Grade 7 Social Studies Unit: 11 Lesson: 01 ©2012, TESCCC

  The Dust Bowl was an area of the country that was affected by drought in the 1930s, with being the most severe.  The states most affected were Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. The Dust Bowl: 1930s ©2012, TESCCC

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  The area most affected in Texas was the panhandle.  Cities such as Dalhart, Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa and the small communities surrounding them were heavily impacted. The Dust Bowl: 1930s ©2012, TESCCC

 Causes:  Severe drought (no rain)  High winds and temperatures well over 100 degrees.  Farming methods at that time did not use ground cover, crop rotation, or soil conservation methods.  The result was that the dry conditions and high winds caused the soil to turn to dust and blow away. The Dust Bowl: 1930s ©2012, TESCCC

 Effects:  Severe dust storms or “black blizzards” devastated communities.  Crops were ruined.  Livestock perished.  Family farms were lost. The Dust Bowl: 1930s ©2012, TESCCC

 Effects:  Adults and children died from dust pneumonia.  Children wore dust masks walking to school.  Homes were overcome with insects and pests such as scorpions, spiders, rattlesnakes.  Thousands of jackrabbits devoured family gardens. The Dust Bowl: 1930s ©2012, TESCCC

 Effects:  Acts of daily life such as breathing, eating, and working were no longer simple.  Children wore dust masks to and from school.  Women hung wet sheets over windows in a futile attempt to stop the dirt from entering their homes.  Farmers watched helplessly as their crops and land blew away. The Dust Bowl: 1930s ©2012, TESCCC

  West Texas was hit the hardest, but people all over the state were hurt economically during these years. The Dust Bowl: 1930s ©2012, TESCCC

 Pretend you are one of the children in this picture. Turn and talk to a partner and say one word describing how this makes you feel. ©2012, TESCCC

 Turn to your partner and describe the picture below. What does it remind you of? ©2012, TESCCC

 Turn to your partner and explain in a sentence why these severe dust storms were called “black blizzards.” A black blizzard over Prowers Co., Colorado, 1937 ©2012, TESCCC

 Turn and talk to your partner. What do you think happens inside the houses when a dust storm like this hits? Dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas Dust bowl surveying in Texas Location: Stratford, Texas Photo Date: April 18, 1935 ©2012, TESCCC

 Turn and talk to your partner. Why would the severe drought hurt cattle and other animals? ©2012, TESCCC