📖

The Dust Bowl Disaster

The Great Depression

Day 93of 180
Week 19of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the environmental causes of the Dust Bowl

2

Learn about the human impact of the environmental crisis

3

Recognize God's provision during difficult times

📖 Scripture Connection

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

— Psalm 46:1 (WEB)

God provides comfort and strength during environmental and economic challenges

📦 Materials Needed

  • Dust Bowl photographs
  • Map of the Great Plains
  • Large paper
  • Colored pencils
  • Notebook
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Show dramatic Dust Bowl photographs and ask students what they notice about the landscape and people

💭 Review Question: What do you know about dust storms?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain the Dust Bowl's environmental causes, including poor farming practices and severe drought

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Farmers removed native grasslands
  • Drought made soil very dry
  • Wind created massive dust storms
  • Thousands of families lost their farms
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How might people survive such difficult times?
  • What would it be like to lose your home?
  • How can faith help during hard circumstances?
3Activity: Migration Map Project (10 min)
hands-on

Students create a map tracking Dust Bowl refugee migrations

📝 Instructions:
  1. Use large paper and colored pencils
  2. Draw Great Plains region
  3. Mark migration routes
  4. Add notes about family experiences
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Trace pre-drawn migration routes

Challenge: Research specific family migration stories

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on God's faithfulness during challenging times

📝 Review Questions:
  • What caused the Dust Bowl?
  • How did families survive?
  • What can we learn about trusting God?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for being our strength during difficult times. Help us trust You always.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about President Roosevelt's response to the Great Depression

💎 Memory Verse

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

— Psalm 46:1 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Create hand motions representing refuge and strength

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

The Dust Bowl was a severe environmental crisis affecting millions of Americans in the 1930s

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use compassionate language when discussing family struggles
  • Emphasize hope and resilience
  • Connect historical challenges to God's ongoing care
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might feel scared hearing about economic hardship

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Empathy and understanding about historical challenges

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Read 'Out of the Dust' by Karen Hesse
  • Interview grandparents about family stories
  • Create artwork depicting Dust Bowl scenes

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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