The Great Depression for Kids Hardship and Hope in 1930s America, with 21 Activities

2016 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live during the Great Depression? Perhaps you think of the stock market crash of 1929, unemployed workers standing in breadlines, and dust storms swirling on the Great Plains. But the 1930s were also a time when neighbors helped neighbors, librarians delivered books on horseback, and an army of young men rebuilt the nation’s forests, roads, and parks. TheGreat Depression for Kids provides a balanced and realistic picture of an era rife with suffering but also deep-rooted with hope and generosity. Beginning with a full chapter on the 1920s, the book provides important background knowledge to help set the stage for an in-depth look at the decline of the economy and attempts at recovery over the next decade. Twenty-one hands-on activities invite young history buffs to understand and experience this important era in American history. Kids can recreate Depression glassware; simulate a windstorm; learn how to research, buy, and sell stocks; design a paper block quilt; play “round ball”; and much more. 

Cheryl Mullenbach is a former history teacher, librarian, public television project manager, and K–12 social studies consultant. She is the author of The Industrial Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities and Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II.