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    The Great Depression

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    Subject: History, Social Studies

    Lesson Length: 45 - 90 mins

    Topic: The Great Depression

    Grade Level: 6, 7, 8

    Standards / Framework:

    Brief Description: Students will learn about the Great Depression and demonstrate their understanding of this economic downfall.

    Know Before You Start: Students should have some knowledge of the Great Depression before completing this activity.

    Hook:

    • Read the sample comic and discuss the Great Depression.

      • What were its causes?

      • What were the effects?

    • List student answers on the board.

    • If time allows, have students conduct additional online research on its causes and effects. Add this additional research to the board.

    Activity:

    • Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a comic of 10 or more panels telling the story of the Great Depression and Black Tuesday. 

    • Using dialogue, students should explain four causes of Black Tuesday.

    • Remind students to use backgrounds that are appropriate and add to the story being told.

    Closure:

    • Have students share finished comics with a partner, in groups or with the whole class.

    • Display printed comics on a classroom bulletin board.

    Differentiation:

    • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.

    • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.

    • Provide a printout of the sample comic for student reference.

    Resources:

    • Comic to print or display: Comic.

    Suggested Content Packs:

    Suggested Story Starters:

    Related Ideas

    Sequencing Time and Events

    Students will use sequence words to describe the order of events in a story when speaking and writing.

    Transition Words

    Students will create a comic using transition words to convey sequence.