1. The Human Impacts of the Great Depression
How did ordinary American endure the effects of the Great Depression?

2. “Brother Can You Spare a Dime” (1930s)
Examine the photograph as you listen to the song

3. They used to tell me I was building a dream And so I followed the mob When there was earth to plow or guns to bare I was always there, right on the job With peace and glory ahead Why should I be standing in line Just waiting for bread? Once I built a railroad, I made it run Made it race against time Once I built a railroad, now it's done Brother, can you spare a dime? Once I built a tower up to the sun Brick and rivet and lime Once I built a tower, now it's done
Once in khaki suits, gee, we looked swell Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum Half a million boots went slogging through Hell And I was the kid with the drum Say, don't you remember? They called me 'Al‘ It was 'Al' all the time Why don't you remember? I'm your pal Say buddy, can you spare a dime? Once in khaki suits, ah, gee, we looked swell Oh, say, don't you remember? They called me 'Al‘ Say, don't you remember? I'm your pal Buddy, can you spare a dime?

4. Turn and Talk What did the singer do before the Great Depression?
What is he doing now?
In what ways does the photograph reflect what you hear and feel when listening to the song?
Thinking about the song and photograph, in what ways do you think people might have endured the hardships of the Depression?

5. Year
Unemployment Rate
1929
3.2%
1930
8.9%
1931
16.3%
1932
24.1%
1933
25.2%
1934
22.0%
1935
20.3%
1936
17.0%
1937
14.3%
1938
19.1%

6. In this lesson, you will learn about ordinary Americans who lived during the Great Depression. You will learn about the hardships they faced and the ways that they endured.

7. Scrapbook Directions
Cut out four scrapbook pictures and glue on the page – be creative, but you must have room to write next to each photo.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

8. Activity Instructions
Look at your white sheet. Pick four of the pictures and number them 1, 2, 3, 4.
Use the green packet inside the manila folder to find the state represented by each picture. Label the state next to the picture.
Use the blue packet to read the letters that match your four states. (You will ONLY read four letters)
On the back of your white sheet you will add the following for each letter:
the state the letter comes from
a two sentence summary of the letter. One sentence must be a direct quote from the letter.

9. EXAMPLE
New Jersey

10. Processing Piece
Use the information in your scrapbook to write a letter to Eleanor Roosevelt describing the hardships people endured during the Depression.
Your letter must have the following:
An appropriate date, salutation, and closing (must look like a letter).
At least four of these words: (need to be underlined)
betrayal, change, depressed, desperation, destitute, dreadful, encourage, honorable, hope, ideals, plague, pride, self-respect, shame, stress, suffer, worth.
A description of your visit to at least two states. For each state, include:
information on the hardships people faced during the Depression and the ways in which they endured those hardships.
a quotation from the letters (must be in quotation marks)