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            "To Kill a Mockingbird": An Introduction to 1930s America
 "To Kill a Mockingbird": An Introduction to 1930s America
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 "To Kill a Mockingbird": An Introduction to 1930s America
 Activity Description
 1937 Unemployment Census

		This activity teaches students about the setting of Harper Lee’s famous novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which takes place during 3 years (1933–1935) of the Great Depression. Part 1 of this activity can be used before students start reading the novel to help them understand what life was like in the 1930s. In this part, students will examine and answer questions about census documents that feature unemployment numbers and related information. Part 2 can be completed after students have read the first few chapters of the novel. In this part, students will write a piece using the RAFT technique (role, audience, format, topic) to show what they learned about the 1930s and what they have read so far.
 Suggested Grade Level
 9-10
 Approximate Time Required
 Part 1 (60 minutes)
Part 2 (60 minutes, or for homework after
students have completed Chapters 1–3)
 Learning Objectives
 Students will be able to use census data to describe unemployment numbers from the 1930s and make inferences about the plot, setting, and conflict in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Students will be able to use the RAFT technique to create a written piece that demonstrates an understanding of 1930s America and an explanation for why the major events occurring during this time period are relevant to the first three chapters of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
 Materials Required
 The student version of this activity, 12 pages
Copies of “To Kill a Mockingbird”
 Activity Items
 The following items are part of this activity. The items and their sources appear at the end of this
teacher version.
Item 1: 1930s Overview
Item 2: 1930s Decennial Census Questionnaire
Item 3: Unemployment (Results of 1930 Decennial Census)
Item 4: 1937 Unemployment Census
Item 5: Photo of Employees and Supervisors Processing the 1937 Unemployment Census
Item 6: Photo of Vice President John Garner and Unemployment Census Director John Biggers
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 Teacher Notes Blooms Taxonomy 
 Students will **understand**what life was like in the 1930s.
Students will **apply**what they learned about the 1930s as well as what they read in Chapters 1–3 of “To Kill a Mockingbird” to complete a writing assignment.
Students will **analyze**data to make inferences about the plot, setting, and conflict of the novel.
 Subject English
 Topics 1930s
Poverty
The Great Depression
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
Unemployment
 Skills Taught Analyzing historical data
Understanding others’ perspectives
 
 
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