GREAT DEPRESSION
CLASS SIMULATION
DIRECTIONS
Get into Groups of 2
 You are now a married couple at the end of the
1920s.
 You will be faced with the trials of the Great
Depression.

BUDGET SHEET
You will receive a budget sheet – for those of you
who aren’t comfortable with math you may use a
calculator
 You will have to keep your budget sheet up to
date in order to continue this activity
 (Budget Sheet = 15 points)

ON YOUR BUDGET SHEET…
Write your real names and your married names
down
 Figure out who is the husband and who is the
wife
 You must follow the directions or every round of
this game.
 On your budget sheet there are 3 things that you
MUST pay for every round

1.
2.
3.
Food
Water
Clothing
ROUND 1 - 1929
You have $100 right now
 But you have a job so you add $10
 Every expense listed on the Budget Worksheet
(except Recreation) must be paid this round
 Remember it is the end of the 1920’s – you’re a
young married couple who likes to go out and
have fun.
 If you like you can add recreation expenses




If you go to a speak easy make sure to pay (illegal
hooch)
If you have a sweet tooth – buy some candy
Like movies? – Movie Tickets for Sale!!!
TIME TO ADD IT ALL UP
Add up your expenses + recreation during round
1 and place that amount at the bottom of the
chart on Page 1 on of the Budget worksheet
 Now on page 2 (flip over the worksheet)

Put the total amount spent in round one on the
“Minus $ spent” section
 If you would like to deposit money into the bank for
safekeeping you can put that on the “Minus Bank
Deposit” section of your worksheet and take the
money to the bank
 If you would like to sell furniture you may do so now
and get money from the bank or from the person you
sold it to…

ROUND 2 - 1930
 STOCK
MARKET CRASH!!!
 All husbands have been fired and you will
not be receiving any money this round
 Banks are CLOSED – they have loaned
too much money and any money you
deposited is GONE
 Good news though…. You just had a baby

Medical bills = $10
 Food,
Water and Clothing bills are now
for 3 people not 2
BAD NEWS!!!
If you did not pay your car loan, your car has
been repossessed. If you did not sell it already,
cross it off from the list and turn in the
photograph. You may not sell it in future rounds.
 If you didn’t pay your electric bill and have been
using candles instead – your furniture caught on
fire – turn in your sofa
 If you did not pay your Mortgage this round you
have a last notice- you will lose your house if you
don’t pay next month (its now only worth half
price)

ADD IT UP
Subtract water, food, and clothes for three people.
Pay bills and add in Recreational Activities.
 Once you have the amount spent flip the sheet
over and subtract losses.
 You may add in furniture sales if you like.
 If you didn’t eat your candy or drink your “hooch”
you may sell it as well.
 Add everything up…

ROUND 3 - 1935

1.
2.
3.
4.
Rules for this round:
Couples must pay all their bills – there will be
consequences if you don’t
You may place your child in the orphanage if you
cannot afford to keep it
If you cannot afford clothing… you may draw or
make clothing. In order to get points for it you must
tape it to yourself.
You may now sell your house if you like – you have
choices
1.
2.
Hooverville – if you do this you must put your desks
together and sit under them.
Move into another couple’s house and share the mortgage
ROUND 3
Add up expenses
 Add up sales and complete the worksheet for
Round 3
 EXCITING NEWS!!!


3 Jobs AVAILABLE!!

The first 3 husbands to run to me will get these jobs
 $5 each
Consequences… if you did not pay your taxes,
then you owe the government (me) $10 or you
will go to jail
 Finish up your worksheets

ROUND 4 - 1937
You must pay your bills
 Record all expenses and total everything up on
the worksheet
 How much does each couple have left?
 3 Poorest families will receive food from the
bread line and not have to pay for food and water
this round
 Who has bought candy or ‘Hooch” since round 2?


If you did you feel good and you now found a job for
rounds 4 and 5 – pays $5
ROUND 5 - 1941

Add up all expenses like the past few rounds.
ANNOUNCEMENT!!!: Attack on Pearl Harbor!!!:
Any man willing to join the military can have a
job
 $10 for those who joined

FINISH UP THE BUDGETING SHEET…

Who survived???

Who is doing well?

What did you think?