After understanding the factors that led to the 1920s economic boom, students will start to see the reasons the economy crashed. They will further this observation by outlining the causes and effects of the Great Depression. A T-Chart is a great way to organize this information, since it provides students with a side-by side comparison of the major economic downfall and the resulting effects. In this activity, students will connect these events, including visuals for additional comprehension.
Students should select several major causes of the Great Depression, including but not limited to:
Extended Activity
Have students identify the causes and effects of the “Great Recession” of 2008. Students should examine what caused this economic recession, including unemployment, corporate bailouts, toxic financial assets, and a damaged stock market. Connections to today’s economy are imperative and readily apparent when looking at and learning from the Great Depression.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard examining events that caused the Great Depression and the effects of those events.
Engage students in a thoughtful discussion about how the Great Depression shaped modern society. Connect historical events to students' lives and encourage deeper analysis.
Choose thought-provoking questions like “How did the Great Depression change government policies?” or “What economic safeguards exist today because of it?” This ensures a focused, meaningful discussion.
Explain expectations for respectful listening, taking turns, and backing up opinions with evidence. Clear rules help all voices be heard and create a safe environment for sharing ideas.
Display charts, photos, or brief video clips related to the Great Depression’s aftermath. Visuals make abstract impacts more concrete for students and prompt richer conversation.
Ask students to link lessons from the Great Depression to current economic issues. Making real-world connections deepens understanding and engagement.
Main causes of the Great Depression included the Stock Market Crash of 1929, bank failures, cuts in production, mass consumerism, consumer borrowing, and rising unemployment. Effects ranged from widespread job loss and poverty to changes in banking regulations and government economic policies.
Use a T-Chart to help students organize and compare the causes and effects of the Great Depression. Encourage visual aids and storyboards for deeper understanding, and prompt students to connect past events to current economic issues.
A T-Chart is a graphic organizer with two columns that allows students to list causes on one side and effects on the other, making it easy to visually compare and understand the relationships between historical events and their outcomes.
Students can use illustrations of bank runs, unemployment lines, stock market crashes, and images of families affected by the Depression to enhance comprehension and engagement in lessons.
Analyzing the Great Depression helps students draw parallels to modern economic challenges, such as the Great Recession of 2008, and understand the impact of financial systems, government policies, and consumer behavior on society.