Compelling moments in history have always provided a stimulus for great artists, musicians, and writers to create gripping works of art. The Great Depression -- that most tragic period (1929-1941) of plunging fortunes, breadlines, unemployment, stock market crashes, bank failures, farm foreclosures, the Dust Bowl, and hobos hopping trains or begging food -- provided writer John Steinbeck with the stimulus to pen what is arguably one of the finest works of 20th century American fiction: The Grapes of Wrath. In this session, you will reflect on America's struggles during the Great Depression and look at the government's efforts through the New Deal programs. You will then consider ways of integrating literature into the history classroom, and of teaming with English teachers to map and link curriculum in two subject areas to broaden understandings in both.

Content Focus

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• develop a greater understanding of and empathy for the difficulties Americans faced during the Great Depression; and
• investigate the New Deal and understand the unprecedented expansion of the federal government under the New Deal programs.

Strategy Focus

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• understand the benefits of using literature in the history classroom; and
• design a methodology for incorporating literature into each American history unit that you teach.