Great Depression Decade Spotlight

How did the 1930s shape American life during a time of hardship and innovation?

In this spotlight activity, students will explore the major social, cultural, and economic changes of the 1930s. Using a student-friendly one-page overview, they will learn about the impact of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, FDR’s New Deal programs, the rise of swing music and radio entertainment, and the beginnings of World War II. Students will also discover key cultural moments like the debut of Superman, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and major inventions such as the television and jet engine. They will answer short-answer questions based on the spotlight content and analyze how these changes impacted American life during a challenging decade.

Included in this resource:

Spotlight On: 1930s with scaffolding questions
Answer key for teachers (suggested)
★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you!

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