The New Deal: Graphic Organizer

Students examine the many New Deal agencies that were created. They create a graphic organizer that depicts information relevant to an assigned agency. Once the projects are finished, all class members present their graphic organizers. Students then study these and attempt to interpret the information presented in them.

Standards
Social Studies
Grade 10

History, Benchmark F
The United States in the 20th Century
10. Analyze the causes and consequences of major political, economic and social developments of the 1930s with emphasis on these items:

a. The Great Depression.
b. The Dust Bowl.
c. The New Deal.

Objectives

• Aid students in comprehending the rationale for the establishment and the impact of various New Deal agencies.

• Require students to demonstrate their comprehension of the actions and impact of various New Deal agencies.

• Challenge students to utilize interpretive skills as they study their peers’ graphic organizers.

Time Needed

1. The introduction of the assignment, including time for the students to brainstorm, could use up to one 50-minute class period.

2. Once the graphic organizers are completed, an additional class period will be necessary for students to post their projects and then attempt to interpret those created by their peers.

Procedures

1. Begin the lesson with a discussion about each of the New Deal agencies. This discussion should follow an assigned reading that provides an overview of New Deal agencies. A listing of New Deal agencies, their description and the outcome of the project can be found online at Successes and Failures of the “New Deal” Programs,
   http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/depression/successes.html. Readings can be from their textbook or online resources. Students can go to http://www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/decades for other appropriate sites.

2. Explain that a graphic organizer is an attempt to organize and convey the meaning of information via a graphic or a picture. Text may be included in its creation.

3. Display and discuss the sample graphic organizer that is provided.

4. The students’ graphic organizers should meet the following requirements:

a. Multiple colors must be used.

b. It must have a title that depicts the name of the New Deal agency that is described.

c. The objectives, accomplishments, failures, criticisms and other relevant information about the New Deal agency should be depicted via graphics on a standard-sized piece of paper.

d. The student’s name should appear on a Post-It Note on the reverse side of the project.

e. The reverse side should also include this information:

i. A detailed explanation of the information it depicts.

ii. A brief overview of the New Deal agency described. The following topics should be addressed in the write-up:

• What were the objectives of each of the agencies/laws?

• To what degree did each of the agencies/laws achieve its desired objectives?

• Was there any opposition to the agency/law? Explain.

f. New Deal agencies/laws include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Agricultural Adjustment Act
• Social Security Act
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• Works Progress Administration
• Civilian Conservation Corps
• Securities and Exchange Act/Commission
• National Youth Administration
• Wagner-Connery Act
• National Recovery Administration
• Emergency Banking Act

5. As the graphic organizers are collected, the teacher should number each of them and place the number on both the project and the Post-It Note that has the author’s name written on it. The purpose of this activity is to allow for anonymous peer evaluation.

6. Students are then asked to post their organizers on the front board.

7. All students study all of the projects and record an explanation of each.

8. Following the student reviews, the teacher reads the explanation for each organizer. A discussion of each follows.

9. The teacher selects the best graphic organizers from the class and presents and discusses them with other classes.

Materials

• Textbook reference
• Class notes/teacher-developed PowerPoint presentation available to students
• Internet resources

Evaluation

Peer Evaluation

1. Students will receive and use the same grading rubric that will be used by the teacher for the purpose of evaluating a pre-determined number of graphic organizers.

2. This peer evaluation will be conducted anonymously.

3. The evaluation will be returned to the author of each graphic organizers for his or her review.

Teacher Evaluation

1. The teacher will use the same grading rubric used for the peer. Students should compare their peer evaluations with their teacher evaluations.

2. A sample rubric might look like the following handout.

The New Deal: Graphic Organizer Evaluation (PDF File)