Activity Overview
In this activity, students will define numerous New Deal programs as falling under one of the three strategies proposed by President Roosevelt as “relief”, “recovery”, or “reform”. Students may choose the events that they researched from the Programs of the New Deal activity or choose entirely new programs. For each storyboard, students should create a visualization of the program and include whether the program falls under “relief”, “recovery”, or “reform”. As shown in the example, students should also display a text box which shows “relief”, “recovery”, or “reform”. This activity will help students understand the effects of the New Deal, both on the American people and infrastructure.
Relief
CWA - Civil Works Association
The Civil Works Association provided relief to Americans by providing them with jobs that focused on the repair of bridges and roads.
Recovery
TVA - Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority was created by the Federal Government in 1933 and helped to provide recovery to the Tennessee Valley with electricity generation, flood control, irrigation, and economic development.
Reform
FDIC - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The FDIC's goal was to give Americans confidence in the American banking system following the Wall Street Crash. The FDIC reformed the banking system by insuring depositors of insurance banks in case the banks were to go bankrupt again.
Extended Activity
For this extended activity, students should research contemporary programs established by the Federal Government. For each of the programs students research, they should complete the activity again where they need to describe what the program does and whether it is a relief, recovery, or reform. Students should be encouraged to select programs that either impacts their lives directly or is focused on a topic that is of interest to them.
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 that identifies which strategy each New Deal program falls into (relief, recover, or reform) and why.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title boxes, identify the different New Deal Programs.
- Use a textable to identify which strategy the program falls into.
- Write a summary of the Program and why it fits into that that category.
- Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
In this activity, students will define numerous New Deal programs as falling under one of the three strategies proposed by President Roosevelt as “relief”, “recovery”, or “reform”. Students may choose the events that they researched from the Programs of the New Deal activity or choose entirely new programs. For each storyboard, students should create a visualization of the program and include whether the program falls under “relief”, “recovery”, or “reform”. As shown in the example, students should also display a text box which shows “relief”, “recovery”, or “reform”. This activity will help students understand the effects of the New Deal, both on the American people and infrastructure.
Relief
CWA - Civil Works Association
The Civil Works Association provided relief to Americans by providing them with jobs that focused on the repair of bridges and roads.
Recovery
TVA - Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority was created by the Federal Government in 1933 and helped to provide recovery to the Tennessee Valley with electricity generation, flood control, irrigation, and economic development.
Reform
FDIC - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The FDIC's goal was to give Americans confidence in the American banking system following the Wall Street Crash. The FDIC reformed the banking system by insuring depositors of insurance banks in case the banks were to go bankrupt again.
Extended Activity
For this extended activity, students should research contemporary programs established by the Federal Government. For each of the programs students research, they should complete the activity again where they need to describe what the program does and whether it is a relief, recovery, or reform. Students should be encouraged to select programs that either impacts their lives directly or is focused on a topic that is of interest to them.
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 that identifies which strategy each New Deal program falls into (relief, recover, or reform) and why.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title boxes, identify the different New Deal Programs.
- Use a textable to identify which strategy the program falls into.
- Write a summary of the Program and why it fits into that that category.
- Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about The Three Rs: Relief Recovery Reform
How to connect New Deal programs to students’ own communities
Make history relevant by relating New Deal programs to issues or infrastructure in your students’ neighborhoods. This helps students see the lasting impact of government action in their daily lives and builds critical thinking skills.
Guide students to identify local examples of relief, recovery, or reform
Encourage students to look for local buildings, parks, or policies that might be modern results of New Deal-style programs. Ask them to research or ask family members about public works, banks, or community centers and categorize them as relief, recovery, or reform.
Facilitate small group discussions about program impacts
Organize students into groups to share and discuss the local examples they found. This promotes collaboration and helps students deepen their understanding by hearing diverse perspectives.
Support students in creating community impact storyboards
Have students design storyboards that visually connect a local program or project to its New Deal category and explain its impact. This step reinforces learning through creativity and real-world application.
Invite students to present and reflect on their learning
Allow students to present their storyboards to the class and reflect on how government programs shape communities. This builds confidence, communication skills, and a personal connection to history.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Three Rs: Relief Recovery Reform
What are the three Rs in the New Deal and what do they mean?
The three Rs in the New Deal stand for Relief, Recovery, and Reform. Relief provided immediate help to those suffering, Recovery aimed to restore the economy, and Reform sought to prevent future economic crises.
How can I teach students to categorize New Deal programs as relief, recovery, or reform?
To teach students, have them research New Deal programs, create storyboards that visually represent each program, and identify whether each is relief, recovery, or reform based on its purpose and impact.
What is an example of a relief program from the New Deal?
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) is a relief program, providing jobs to Americans through projects like repairing bridges and roads during the Great Depression.
How do the three Rs of the New Deal impact students’ understanding of history?
Learning about the three Rs helps students see how government responses address different needs during crises, deepening their understanding of economic recovery and lasting reforms in American history.
What is a simple classroom activity for teaching the New Deal's three Rs?
Try a storyboard activity where students pick New Deal programs, illustrate each, and label them as relief, recovery, or reform, including a brief summary of why they fit that category.
More Storyboard That Activities
New Deal
- Irrigation • MarkDoliner • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
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