Lesson Plan #: AELP-USH0047
Date: April 25, 2000
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Subject(s):
Description: 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.
Goals: 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.
Objectives: 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, that can be given to the students in groups
Procedure:
Class begins with a five minute overview of the 1920's and background information regarding the causes of the Great Depression.
Students then will divided into groups of 4 or six students.
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.
Then the students will participate in reciprocal learning by teaching each other what they have learned.
Following the group work, the teacher will answer and ask question 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.