Unit Plan Document
Class: US & VA History
Grade Level: 11
Unit: The Great Depression
Anticipated Length of Unit: 5 Class Periods
Purpose: Students will learn about the Great Depression. They will understand the cause and consequences of the Stock Market Crash of 1929. They will also learn about the Great Depression and the causes and impacts of it. They will think analytically using cause and effect, compare and contrast, and document analysis.
Goals and Objectives
1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of key domestic events of the 1920s and 1930s by
assessing the causes and consequences of the stock market crash of 1929.
2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of key domestic events of the 1920s and 1930s by
explaining the causes of the Great Depression and its impact on the American people.
3. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Great Depression and how it affected people in different areas.
4. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Great Depression and how the Hoover administration tried to solve its problem.
5. The student will demonstrate knowledge of key vocabulary terms that were created during the Great Depression to describe different events, places, and problems.
Specific Objectives: (a handful of examples)
1. The students will take notes on the PowerPoint about the Stock Market crash and be prepared to discuss the material by knowing at least three causes and three consequences of the crash.
2. Students will complete a Cause and Effect Chart on the Stock Market Crash of 1929 including at least 5 accurate facts about each.
3. The students will create a graphic organizer on the causes of the Great Depression and will include at least 5 causes to be graded for complete accuracy.
4. The students will complete a group project on cities affected by the Great Depression. Each group will be assigned a city (New York, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and more will be added if necessary). Using the internet, they will research the questions on their worksheet and create a poster. They will present this poster to the class. Each student will be responsible for knowing at least three facts about each city.
5. Students will complete the Venn Diagram on comparing city and rural life, and they will include at least 5 accurate responses for each section.
Strategies and Activities:
1. Students will complete a Cause and Effect Chart on the Stock Market Crash of 1929 including at least 5 accurate facts about each. They can use their book and notes. They will be allowed to work in pairs. Then the class will discuss their answers so they all have the same chart.
2.Students will complete an ABCs of the Great Depression chart, and then watch a video on the Great Depression that should help them add more letters to their chart.
3. The students will create a graphic organizer on the causes of the Great Depression.
4. Students will write a diary as though they are from the Great Depression. They will have to create a biography for themselves, and also write several diary entries.
5. The students will complete a group project on cities affected by the Great Depression. Each group will be assigned a city (New York, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and more will be added if necessary). Using the internet, they will research the questions on their worksheet and create a poster. They will present this poster to the class. Each student will be responsible for knowing at least three facts about each city.
6. The students will answer the question “What do you think would be the hardest part of living in a city during the Great Depression?”
7. Students will complete the Venn Diagram on comparing city and rural life, and they will include at least 5 accurate responses for each section.
8. The students will complete a Political Cartoon analysis on political cartoons from the era. This will be a jigsaw cooperative group activity.
Resources:
Multi-Media
· Video Clips (Great Depression, Dust Bowl, Black Blizzard, and Hoover Dam)
Lecture
· PowerPoint
· Marker
Activities
· Posters
· Markers
· Scissors
· Paper
Worksheets
· All Handouts and Worksheets are in Instructional Material section
Evaluation Procedures:
Evaluations will come in several forms. There will be a pre-test and a final test. There will also be several formative assessments. There will also be an alternative assessment assignment. These will all be displayed in Assessments section.