Great Depression Scrapbook Project

The Scene: It’s 1939 and the Great Depression is nearing the end. It’s time for you to put your memories, good and/or bad, together. Many of your most vivid memories will be captured for your children and grandchildren to look at in the years to come.

The Task: Your assignment is to create an authentic looking scrapbook to share with your children and grandchildren. As you design your scrapbook, consider these factors:

  • The Great Depression had an enormous impact on the culture and society of the United States.
  • Why as there a “great” depression?
  • Why and how did Americans feel the impact of the Great Depression? The New Deal?

Choose a Character: from the list below, or develop your own character.

  • Migrant worker from Oklahoma
  • Farmer from the South
  • High school student from New Jersey
  • Skilled union worker from the Northeast
  • Senior citizen from California
  • Resident of the Tennessee River Valley
  • Young male head of household
  • WWI Veteran from Portland, Oregon
  • Stockbroker from New York
  • Broadway actor
  • Sculptor or painter from Chicago
  • 12 year old factory worker
  • African American originally from the South, now residing in a northern city
  • Member of the Hoover presidential cabinet

The Process: Make sure your scrapbook includes the following:

  • A description or timeline of the period of time your scrapbook covers (include 10 major events)
  • 4 authentic and relevant historic photographs (see American Memory, Life, Time, etc.)
  • 2 actual news clippings
  • 1 personal letter—created and written by you, based on historical facts
  • 1 document relevant to your experience during the period (speech, legislation, poster, etc.)
  • 3 artifacts with explanations. These might include artwork, high school diploma, union membership card, social security check, stock certificate, mural, paystub, homestead, radio, song lyrics, etc.)

Requirements: Style and sources:

  • Every item in your scrapbook should be dated and annotated with at least 3 sentences explaining its importance…made relevant to you wherever possible/appropriate.
  • Your works cited page should appear in the back of your scrapbook.

Suggested sources:

  • No general sources are allowed (i.e. Wikipedia, infoplease.com).
  • (will help you document illustrations and text sources)
  • (oral histories)
  • (photographs)
  • Newdeal.feri.org

Great Depression Scrapbook Rubric

Authentic photographs01234

News clippings012

Personal letter01234

Historic document0123

Artifacts0123

Historical accuracy0123

Creativity/Effort0123

Bibliography0123

Your scrapbook should be historically accurate but feel free to be creative!