The Great Depression forever changed this country and millions of Americans journeyed west in the 1930's, eventually settling in our state. I think it's important for my students to understand how the Depression shaped the lives of people living in rural Washington and the American Dream.
My students live in a highly impoverished and rural area on a reservation in Washington State.
Over 90% of them live well below the poverty line and struggle to own proper clothes, food, and school materials -- owning books, technology, or venturing outside our rural valley is nothing something many of them are fortunate to be able to do. Funding for our school is minimal and every year we're asked to do more with less. Thanks to micro-grants provided by DonorsChoose and other organizations, I've been able to provide new reading materials for my students and replacing old technology, but the need is greater than I've been able to provide for and my students need additional assistance from donors who are looking to help improve the education of some impoverished and deserving kids.
My Project
This will be my first year teaching the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl as my English 9 classes start focusing more on American History and less on World History and ecology. To support this project, I need a class set (40) of "Of Mice and Men"ÂÂ by John Steinbeck to help my students understand the impact of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl on westward migration, the experiences of the Okies and other migratory groups, and how the decadence of the Roaring 20's led to an economic collapse that destroyed the dreams of millions of Americans. Steinbeck's book is highly accessible for my low-level readers and a great story and the journey of George and Lennie is an interesting and engaging one that should help my students understand this historical period.
Living in a rural area, my students don't often see the role we've played in history.
Through studying the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, students will see how our area attracted millions of people as they fled the East Coast, looking for homes, jobs, and a new chance at the American Dream.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Olden and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.