(www.michigan.gov) This is a farm couple living during the Great Depression. What do you think they meant when they said "We made do?" The Great Depression was a time of change for many people living in the United States.  People in urban and rural areas were affected during this time in American history.

You are a ten year old child living in 1930. The class should divide into four equal groups.  Each group will choose one U.S regional area (Northeast, West, Midwest, and South). Tell what your daily life would be like. Describe your community: Where is it? What does it look like? What is the population and the occupations (jobs)? Describe your family life: What is your home like? Who lives there? What do you eat? What are your family's daily schedules? Do you go to school? How do you learn?  Compare and contrast your life then and now.
 
 

Students who have the same region will work together to gather  information about how the Depression affected a ten year old child in their chosen region. You may use the resources listed below to research your region.
    Each student will be responsible for developing a Venn Diagram comparing life from the past and the present.   
    Once your group has collected information about life during the time of the Depression, then it is time for the group to come together and share their findings. Your group will present the information to the class by written report or oral presentation. 

 Here are some ideas that you may use to present your material:

                  Flowcharts
                Multimedia Presentations
                Web Page
                Summary Tables
                Concept Maps
                Venn Diagrams
 
 
 

Here are some resources you may use to complete your research.
 

	Prices in 1930
	I Remember and/or ( Interview someone who lived during the Great Depression)
	Classroom Encyclopedias
	Books - Children of the Dust Bowl by: Jerry Stanley, Christmas with Ida Early by: Robert Burch, Treasures in the Dust, Song of the Trees by: Mildred Taylor, Ida Early Comes over the Mountain by: Robert Burch, The Dust Bowl

Your grade will be based on your ability to work within a group, to complete the Venn diagram and compose a short presentation describing life during the Great Depression based on your research. A rubric will be provided to assess your understanding of these areas.  The three grades will be averaged into one grade for the entire project.

At the completion of this project you should have a better understanding of a child's life during the Great Depression.  If you wish to explore this topic further you may attempt these activites.
 

	Create a grocery list of basic food needs.  Compare the prices of these foods with prices from the Great Depression.
	If you lost all of your money and your job, how would you earn money to help support your family?  Discuss this with your group and come to an agreement on the best possible ways to achieve this goal.
	Take a walk around your house and make a list of all of the unnecessary items for daily living.  List all of the items in your house that are necessary for survival.  Be prepared to share your ideas with your group.

Developed by: Nancy Olsen, Rita Welker
(April, 2004)