Science Struck
Science Struck: 15 Worst Natural Disasters in History of u.s.
Presents a list of the fifteen worst natural disasters to strike the United States and its territories, along with descriptions, year, number of casualties, cost, and where each occurred.
Library of Congress
Loc: Voices of the Dust Bowl: Scrapbook
Explore this online scrapbook filled with articles and ephemera relating to the 1930s migrant farm issue in California.
Texas State Historical Association
Texas State Historical Association: Dust Bowl
Find out how the ecological and economic disaster known as the Dust Bowl affected Texans and the state of Texas.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Creating Dramatic Monologues From the Grapes of Wrath
This lesson plan engages students in creating dramatic monologues from certain scenes in The Grapes of Wrath. Primary sources from the Library of Congress are used to provide essential background content about the setting of the story.
Library of Congress
Loc: Learning Page: Primary Source Set Dust Bowl Migration
Set of primary documents, photos, audio and sheet music having to do with the movement of homeless families during the Great Depression. Teaching guide included.
The History Cat
The History Cat: The Great American Dust Bowl
Describes the causes and the events of the Great American Dust Bowl, when farmland was destroyed through misguided practices, famine set in, and dust storms drove people to desperation.
The History Cat
The History Cat: The New Deal
Discusses Franklin D. Roosevelt's First and Second New Deals and the different programs that got people back to work and put food on their tables. Looks at the successes and failures of these programs and the criticisms leveled at...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: The Great Depression
This is a collection of 12 Grade-Leveled texts (3-11) on the topic The Great Depression. On October 29, 1929, the Roaring Twenties ended with the crash of the American stock market, initiating The Great Depression. The world struggled to...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: About the Dust Bowl
Thorough discussion of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s with accompanying map, photos, and timeline that describe it in detail.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck
The Joad family leaves Oklahoma in search of work after their farm is destroyed by the Dust Bowl. They arrive in California only to find that fair jobs, food, and sympathy are scarce. Selected (9) reading passages (grades 8-11) to pair...
Digital History
Digital History: The Farmer and the Depression [Pdf]
One of the first laws passed in Franklin Roosevelt's first hundred days was the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Read about how it helped farmers in crisis. and how it was the forerunner of the federal farm program in existence today. [pdf]
Oklahoma State University
Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture: Farm Security Administration
An overview of the ambitious goals of the Farm Security Administration as part of the New Deal. Find out the many ways the FSA wanted to help farmers help themselves. Because this article is from the Oklahoma Historical Society, special...
Digital History
Digital History: The Farmers' Plight
Read about the plight of American farmers in the Great Depression. Franklin Roosevelt instituted several programs to help the rural population, the most important of which was the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Find out whom this act...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: The Real Dirt on Farmer John: Family Farms in America
Trace the evolution in American agriculture with this interactive timeline. Learn how the history of one small Illinois farm reflects the larger changes, decade by decade.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath": Verbal Pictures
In this lesson plan, students will consider "John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath": Verbal Pictures. The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: English Language Arts: Grade 6: Out of the Dust
Focused on the Dust Bowl and how families fought for a meaningful existence and survival, this unit will offer students different perspectives on how people respond to adversity, the lessons that can be learned from hardship and failure,...
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Out of the Dust: Visions of Dust Bowl History
The Dust Bowl experience is brought to life through historical photos and Karen Hesse's award-winning "Our of the Dust", a historical fiction depicting a child's life during this time in American history.
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: The Grapes of Wrath
A Library of Congress lesson on "The Grapes of Wrath," through which students discover how cultural artifacts from the book support its themes and see connections "between the social, cultural, and literary contexts of literature."
eSchool Today
E School Today: Your Cool Facts and Tips on Droughts
Provides a definition of a drought while exploring types, causes and effects, economic, environmental, and social impact, and how to manage one.
HyperHistory Online
Hyperhistory.com: Timelines of the Great Depression
Peruse this timeline of the Great Depression and gather information about this era in United States History. Short, interesting paragraphs summarize U.S. and world events with an emphasis on economic issues.
C-SPAN
C Span American Writers: The Grapes of Wrath
A brief summary of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Does not include an on-line text of the work but does provide links to informational websites.
Ibis Communications
Eyewitness to History: America in the 1930s: Great Depression
This history of the Great Depression looks at its effect on American citizens, including the changes to women's societal roles. Includes photographs.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Social and Cultural Effects of the Depression
Read about how the fabric of the nation was changed during the Great Depression. See how the institutions of life--marriage, birth rates, education, public health--all saw disruption because of the compromised economy.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: The Dust Bowl
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a flipchart covering the Dust Bowl of the Midwest in the 1930's. It includes various pictures of the dust, Okies, and migrant workers.