Back to American History 2 Books & Resources

The 1930's and the Depression (3 weeks: weeks 23-25)

is for resources that should be available at most well-stocked libraries. The other icons are explained by the text right next to them.

Al Capone Does My Shirts
Reading gradelevel: 6-9, Lexile level: 600, DRA Level: 44-50

This book has a warning for mature content. You may want to edit on the fly or preview for appropriateness.
There are optional Scholastic literature circle questions for Al Capone Does My Shirt that you may wish to use. Here is a pdf printable with the answers to the discussion questions.
I recommend this book for older students because of the content (which I have not yet fully previewed).

Advanced book

Out of the Dust
Reading grade level: 5.1

This Newberry Medal winner is written in free verse and is about a girl during the dust bowl. It's poetic and emotional.

Fictionalized novel

Meet Kit: An American Girl 1934 (girl)

The American girl series probably doesn't need an introduction. Emily was a big fan when she was little.

Reader

The Dust Bowl: An Interactive History Adventure

I've scheduled in several of the "You Choose" books this year because I think they are a great (and fun) way to get kids to retain specific events in history. Because it's interactive, I think it will encourage kids to try out at least several different versions of the story, thus cementing in facts even more. It also personalizes things a bit since the reader is a participant in the story!

Preview this book online at Google books.

Dust for Dinner

Picture book / Easy Reader

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

This is such a wonderful classic. If you haven't read it yet to your little ones, check it out.

Picture book

Herbert Hoover (Getting to Know the Us Presidents)

Otter LOVES these books written and illustrated by Mike Venezia. Even my big kids read them all as older teens because the information is presented in such an engaging and easy to retain style.

All of the Venezia books I schedule in are optional for the president's study, but they are so fun, you might want to check out at least a few. Most libraries will have these books, so you probably won't need to purchase any.

President book

Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s

This book presents the history of the 30's with a focus on drought and the depression. The interesting text is broken up by a lot of photographs of the time period.

You can preview Dust to Eat at Google Books.

Non-fiction

Rose's Journal: The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression

My kids always enjoyed books by Marissa Moss. This story is written journal style and is heavily illustrated as if the narrator created the drawings to go along with the journal pages.

You can get a good preview on Google Books.

Reader

The Gardener
Reading grade level: 3.5

This Caldecott Honor book is about a girl sent to live with her uncle in the city during the Depression. It's a sweet story.

Picture book

Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression
Reading grade level 2.9

Picture book

Franklin D. Roosevelt: 32nd President 1933-1945 (Getting to Know the Us Presidents)

See description above about this series.

President book

1930’s film: We Work Again

This movie is about how the New Deal benefited African Americans.

PBS American Experience: FDR

PREVIEW - Segments may include material inappropriate for your family.

Don’t Forget Winona
Reading grade level 2.9

Picture book

Days That Shook the World: Disaster in The Sky

This is a movie about the Hindenburg disaster.

Back of the Mike

This fun video shows how sound effects are made for old time radio shows.

1938 Daily life in a South Dakota town during the Great Depression

This silent home movie starts out showing children, but stick with it and you’ll see people walking around town, vehicles, people working and shopping and just going about their daily business in a South Dakota town during the late 30’s.  You can’t help but wonder about them – what were they doing that day...what were their hopes and fears and dreams. Your kids may get bored after a little while, but I was totally fascinated at seeing candid video of people during that time period. It’s like getting to go back in time and stand on a street corner for a little while.
There are more you can watch, if you enjoyed this one.

Pick of the Pod

This is an amusing "infomercial" from the 30's.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

This movie is such a classic and a favorite of so many including my family!

DVD

Next (WW2 and the 40's)

Other NON-scheduled resources you can use during this portion of the study: