In this data-driven lesson, students move beyond memorizing the causes of the Great Depression and step into the role of economists. They analyze real economic patterns, compare historical data to modern trends, and make a prediction about whether today’s economy is stable—or heading toward trouble.


What Students Will Learn
How income inequality and low wages weaken an economy
The role of consumer credit and buying on margin in economic instability
How agricultural overproduction contributed to the Depression
How to analyze economic data and identify warning signs
How to compare historical and modern economic trends
How to construct an evidence-based argument about economic conditions

What’s Included
5-page History Cat reading: Causes of the Great Depression
3-part student activity:
Understanding the causes (7 guided questions)
Data analysis of economic trends (1920s, 1950s, 2000s, today)
CER Argument writing task: Is another crash coming?
Structured datasets on:
Income inequality
Household debt
Stock market valuation (Using the Shiller P/E Ratio)
Teacher guide with answer key
 
Grade Level: 8–10
Duration: 60–90 minutes
Depth of Knowledge (DOK): 2–4
Format: Word