Language+Arts

Objective: Students will read a variety of literature focused on adolescents living through the Depression in order to extend their thinking through the creation of their own “depression journal.”
 * Reading / Writing Activity**

Standards: Reading and Writing #6: Students read and recognize literature as a record of human experience. Reading and Writing #2: Students write and speak for a variety of purposes and audiences.

Activity: 1. All students will have read Out of the Dust. Students will then select a different depression era journal or novel to read. A list of possible choices will be provided. 2. After reading the journal or novel, the students will complete a Venn diagram in order to compare and contrast the main character in Out of the Dust with the main character in their chosen book. Students will be encouraged to look for geographical differences that arose in the stories based on their settings. 3. Students will be asked to create some sort of first-person writing piece (diary, journal, letters). The point of view of the writing piece will be from an adolescent who is living through the Depression. Creativity will be encouraged in this assignment.

-Books for student selection: Out of the Dust Survival in the Storm: Diary of Grace Edwards Journal of C.J. Jackson Christmas After All: Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Bud, Not Buddy Year Down Yonder Treasures in the Dust Saving Grace Esperanza Rising

Assessment: 1--Chosen book does not relate to depression-theme. 3--Chosen book somewhat relates to theme. 5--Chosen book is closely related to theme. 1--Venn diagram contains limited examples of similarities and differences. 3--Venn diagram is unbalanced or similarities and differences are basic and surface-level. 5--Venn diagram lists numerous, thoughtful similarities and differences. 1--Lacks connection to and knowledge of the character. 3--Some voice and connection with the character. 5--Creative writing piece that is clearly focused on the character and the struggles of the depression.
 * Literature Selection**
 * Compare and Contrast**
 * Written Piece**

Hesse, K. (1997). Out of the dust. New York: Scholastic Press.
 * __Works Cited:__**

Janke, K. (2002). Survival in the storm: the dust bowl diary of Grace Edwards. New York: Scholastic.

Durbin, W. (2002). The journal of C.J. Jackson: a Dust Bowl migrant. New York: Scholastic.

Lasky, K. (2001). Christmas after all: the great depression diary of Minnie Swift. New York: Scholastic.

Taylor, M.D. (1976). Roll of thunder, hear my cry. New York: Penguin Books.

Curtis, C.P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Delacorte Press.

Peck, R. (2000). A year down yonder. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Porter, T. (1997). Treasures in the dust. New York: HarperCollins.

Cummings, P. (2003). Saving Grace. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.

Ryan, P.M. (2000). Esperanza rising. New York: Scholastic Press.