2
Novel Activity Project
Topic: The Great Depression
Standard of Learning, Novel Information, and Objective
Standard of Learning:
US History 1865 to Present-Grade 7
USII.4 The student will apply social science skills to understand how life changed after the Civil
War by
a) examining the reasons for westward expansion, including its impact on American
Indians.
b) explaining the reasons for the increase in immigration, growth of cities, and challenges
arising from this expansion.
c) describing racial segregation, the rise of “Jim Crow,” and other constraints faced by
African Americans and other groups in the post-Reconstruction South.
d) explaining the impact of new inventions, the rise of big business, the growth of industry,
and the changes to life on American farms in response to industrialization; and
e) evaluating and explaining the impact of the Progressive Movement on child labor,
working conditions, the rise of organized labor, women’s suffrage, and the temperance
movement.
Novel Information: [Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor 1976 is the year of
publication, 5th or 6th grade, 288 pages. There was no biased information in this novel. There was
however true racism implicated in the book. Even though there is bias in this book, if there were
I would immediately interject and correct the biased information. I feel that being straight
3
forward is best. The writer talks directly about the mistreatment of the family because the color
of their skin not on feelings or what she thinks it would have been like.]
Objective: [By students reading this book they will have the chance to see first-hand what it was
like for a young black girl and her family in the great depression. The struggles that she faced at
such a young age at a time when there was already turmoil in America. (Condition) Students are
provided with a novel and expected to exhibit understanding for every part of the hardship in the
story. They will also need to be able to identify key concepts that are related to the Great
Depression. (performance) To achieve performance the student must have retained the required
information enough to articulate the difference between what it was like then and now. They
would need to be able to uphold a discussion with other classmates. (Criterion)A test will be
given to measure how well a student understood the novel.]
Interdisciplinary Activities
Interdisciplinary Approaches: [This social studies activity is based on the novel Roll of Thunder,
Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. The activity is to publish a Great Depression Newspaper.
(beginning) first have the students read the required material. The teacher will break the class
into 5 groups that will work collectively together to start their newspaper. (Middle) student then
will research more topics on the great depression that will go along with the book. This will give
them headlines ideas and more article ideas. (END) the student will get up in front of the class
with their group and present their newspaper and findings.]
Resources
Resources for Activity: [Students will be allowed to use all and every resource of their choice.
They can be physical and digital. The student does not have to use all the resources, just the ones
that they feel will be most useful. Students will need to list and stie all resources that are used.
4
Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment Plan: [Students will be assessed by their completed work. There will be a test given
as the last form to gather understanding. The test will be strictly about the novel. I will assess
how much the student participated in the group work. I will also note their understanding.
5
References
Great Depression. (2019). Britannica Kids. https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Great-
Depression/353208
Taylor, M. D. (2016). Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Dial Books For Young Readers. (Original
work published 1976)
Virginia Department of Education. (2022). K-12 Standards & Instruction | Virginia Department
of Education. Www.doe.virginia.gov. https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-
assessment/instruction
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
