Joblessness, poverty, relief and family life will be examined. Students will conduct some research using the internet. The topic is American Life from 1936-1940 and it consists of 139 oral histories of people who are from Massachusetts. Using the internet, the class can enter a forum and post a folder inviting senior citizens to respond and share their Depression experiences.
Some online services have senior citizen forums already established.
Students will conduct interviews with a relative or a trusted family friend who lived in Massachusetts during the Depression. They will work in teams of 2 or 3. The size of the team will equal the number of interviews that they will conduct. The students will use a questionnaire developed collectively in class under the direction of the teacher. It should consist of approximately 15 questions.