The Impact of the Great Depression: Photograph Analysis

This activity can be used during a unit on the Great Depression. For grades 6-12. Approximate time needed is 60 minutes.

To begin, select one of the first photographs in the activity and model document analysis for the full class. Next, ask students to work in small groups or individually to complete the activity. They should first quickly scan all of the photographs in the activity. Then they should choose four for deeper analysis. For the photographs that students choose to analyze, tell them to respond to the following in the blank box after each photo:

• Quickly scan the photo. What do you notice first?
• List the people, objects and activities you see.
• Where is it from?
• When is it from?
• Write one sentence summarizing this photo.
• What did you find out from this photo that you might not learn anywhere else?

After they have completed analysis of four photographs individually or in small groups, place students in small groups (or new groups) to compare and contrast their findings of more photographs. Once they are familiar with each other’s photographs, ask them to compile a list of adjectives that they think describe the impact of the Great Depression on people, families, and society (the task presented under “When You’re Done”).

Ask students to discuss these adjectives in their small groups. For specific adjectives, prompt students to explain their word choices with specific evidence from the photographs. Bring the class back together and discuss their findings, posting them for the entire class to see.

Ask students to compare the images of the Great Depression to a more recent crisis in the United States or around the world. For example, they could compare these images to the COVID-19 Pandemic.