The Dust Bowl was a region of the Southwestern Great Plains of the United States that experienced crippling drought throughout the 1930s, coupled with high winds and soil erosion from years of aggressive and ill-conceived farming practices that upset the ecology of the prairie. The dust storms created from this mix of drought, poor soil, and high winds were so severe they blackened out the sun, choked people and cattle, and drove thousands of families from their homes.

In the activities contained within this media gallery, students will view and examine primary-source images from the time period, screen a video segment, and close-read an essay as they analyze the origins of the Dust Bowl and the government's response.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Understand and analyze how the Dust Bowl began in America;
• Analyze the government’s response to the Dust Bowl.

About the Author:

Eden McCauslin is a Social Studies and English teacher in Chicago Public Schools. Eden previously taught in the District of Columbia Public Schools.