The “Roaring ‘20s” was a period of unparalleled economic success, but by the end of the decade, it all came crashing down. In this inquiry, students will determine the major causes of the Crash of 1929 by using newspaper headlines from the crash.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
What made the “Roaring ‘20s” crash?
Standards
C3 Framework: D2.His.14.9-12. Analyze multiple and complex causes and effects of events in the past.
Instructional Snapshot
Class begins with students working in small groups to create a timeline of the stock market crash using headlines and a few short columns from newspapers across America. After students create their timelines, they discuss themes they notice as time progresses. As they analyze the headlines, students keep track of their themes on an organizer.
Students then use their timelines and themes to determine major causes of the stock market crash. Using the organizer, students take the themes they noticed from the headlines to list any possible causes, then refine those possible causes into major causes. Teachers may put a limit on the number of causes or leave it open-ended to see what students find.
Finally, students create an original newspaper headline that answers the compelling question and is supported by examples from the sources. From there, students practice argumentation by stress testing other students’ headlines by writing a short column to accompany a different student’s headline.
Formative Tasks
COLLABORATE: Annotate a timeline of the 1929 economic crash using headlines and short columns from newspapers across the country.
DELIBERATE; Determine the major causes of the economic crash leading to the Great Depression.
PRODUCE: Create a contemporary newspaper headline that answers the compelling question.
Sources
Source A: Headlines Source Set, Library of Congress
Summative Performance Task
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Taking Informed Action
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