The Great Depression: Creating a Newsreel
Work with your group to create a 5 minute newsreel that you will act
out in front of class. Your newsreel should highlight the impact of The
Great Depression on your assigned group. It should describe the kinds
of opportunities and/or hardships The Great Depression created for this
group of Americans.
Final Product: 5 minute newsreel skit
Step 1: Assign roles. Although you will all be working together, there should be a person responsible for the
following roles:
1. Researcher. You will lead the group during Step 2. Make sure all group members learn the key content about
your topic. Help brainstorm ideas for the script and participate in the newsreel.
2. Director. You will lead the group during Step 3. Help brainstorm ideas for the script and participate in the
newsreel.
3. Producer. You will lead the group during Step 4 and 5. Help brainstorm ideas for the script and participate in
the newsreel.
Step 2: Read the section in Chapters 32 & 33 for the topic assigned to you. You should write out a list of
opportunities and hardships for your assigned group.
Step 3: Brainstorm ideas for your 5 minute newsreel. It must include:
 Examples of at least 4 opportunities or hardships experienced by the group during The Great
Depression (mention at least one ideal)
 Any bolded words in your reading section
 The following 3 roles:
o
o
o

Anchor person – introduces the story and closes it
Reporter who conducts a “live” broadcast on location
A person from your topic group who has been directly affected and is interviewed by the reporter
At least one of the following: poster, chart, propaganda, graphs, props, music, etc.
Step 4: Write the script for your newsreel. The producer should review the script. Each person must have their own
copy of the script or can perform the lines without a script.
Step 5: The Producer should facilitate the group in rehearsing the newsreel. As you rehearse, the Producer should
make sure that:
 Everyone is actively involved
 Everyone speaks loudly and clearly
 The group of Americans is identified at the beginning of the newsreel
 All props or visuals are located and/or completed
Groups (there will be some overlapping information):
1. Farmers (402-403, 406-408, 415, 424)
2. Families (403-405, 410-411, 416, 420, 424)
3. Workers (402, 410-411, 416, 419, 422, 424)
4. Bankers and investors (414-415, 424)
5. New Deal Critics (417-421, 426-427)
6. Minorities (420, 423-425)
7. Politicians (409, 420-421, 425)
Newsreel Scoring Guide
 A: Advanced
o ___Includes all proficiency standards as well as two of the following:
 ___ Extremely professional product
 ___ Highly creative ideas



B: Proficient
o ___ Shows time and effort
o ___ Well researched
o ___ Performance is smooth and rehearsed
o ___ Group shows comprehension of the topic
o ___ Group is able to answer all questions posed by their classmates
o ___ Examples of at least 4 opportunities or hardships experienced by the group during The Great
Depression (mention at least one ideal)
o ___ Any bolded words in your reading section
o ___ A “live” broadcast from a reporter on location
o ___ An interview with an individual who was directly affected by the Great Depression
o ___ At least one of the following: poster, chart, propaganda, graphs, props, music, etc.
o ___ Everyone is actively involved
o ___ Everyone speaks loudly and clearly
o ___ The group of Americans is identified at the beginning of the newsreel
o ___ All props or visuals are located and/or completed
C: Basic
o ___ Includes 10-12 of the 14 proficiency standards
D: Below Basic
o ___ Includes 9 or fewer of the 14 proficiency standards
Group of
Americans
Farmers
(402-403,
406-408,
415, 424)
Families
(403-405,
410-411,
416, 420,
424)
Opportunities
Hardships
Workers
(402, 410411, 416,
419, 422,
424)
Bankers and
investors
(414-415,
424)
New Deal
Critics (417421, 426427)
Minorities
(420, 423425)
Politicians
(409, 420421, 425)