Partner Presentation Project

_________ and the Great Depression

During the Great Depression, every part of American life was affected — not just banks and jobs, but sports, music, movies, family life, crime, farming, and more.

In this project, you and a partner will explore one specific area of American life and explain how it was impacted by the Great Depression.

You will teach the class about your topic through a short slide presentation. You will also learn from your classmates’ presentations and use your notes on an open-note quiz.

Step 1: Choose Your Topic

Your group will select a topic in the format:

“_________ and the Great Depression”

Examples:

• Baseball and the Great Depression

• Movies and the Great Depression

• Music and the Great Depression

• Teen Life and the Great Depression

• Farming and the Dust Bowl

• Crime and the Great Depression

• Women and the Great Depression

• Advertising and the Great Depression

(Other topics may be approved.)

Step 2: Create Your Slides Presentation

Length: 4–6 minutes

Your presentation should clearly teach the class about your topic.

Required Content

Your slides must include:

1. Main Idea (Thesis)

• One clear statement that explains how your topic was affected by the Great Depression.

2. Three Subpoints

• Three key ways your topic changed, struggled, or adapted

• These should be specific and supported with facts/examples

3. Primary Sources (at least 3)

Use at least three primary sources from the time period, such as:

• photographs

• newspaper headlines/articles

• advertisements

• posters

• letters/diaries

• songs/lyrics

• political cartoons

• charts or statistics from the 1930s

You must explain what each source shows and why it matters.

4. Images/Visuals

Include relevant historical visuals to help the class understand your topic (not just decorative pictures).

5. Historical Analysis

Explain:

• Why did this topic matter to everyday people?

• OR How did it affect people’s lives during the Depression?

(Go beyond just listing facts — help us understand the significance.)

Step 3: Presentation Day

• Both partners should participate

• Teach the class clearly and stay within 4–6 minutes

• Classmates will take notes while you present

Step 4: Class Notes

While other groups present, you will complete a notes handout.

You are responsible for recording:

• each topic’s main idea

• key subpoints

• important examples

These notes are important.

Step 5: Open-Note Quiz

After all presentations, you will take an individual open-note quiz.

• You may use your notes handout only

• Questions will come directly from the presentations

• If you paid attention and took good notes, you will do well

Grading Overview (simple version)

Your grade will come from:

• Presentation content and preparation

• Use of primary sources

• Completed notes handout

• Individual quiz

(Full rubric provided separately.)