1. Grade 9 History Podcast – The Great Depression
Objective: the students will be creating a podcast showing that they understand some of
the challenges faced by the average American family during The Great Depression. The
podcast may take the form of either a drama, or newscast.
Knowledge
Technical
Creativity
A+
Students show an
excellent
understanding of the
challenges of the
Great Depression
B
Students did not
show enough
understanding of
Great Depression
challenges/Errors in
fact
Students created a
Podcast is either not
podcast that was over 2 minutes, or was not
2 minutes long, and
properly uploaded to
was successfully
the internet
uploaded to the
internet
Students created an
The program was
enjoyable program to lacking in creativity,
listen to, that
or somewhat boring
displayed creativity
F
There were many
errors, and the
students did not show
a basic knowledge of
the Great Depression
Podcast is neither 2
minutes long, nor
uploaded to the
internet
The program was
both boring and
lacking in creativity

2. Name: _________________
Great Depression Podcast
Get ready to be depressed! You will be using the Apple
program, Garageband, to make a Historical podcast that
focuses on the time period of the Great Depression in
America. You should focus on what life might have been like
for Americans at this time, showing a knowledge of what was
learned in class. For your podcast, please either make a
newscast or a drama. You will then post it on Soundcloud!
How to use Garageband:
(also see the screencast)
- In Garageband, choose ‘New Project’
- Then select ‘Podcast’
- Give your project a name
- Record your project
- Add any sound effects you would like!
Rubric:
Knowledge
Technical
Creativity
A+
Students show an
excellent
understanding of the
challenges of the
Great Depression
B
Students did not
show enough
understanding of
Great Depression
challenges/Errors in
fact
Students created a
Podcast is either not
podcast that was
2 minutes, or was
over 2 minutes long, not properly
and was
uploaded to the
successfully
internet
uploaded to the
internet
Students created an The program was
enjoyable program
lacking in creativity,
to listen to, that
or somewhat boring
displayed creativity
F
There were many
errors, and the
students did not
show a basic
knowledge of the
Great Depression
Podcast is neither 2
minutes long, nor
uploaded to the
internet
The program was
both boring and
lacking in creativity

3. Dialogue
Good morning, it is October 30th, 1929, and a respectable 12 degrees outside here in New
York City. I am your host, Jason Adams. Our top story today is a continuation of the
bleak financial outlook that has been picking up steam over the last few days, leading
many to speculate about whether financial ruin is indeed upon us. For more we go to our
chief correspondent, Jennifer Lewison.
“Thanks, Jason. Instead of getting better, yesterday, Tuesday October 30th was even
worse than the days that proceeded it, and some have even started calling it ‘Black
Tuesday.’ Yesterday’s events culminated in what is believed to be a new record in
number of shares traded, estimated to be around 16 million. The Dow lost a whopping 30
points, on rumors that President Hoover would not be vetoing the Smoot-Hawley Tariff
Act. The act, if you remember proposes to protect the American economy by raising
tariffs on over 20,00 imported goods to the United States. This measure has been
criticized by some as potentially leading to a trading war with other countries, who may
respond in kind, therefore lower American exports. Traders have obviously been among
the critics, as they have been spooked enough to start dumping stocks. Back to you,
Jason.”
Thank you, Jennifer. In other news, there have been reports of people throwing
themselves out of buildings around the New York area today. For more on that, we go to
chief social correspondant, Jake Edwards. Jake…
“Thanks, Jason. There have indeed been reports of people throwing themselves out of the
windows of buildings around the city, distraught at market losses over the past few days.
Unfortunately I have not been able to discover any hard facts to substantiate the rumors. I
did however get an interview with Sir Winston Churchill, who is in town at the moment.
He tells me that this very morning he was awoken by a crowd outside of the Savoy-Plaza
Hotel, where he is staying. In his words: “under my very window a gentleman cast
himself down fifteen stories and was dashed to pieces, causing a wild commotion and the
arrival of the fire brigade.” I will keep investigating these reports of suicide. Back to you,
Jason.
Thanks, Jake. Now it’s time for a commercial break. Stay tuned.