Great Depression PBL Project Multimedia Diary, Interdisciplinary

Dive into the heart-wrenching era of the Great Depression with your high school students through this comprehensive, 4-5 week project-based learning experience, "Living Through the Great Depression: A Multimedia Diary Project." Designed to align with educational standards across history, language arts, and technology, this package immerses students in the historical context, personal stories, and the diverse societal impacts of one of the most significant periods of the 20th century.

The Project has students working for 4 weeks with the 5th week for presentation and reflection.

What's Included:

• Project Outline: A step-by-step guide to implementing the project, including objectives, requirements, and student expectations.
• Project Framework: A worksheets students will plan out their project with to ensure organization.
• Diary Entry Planning Worksheet: A framework that breaks down the elements of a narrative diary story then helps combine the parts to a cohesive entry. (2 copies, the first has examples to guide students)
• Grading Rubric: Detailed criteria for assessing student diaries, multimedia elements, and research, supporting Transparent Assessment and ensuring clear performance expectations.
• Background Information Packet: Provides students with essential context on the Great Depression, aiding in Content Understanding and facilitating informed project development. (A simple format and a decorated copy with color/pictures)
• Editing and Revision Strategies Guide: A list of helpful strategies and tool for student to employ to review their writing.
• Extension/Differentiation Options Packet: Offers additional activities and adaptations to cater to diverse learning needs, supporting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and ensuring that all students can engage with the content at an appropriate level.
• 4 Lesson Plans: A comprehensive, week-by-week plan for educators, including activities, discussion prompts, and tips for effective classroom management, designed to streamline Educator Preparation and enhance Student Engagement.
• Project Timeline: Helps students manage their time effectively, promoting Self-Regulated Learning and project management skills.
• Optional Character Profiles: Diverse personas students can adopt for their diaries, encouraging Empathy Development and Historical Perspective-Taking.
• Primary Source Packet: Curated documents, images, and firsthand accounts from the era, fostering Critical Thinking and Source Analysis skills.
• Additional Resource Options Packet: A compilation of books, websites, and other materials for deeper exploration, supporting Inquiry-Based Learning and student curiosity.
• Teachers Guide to the Project: A guide through the different steps of the projects to provide ease of use and answer FAQ

Educational Benefits:

• Encourages critical thinking and empathy by having students explore historical perspectives and personal experiences from the Great Depression.
• Supports differentiated instruction with varied resources and activities tailored to meet diverse student needs and learning styles.
• Enhances literacy skills through research, writing, and reflection activities integrated into the project.
• Fosters historical understanding and contextual awareness by immersing students in the economic, social, and political realities of the 1930s.
• Promotes technology integration and media literacy through the creation of multimedia diary entries.

This multidisciplinary project is ideal for fostering a deeper understanding of the Great Depression, developing empathy, and enhancing research and writing skills. By engaging with this rich collection of resources, students will not only learn about history — they will connect with it in a personal and profound way.

Recommended for: High School History, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Technology Integration.

Embark on a journey back in time and provide your students with a transformative learning experience that bridges past and present. Invest in "Living Through the Great Depression: A Multimedia Diary Project" today and bring history to life in your classroom!