Welcome to Harmony Ridge
Step into the daily reality of 1931 with this Great Depression survival game, where students manage a family budget and try to stay afloat as disaster cards, rising costs, and difficult choices pile up month after month. Using real 1930s prices and historically grounded family profiles, students experience how quickly ordinary households were pushed to the edge—and how class, luck, and economic pressure shaped survival.
Students track income, adjust expenses, and cut costs as needed, all while comparing their experience to families from different social classes. This hands-on simulation builds historical understanding, empathy, and economic reasoning in a way that traditional lessons can’t match.
Grades: 7–10
Duration: 45–60 minutes
What’s Included:
• Two family profiles (working-class and upper-middle class)
• Realistic 1931 monthly budgets based on historical data
• Budget tracker sheet• Comparison worksheet for post-activity reflection
• Full set of 16 event cards (positive and negative)
• Teacher Guide
Skills Covered:
• Historical decision-making under economic pressure
• Understanding cause and effect in Great Depression households
• Budgeting and financial reasoning using real 1930s data
Perfect For:
• Great Depression units
• Economic history lessons
• End-of-unit activities