateo0.tripod.com/id2.html

http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/mypath.cfm?ounid=ob_000064

http://ncpedia.org/public-schools-great-depression

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_01.html

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_01.html

http://dp.la/exhibitions/exhibits/show/new-deal/relief-programs

http://depts.washington.edu/depress/hooverville.shtml

Step 2

You will now draw a picture with explanations of what life was like for a family in the 1930’s either in the city or on the farm.


-Include the answers to your questions in the explanations

-The picture should demonstrate a new understanding of the concept family life during the Great Depression.

Evaluation

Students will write a reflection on how society changed for Americans during the Great Depression.  You must include evidence to support your answers.  You can discuss your reflection from farm life or city life whichever you researched.

 

Conclusion

Great Job!  Your family made it through the Great Depression.  How are you going to get back on your feet!!