Great Depression Time Capsule

INTRODUCTION: The Great Depression

In October 1929 the stock market crashed, wiping out 40 percent of the paper values of common stock. Even after the stock market collapse, however, politicians and industry leaders continued to issue optimistic predictions for the nation's economy. But the Depression deepened, confidence evaporated and many lost their life savings. By 1933 the value of stock on the New York Stock Exchange was less than a fifth of what it had been at its peak in 1929. Business houses closed their doors, factories shut down and banks failed. Farm income fell some 50 percent. By 1932 approximately one out of every four Americans was unemployed.

TASK:

You are invited to create a time capsule using the information listed below. You will be asked to delve back into the era of the Great Depression and analyze specific parts of the depression. The idea is that someone will open this box in the year 2029, and get a sense of what the time period was really like.

PROCESS:

Use the web sites provided you will create an actual time capsule. You will need to find a shoebox or something to house your materials for the capsule Use the websites below to create your information.

  1. Write a diary entry of the events during the GD.
  2. Write a first hand account of how your life is during the GD. If you know someone who lived during that time-period you may interview him or her for a first hand account of life during that time period.
  3. Write a newspaper article of the events during the GD.
  4. Write a newspaper article about events of the time period. You need to include a headline and facts to support your story.

Pictorial website

Using the pictorial website choose 2 photos and pretend you were the photographer who took the picture. (Identify the pictures you chose.)Explain what you saw when looking through your lens. What did you want to capture at that moment? “A picture is worth a thousand words”… what does your picture say?

Art website

The art website is set up to have you look at artwork from the time period. Choose two pieces of artwork you like and use the How to Analyze Artwork site. This will help you “look” at the artwork and get a better understanding of what they mean.

How to Analyze Artwork

3D

The last piece of your time capsule is to place a 3D object in your shoebox. It must be something that represents the overall time period. Write an explanation of why you chose that object and its relevance to the Great Depression. Be creative and remember it must fit inside a shoebox.