It is early 1930's. The Great Depression has hit your town hard. You and your family have been affected by  many of the same problems that affected families all across America. Many families have been forced from their homes, parents have lost their jobs, and the basic necessities you took for granted a few years ago are now just a wishful memory.

Before beginning this journey back to a time of great despair and hardship in America, take a moment to read The Great Depression: A Brief Overview. Once you have read this overview go forward on to find out your task.

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Task

Your Depression Era task is two-fold. You will complete the following tasks this order:

1. Making use of information available, you will prepare a monthly budget for your family of four after you and your family were forced to move in search of a job.
   
2. With your team, brainstorm a list of problems which confront families today. You will then choose the issue most important to you and use the World Wide Web to find a government agency or faith-based organization which provides services to address your chosen issue. Once having found the agency or organization, you will write them a letter requesting information on programs they provide.

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You are to complete two activities,  "We Get By" , and "Helping Hands".

"We Get By"

In "We Get By" you will use a Budget Planning  Sheet to create a monthly budget for your family of four which has been forced to relocate in search of job opportunities.

1. Take a look at the Occupation and Salary Chart to determine what you do for a living and how much you earn each week at your new job. 
   

2. Using the 1932 Price List and the Budget Planning Sheet work out a monthly budget to include rent or mortgage, food, entertainment, and other needs your family may have. Your family must either buy a new or used automobile, or show in the budget expenses for automobile maintenance. Remember you have had to relocate, so you may have to spend some of your family's savings to replace lost, or left behind, family possessions.

Helping Hands

Do families of today share common concerns of families during the Great Depression? With your team, brainstorm a list of problems which confront families today. You will then choose the issue most important to you and use the World Wide Web to find a  governmental agency or non-governmental organization which provides services to address your chosen issue. Once having found the agency or organization, you will write them a business letter (Business Letter Guidelines) requesting information on programs they provide.

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Resources

 

"We Get By"	"Helping Hands"
Occupation and Salary Chart	State of Florida Access to Government
1932 Price List	Florida Government Services Online
Budget Preparation Sheet	Seminole County Government Services
Kid's Search Tools	Florida City Government Listings
	American Red Cross
	Salvation Army
	Business Letter Guidelines
	Kid's Search Tools

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Evaluation

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Conclusion

It's years after the Depression. You've helped America survive yet another world war, the Red Menace, and racial unrest in the streets. You have healed the wounds of past injustices and took your country to the top. You have been called "The Greatest Generation". How do you think living through the Depression helped you achieve all that you did? What was your greatest contribution to the next generation, and why do they call your generation "The Greatest Generation"?

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