Head on over to my new blog to check out two videos that give great summaries of the causes of the Great Depression. One focuses on spending and investing habits, while the other shows a big-picture view regarding banks and the loan cycle created by the Treaty of Versailles.
One of the most popular songs of the Great Depression was “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime.” In it the writers express the fear, anger, and despair that many Americans were feeling during this time. This song is definitely, well, depressing. It’s a great classroom aid though! Use it to set the mood for your students.
Give your students a copy of the lyrics and play the song. Ask them to answer the following questions:
You can also use “Song of the South” by Alabama to talk about the Great Depression. It’s a little more upbeat and some of your students may recognize it. Print out the lyrics and have your students highlight all of the references to the Great Depression.
How did the Great Depression start?  Here’s a very informative video about the Great Depression that can tell you that and more.  It does an excellent job of explaining how the Great Depression came about.  It is clear, straightforward, and easy to understand.  The video is 7 minutes and 30 seconds long, but you can stop it at 6 minutes if your students start to lose interest.  The last minute and a half is basically a silent comparison of Roosevelt and Hoover.  It does end a bit abruptly, but overall it explains the start of the Depression very clearly.