Blair+Photo+and+Poster+Lesson+Plan

Grade: 11th grade Class: US History Unit: Great Depression/New Deal

Objectives: Materials: Great Depression photographs (ignore last slide) New Deal Posters
 * The students will be able to list groups of people affected by the Great Depression.
 * The students will be able to describe how Americans were affected by the Great Depression.
 * The students will be able to list and describe programs used to help Americans during the Great Depression.

Procedures: Students will analyze photographs of the Great Depression and posters about New Deal programs aimed at helping those suffering from the Great Depression. Students will use SEA worksheets to analyze the Great Depression photographs. This will give them a better understanding of how people were affected by the Great Depression and some insight as to the emotions felt by these people.

Students will then use an NARA worksheet to analyze New Deal program posters. The worksheet will help them analyze what the program was intending to do and who it was intended to help. Finally, students will work in small groups to design a poster for the New Deal agency they think was most important. This will force students to think critically and evaluate the needs and effectiveness of the various programs and agencies that were created in response to the Great Depression. This lesson will again look at how propaganda was and is used to communicate messages to the masses. Students will look at how government reacts to emergencies and takes a larger role in the lives of Americans in the 20th century. Hi Blair: In your connections section, will you be including our present day economic problems into the discussion as well? How our government is responding today as compared to how they responded in the past? I like the pictures you've chosen for the Great Depression Powerpoint. They are very poignant. Thanks for sharing - Diane
 * Connections:**

Blair- I think you did a great job on your lesson. I like that you had students use the SEA and NARA method. It gives them practice with both types. I think it is a good idea for students to pick the New Deal agency they personally think was most important. When students are allowed choices in projects, they perform better because their opinion counts. Showing those pictures is a great way to have students practice their questioning strategies and do lots of inference. I am sure the pictures and posters would lead to some great discussions. Great Job! - Tina

Blair - I'm so glad to see that you included the "Migrant Mother" photograph in your collection of Depression-era photos. That photo is one of the most recognizable photos from the time period and really sets the tone for struggling families during the Depression. (Rob Crawley) 