#2496. The Great Depression and FDR

History, level: Senior
Posted Thu Feb 28 13:49:09 PST 2002 by Tera Dick (ts78@email.byu.edu).
BYU Education Student, Provo, UT
Materials Required: Video of AJourney of Natty Gann, Video of AAnnie, Crossword handout for review, Handouts for student
Activity Time: 50 minutes
Concepts Taught: Great Depression and FDR's New Deal

From the Great Depression to FDR

Abstract:
To help the students recognize some of the causes and effects of the Great Depression, and thereby understand the motive behind Roosevelt=s ANew Deal@ program for the United States.

Intended Learning Outcomes:
Students should be able to:
1) Know the President of the U.S. at the start of the Great Depression and his
follower.
2) Know the purpose of the ANew Deal@
3) Complete a handout outlining seven of FDR=s major reforms
4) Complete their review sheet of the Great Depression and the New Deal

Background:
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 began one of the lowest periods of time in American history - the Great Depression. This era was characterized by a major increase in unemployment and poverty levels. Many people from the Oklahoma, Texas, etc area headed west looking for work opportunities. The nation was in a state of despair.

Materials:
Handouts on each of the seven reforms
Handouts for students to complete their Round-Robin activity
Video of AJourney of Natty Gann@
Video of AAnnie@
Crossword handout for review

Introduction:
Review the Stock Market Crash of 1929 discussed yesterday in class. Explain the affect that this had on the economy. Introduce the period in American history of The Great Depression.

Instructional Procedure:
1) Review the Stock Market Crash of 1929
2) Go into how that event contributed to the emersion of the Great Depression. Ask the students about the characteristics of this time.
3) Show the video clip from AJourney of Natty Gann@ where she talks about riding the rails and watches as her friend in evicted from his house. Ask the students about what they saw in the clip.

4) Talk about the President Hoover and his idea for America (to promote big business). Then compare that with his follower who wanted to help the average people. Ask the students about what methods Roosevelt would use to salvage
the American economy.
5) Introduce the ANew Deal@, AThe First Hundred Days (the honeymoon period for FDR), and the 15 measures he got passed during this time.
6) Now divide the class evenly into six groups. Assign each group certain measure from Roosevelt=s New Deal (FERA, CCC and PWA, NIRA and NRA, AAA, TVA, and FDIC). Hand out the papers with the questions for all of the six measures. Explain that each group is responsible to answering only those questions which correspond to their assigned measure. Give them about 8 minutes to complete the questions.
7) Now have the members of the group number off (1, 2, 3, etc). Have all of the #1 people meet in one section of the room, have all of the #2 people meet in another corner of the room and so on. There should be one person from all of the six measures present in each of the newly formed groups. Now have each member teach the other group members the material that they researched on their assigned measure. The other members of the group should be answering the questions on their papers as this is happening. Continue until every member teaches their section. This should take about 15-20 minutes.
8) Wrap up and have the students move their desks back into their original order.

Assessment:
Give each student a crossword puzzle which they will complete for the remainder of the period and finish for homework. This is their assessment activity reviewing the information learned during the period.