The Great Depression of the 1930s WebQuest

 

Introduction

It is early 1930's. The Great Depression has hit your town hard. You and your family have been affected by many of the same problems that affected families all across America . Many families have been forced from their homes, parents have lost their jobs, and the basic necessities you took for granted a few years ago are now just a wishful memory.

Before beginning this journey back to a time of great despair and hardship in America , take a moment to read The Great Depression: A Brief Overview. Once you have read this overview go forward on to find out your task.

Task

Your Depression Era task is two-fold. You will complete the following tasks this order:

1.  Complete the Then and Now chart by shopping online and using today's cost.  

2.  Making use of information available, you will prepare a monthly budget for your family of four after you and your families were forced to move in search of a job.

Process

You are to complete the activity " We Get By"

"We  Get By"

In "We Get By" you will use a Budget Planning  Sheet to create a monthly budget for your family of four which has been forced to relocate in search of job opportunities.

1.      Take a look at the Occupation and Salary Chart to determine what you do for a living and how much you earn each week at your new job. 

2.      Using the 1932 Price List and the Budget Planning Sheet work out a monthly budget to include rent or mortgage, food, entertainment, and other needs your family may have. Your family must either buy a new or used automobile, or show in the budget expenses for automobile maintenance. Remember you have had to relocate, so you may have to spend some of your family's savings to replace lost, or left behind, family possessions.  

3.  Then, use the budget planning sheet to create a monthly budget for your family using TODAY'S prices.

So - when you are finished you will have planned two (2) budget for your family.  One using the Depression era prices and one using today's prices.

 Resources

"We Get By"

Occupation and
Salary Chart

1932 Price List

1930's price

Budget Preparation
Sheet

Kid's Search Tools

Evaluation

  1

14 Points

16 Points

18 Points

20 Points

"We Get By"

Incomplete Budget Planning Sheets, not within budget, many significant math errors

Partially completed Budget Planning Sheets, not within budget, with a few important math errors

Completed Budget Planning Sheets, within budget, with a few minor math errors

Completed Budget Planning Sheets, within budget, free of math errors

Conclusion

When you are finished with all of the above steps, you need to read the attached article Radio in the 1920’s.  Start thinking about a radio broadcast of your very own – that is our next project!