Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to apply arithmetic skills to understand and analyze the impact of the Great Depression.
Materials and Prep
- Pencil and paper
- Calculator (optional)
- Prior knowledge of basic arithmetic operations
Activities
Activity 1: Research the Great Depression and create a timeline of key events. Use arithmetic to calculate the number of years between significant events.
Activity 2: Analyze historical data on unemployment rates during the Great Depression. Use arithmetic to calculate the percentage increase in unemployment from year to year.
Activity 3: Investigate the impact of inflation during the Great Depression. Use arithmetic to calculate the change in prices for common goods over time.
Activity 4: Explore the stock market crash of 1929. Use arithmetic to calculate the percentage decrease in stock prices and the financial losses experienced by investors.
Talking Points
The Great Depression was a period of severe economic downturn that lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s.
During the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs, resulting in high unemployment rates.
Unemployment rates can be calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by the total labor force and multiplying by 100.
Inflation is the increase in the prices of goods and services over time. It can be calculated using the percentage change formula.
The stock market crash of 1929 led to a significant decrease in stock prices. Percentage decrease can be calculated using the formula: (Initial value - Final value) / Initial value * 100.
Understanding the impact of the Great Depression requires analyzing historical data and applying arithmetic skills to interpret the numbers.