Students in the 7th and 8th grade US History course have worked diligently over the last few weeks to conduct research and write persuasive essays on topics from 1914 to 1929. Students’ choices in topics ranged from the use of chemical warfare in the Great War, the affect of the Russian Revolution on the war and the United States, President Harding’s speech on “normalcy”, shell shock and its long-term affects on soldiers in the Great War, to American reactions to jazz music. These essays focused on research, creating a strong thesis, an organized argument, and concise writing. Students cited their sources in Chicago, in the practice of a historian, and they wrapped their project with a self-assessment to identify areas of growth and areas to focus on for next time. I’m so proud of the hard work they put into this project and all of the wonderful learning that happened.

From here, our class is beginning a study on the Stock Market Crash and the roots of the Great Depression. Students have been tasked with solving the Great Depression, and they are approaching that task in unique ways. This project involves learning about past economic downturns in the United States and various responses to those recessions. Students have also realized that they cannot solve the problem until they understand its roots. In this process, they are learning about economics, imports and exports, the dust bowl, migration, taxation, tariffs, government programs, and other aspects of society in the 1930s. I’m thrilled with the way students are collaborating and researching, and I’m anticipating a variety of solutions to this problem. It’s been fantastic to witness their process for solving this issue!