Activity Overview
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:
- Stock Market Crash of 1929
- Cuts in Production
- Mass Consumerism
- Bank Failures
- Consumer Borrowing
- Rise of Unemployment.
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.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard examining events that caused the Great Depression and the effects of those events.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first column, identify the different causes of the Great Depression and describe them.
- In the second column, identify and describe the effects of the events in the first column.
- Create illustrations for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
Activity Overview
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:
- Stock Market Crash of 1929
- Cuts in Production
- Mass Consumerism
- Bank Failures
- Consumer Borrowing
- Rise of Unemployment.
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.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard examining events that caused the Great Depression and the effects of those events.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first column, identify the different causes of the Great Depression and describe them.
- In the second column, identify and describe the effects of the events in the first column.
- Create illustrations for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
How Tos about Cause and Effect Analysis of the Great Depression
How to Facilitate a Class Discussion on the Long-Term Impact of the Great Depression
Engage students in a thoughtful discussion about how the Great Depression shaped modern society. Connect historical events to students' lives and encourage deeper analysis.
Prepare key open-ended questions before class
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.
Set clear participation guidelines
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.
Use visual aids to spark 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.
Encourage students to connect history to today
Ask students to link lessons from the Great Depression to current economic issues. Making real-world connections deepens understanding and engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cause and Effect Analysis of the Great Depression
What were the main causes and effects of the Great Depression?
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.
How can I teach students to analyze causes and effects of the Great Depression?
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.
What is a T-Chart and how does it help in teaching the Great Depression?
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.
What are some examples of visuals students can use for a Great Depression lesson?
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.
How does studying the Great Depression help students understand today’s economy?
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.
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