LESSON TWO: EFFECTS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION
Aim: The Banking Crisis and other urban effects of the Great Depression
Why/Purpose/Connection: This is the second lesson on a unit about the Great Depression. In the
first lesson the students learned about the stock market and the 1929 crash. Students have previously
been taught how to use the various NARA worksheets.
Materials/Resources/Readings:
Song lyric: My Forgotten Man
Song lyric: Brother Can You Spare A Dime
MP3s of the above songs
Political cartoon: Spending Cartoon
Photograph: Breadline Handout
Photograph: Central Park Hooverville Photograph
Crash Graph blank
Crash Graph filled
Text: Bank Panic Fireside Xcerpt
Audio recording: Bank Fireside Excerpt (2 minutes)
Text: docile during depression
NARA Photo Analysis Worksheet
NARA Cartoon Analysis Worksheet
NARA Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet
NARA Written Document Analysis Worksheet
Model/Demonstration: Students will get Crash Graph blanks.
The active teaching part. Teacher, using SmartBoard with blank or overhead projector with filled
copy of Crash Graph. Teacher will discuss with class the longer-term effect of the 1929 stock market
crash, leading students through the crash graph, revealing each step as the students come up with
them.
Teacher will say that as the economy worsened, people became concerned about their savings being
available because they were afraid the banks would fail. As some banks failed, people with accounts
at other banks began to fear that they would fail, too, People panicked and rushed the banks trying to
get their money out. Banks ran out of cash and that caused more panic which caused more banks to
fail, a vicious cycle. President Roosevelt took steps to calm the panic.
Teacher will distribute the Bank Panic Fireside Xcerpt text. Students will read along as the teacher
plays the Bank Fireside Excerpt recording.
Guided Practice
Teacher will engage students in a discussion of the connection between the bank failures of
1933 and of 2009.
Group work: Each group will get different material based on learning styles/interests or other
differentiation criteria:
Group 1. Song lyric: My Forgotten Man
Song lyric: Brother Can You Spare A Dime
MP3s of the above songs
Song Worksheet
Group 2. Political cartoon: Spending Cartoon; NARA Cartoon Analysis Worksheet
Group 3. Photograph: Breadline Handout; NARA Photo Analysis Worksheet
Group 4. Photograph: Central Park Hooverville Photograph; NARA Photo Analysis Worksheet
Group 5. Text: docile during depression
Students will complete the assigned worksheets or answer assigned questions.
Share/Closure: A spokesperson for each group reports on their conclusions/learning.
Assessment: Teacher will assess group processes and materials produced according to established
class criteria.
Next Steps: Lesson on the New Deal, alphabet agencies and an exploration of government’s role in
providing for individual well-being.