Bill of Rights Institute
Progressivism and The New Deal
Bust those trusts! Scholars investigate the Progressive Era leading to the New Deal in America. They examine the impact legislation had on attempting to control big business in the United States. Are there any parallels to today?
PBS
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History—Snapshot Lessons
The Roosevelt family was one of the most influential and prominent political forces in the 20th century, leaving behind a wide-ranging legacy of conservation, progressivism, and economic growth. Learn more about President Theodore...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
New Deal Programs in Alabama
New Deal programs are the focus of an activity that prompts middle and high schoolers to consider the end of the Great Depression. Groups examine primary source materials to gain an understanding of how these programs were implemented in...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
A Cry for Help in Alabama - 1934
What should be the role of the federal government during an economic crisis? That is the question at the center of this introduction to a study of the New Deal. Class members examine letters to the state government asking for help,...
Historical Thinking Matters
Social Security: 1 Day Lesson
Should the United States provide relief for those who are unemployed? Trace this question back to the Great Depression with your young historians, who will engage in careful reading of historical documents and classroom discussion to...
Curated OER
The Great Depression and New Deal
Elementary pupils are introduced to the Great Depression as a critical period of hardship in United States history. They engage in collaborative assignments researching the Dust Bowl, the New Deal, US presidents, and presidential libraries.
Curated OER
The Great Depression and FDR's New Deal
Find out about FDR's vision and the New Deal plan that helped pull America out of the Great Depression. The presentation focuses New Deal programs such as the Works Progress Administration, Agricultural Adjustment Administration, and the...
Curated OER
The Dust Bowl: An Economic and Environmental American Tragedy
Many of us focus on the causes and effects of the Dust Bowl as it relates to people. Why not shift the focus of cause and effects to how the Dust Bowl affected the environment. Here is a different take on the tried-and-true Dust Bowl...
Curated OER
Why Study Economic Downturns?
Research and connect America's current economic downturn with the 1929 Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression.
Curated OER
The Great Depression and Everyday Life
Examine everyday life during the Great Depression, as well as the effects if the Depression on American population, society, and economy. Learners write who, what, where, when, and why summaries of a person who relocated to California...
Curated OER
Jazz In America
Students gain a fundamental understanding of the role of jazz in the Harlem Renaissance. They explain its historical significance and cultural implications.
Curated OER
Great Depression: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Add this presentation to your unit on the Great Depression as a strong informational supplement. With clear learning objectives, details on the 1929 stock market crash, and the effects of the Great Depression (though it's spelled...
Center for History Education
Debating Social Security: Understanding and Evaluating the Social Security Act of 1935
With throngs of Americans out of work and hungry, Franklin D. Roosevelt made the bold move to establish a social safety net with programs such as Social Security. The move was—and still is—controversial. Using documents from the 1930s,...
Curated OER
Enhancing Poetry with American Memories
Pupils explore poetry using American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project. They compose their own unque "found poetry" based on the stories found in the collection.
Curated OER
FDR: Fireside Chats, the New Deal, and Eleanor
Learners examine the role of the Roosevelts in Washington. In this U.S. history instructional activity, students explore the Fireside Chats, Social Security Act, Civilian Conservation Corps, Land-Lease Act, and the involvement of Eleanor...
Curated OER
FDR's Tree Army: Personal Turning Points in the CCC
What's the "deal" with the Civilian Conservation Corps? Primary sources help historians discover the impact of this landmark legislation. After an introductory slideshow and 7-minute video, groups analyze packets of images and a primary...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The Great Depression and the New Deal
Experience the soaring highs and crashing lows of the 1920's and 1930's in this stark presentation. Though brief at eight slides (two are title slides), the graphs and maps would make a good accompaniment to your unit on the Great...
Curated OER
The New Deal: The Works Progress Administration
How did American begin to come out of the Great Depression? Viewers will be intrigued to find one of the answers in this presentation, which details the Works Progress Administration. The slides detail various parts of the WPA with...
Curated OER
America's Economy: Sorrow And Hope
Students discover how Americans found the hope that broke the Great Depression. In this American economics lesson, students watch "America's Economy: Sorrow and Hope." Students then discuss the implications of the depression and...
Curated OER
The Great Depression
Seventh graders investigate the implications of economic fallout. In this Great Depression lesson, 7th graders analyze political cartoons and documents about the era. Students then conduct further primary source research about the toll...
Curated OER
The Great Depression (1920–1940)
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 7 short answer and essay questions about the Great Depression. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Curated OER
President FDR and the New Deal
Students explore the New Deal and President FDR. In this Great Depression lesson plan, students listen to an FDR Broadcast (Fireside Chat) and read sections in their textbooks. Then, in small groups students design and create a broadcast...
Curated OER
Off to Work We Go!
Students create a book about The Great Depression in West Virginia. In this West Virginia history instructional activity, students visit the West Virginia State Museum, answer questions about West Virginia history, and create a book...
Curated OER
The Three R's: Relief, Recovery and Reform through the New Deal Programs
Students explore how the United States recovered from the Great Depression. For this history lesson, students research a chosen program that was implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt, then create an informational brochure or pamphlet...