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This activity explores the point of view of President Herbert Hoover as he reflects on leading the nation during the early years of the Great Depression. Students will examine his perspective on the sudden economic collapse, his belief in volunteerism and limited government, and the criticism he faced from a struggling nation. Through his reflections, they will analyze how Hoover’s policies, such as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and his cautious approach to federal intervention shaped the national response—and how public frustration grew as the crisis deepened. Included in this resource: Herbert Hoover on the Great Depression POV with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Students explore how the 1936 presidential election reflected growing support for the New Deal during the Great Depression. Activities include quote, map, and photo analysis to understand how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s message of continued government action and social reform appealed to millions of struggling Americans. Students will examine campaign posters, political cartoons, and primary source speeches to analyze how FDR’s landslide victory over Alf Landon reshaped expectations of government responsibility, reinforced New Deal policies, and defined a new era of presidential leadership. Included in this resource: Do Now - “New Deal Spending” 1936 primary source political cartoon analysis with scaffolding questions Election of 1936 reading passage with scaffolding questions Election of 1936 primary and secondary source documents analysis with scaffolding questions Election of 1936 electoral map Roosevelt campaign poster Landon campaign poster Landon campaign speech excerpt Roosevelt campaign speech excerpt Alf Landon on the Election of 1936 POV with scaffolding questions Franklin D. Roosevelt on the Election of 1936 POV with scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the results of the 1936 election impact the future role of the federal government in Americans’ lives? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Students explore how New Deal alphabet agencies helped Americans during the Great Depression and changed how people viewed the government’s role. Activities include gency card analysis to understand how programs like the CCC, WPA, and FDIC provided jobs, relief, and security. Students will examine each agency’s purpose and impact to analyze how New Deal reforms shaped modern expectations of government support. ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the point of view of Mary McLeod Bethune as she reflects on the struggles of African Americans during the Great Depression. Students will examine her perspective on racial inequality, political change, and her partnership with the Roosevelts. Through her reflections, they will analyze how the Depression affected Black communities and sparked a historic shift in political loyalty and civil rights leadership. Included in this resource: Mary McLeod Bethune POV with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the point of view of Frances Perkins as she reflects on the struggles of workers and the civil rights challenges during the Great Depression. Students will examine her perspective on labor reform, racial inequality, and her collaboration with other leaders like Mary McLeod Bethune. Through her reflections, they will analyze how the Depression exposed deep injustices in American society and how government action began to shape a more inclusive vision of workers’ rights and social justice. Included in this resource: Frances Perkins POV with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the point of view of Eleanor Roosevelt as she reflects on the hardships faced by Americans during the Great Depression. Students will examine her perspective on poverty, inequality, and her efforts to give voice to those often ignored—women, children, African Americans, and the poor. Through her reflections, they will analyze how Eleanor Roosevelt redefined the role of First Lady, used her platform to push for social change, and helped shape a more compassionate and inclusive national response to crisis. Included in this resource: Eleanor Roosevelt POV with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940), which tested whether states could limit religious expression through permit laws and restrictions on speech. The Court ruled in favor of Newton Cantwell, saying that requiring a permit to share religious beliefs violated the First Amendment. This case was important because it marked the first time the Supreme Court applied the First Amendment’s protections of religious freedom and free speech to state laws, showing how the Constitution’s guarantees of individual rights were expanding through the 14th Amendment. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940), which tested whether public schools could require students to salute the flag even if it violated their religious beliefs. The Court ruled in favor of the school, prioritizing national unity over individual rights. This decision sparked backlash and was later overturned, showing how the Constitution’s protections of religious freedom have evolved over time. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942), which tested whether all speech is protected by the First Amendment. The Court ruled against Walter Chaplinsky, saying that “fighting words” — speech likely to cause violence — are not protected. This case was important because it set limits on free speech and showed that some expressions can be restricted to maintain public order. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case West Virginia v. Barnette (1943), which tested if students could be forced to say the Pledge. The Court ruled in favor of the Barnette family, saying the government can’t force people to speak against their beliefs. This case strengthened First Amendment rights to free speech and religion. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States (1944), which tested whether the government could force Japanese Americans into internment camps during wartime. The Court ruled against Fred Korematsu, saying national security could justify limits on individual rights. This case is now viewed as a warning about how fear and discrimination can lead to injustice, and it sparked later efforts to protect civil rights and prevent similar actions in the future. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case Smith v. Allwright (1944), which tested whether states could exclude Black voters from primary elections. The Court ruled in favor of Lonnie E. Smith, saying it was unconstitutional to deny someone the right to vote based on race, even in a party-run primary. This case became a major step toward protecting voting rights for African Americans and helped lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement by challenging racial discrimination in the democratic process. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the role of the United States in World War II from 1941 to 1945. Students will examine why the U.S. entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, how American forces contributed to key battles in Europe and the Pacific, and how life changed on the home front. The resource highlights topics like the D-Day invasion, island hopping, the use of propaganda, women in the workforce, and the contributions of groups like the Tuskegee Airmen and Navajo Code Talkers. The activity also covers the end of the war, the dropping of the atomic bombs, and how World War II transformed the U.S. into a global superpower and inspired social change at home. Included in this resource: Do Now - “Someone Talked!” 1942 primary source political cartoon analysis with scaffolding questions Document Activity (pass or stations) with scaffolding questions Document #1: Why did the US join the war? Document #2: The War in Europe and the Pacific Document #3: Life on the Home Front Document #4: The End of the War Document #5: How the War changed America Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did WWII change life in the United States after the war ended? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case International Shoe Co. v. Washington (1945), which tested whether a state could require a company to follow its laws—even if the company wasn’t physically located there. The Court ruled in favor of Washington, saying a business must follow a state’s rules if it has enough connection to that state. This case created the “minimum contacts” rule, which still affects how businesses are taxed and where they can be sued today, especially in the digital age. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court case United States v. Ballard (1944), which tested whether the government could charge someone with fraud for claiming religious visions. The Court ruled that jurors must decide if Ballard sincerely believed his own spiritual messages, not whether those messages were objectively true. This decision protects religious freedom under the First Amendment by making sincerity—not truth—the key for faith-based claims. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court’s 1947 decision in Adamson v. California, where Clarence Adamson was convicted after refusing to testify and his silence was used against him. The Court held (5–4) that the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination did not apply to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment, allowing California to penalize his silence. This ruling limited the incorporation of the Bill of Rights against state governments and sparked debate over which federal rights bind the states. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court’s 1948 decision in Shelley v. Kraemer, where the Shelley family faced legal challenges after purchasing a home in a racially restricted neighborhood. The Court unanimously ruled that enforcing racial restrictive covenants violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause. This landmark ruling was a crucial step toward ending housing segregation and reinforced constitutional protections against racial discrimination. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the Supreme Court’s 1949 decision in Wolf v. Colorado, where Dr. Julius Wolf challenged evidence obtained by police without a search warrant. The Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures applied to states through the Fourteenth Amendment, but did not require states to exclude illegally obtained evidence from trials. This ruling set the stage for future decisions clarifying individual constitutional protections against illegal searches. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores life in the 1940s, a decade shaped by World War II, major changes on the American homefront, and the early push for civil rights. Students will learn about key events like the war effort, the role of women, the creation of the United Nations, and the use of the atomic bomb. The activity also highlights how the 1940s set the stage for future movements and technological advances, encouraging students to connect the past with the world they live in today. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This activity explores the key events and impact of World War II from 1939 to 1945. Students will examine the rise of dictators, the attack on Pearl Harbor, life on the American home front, the Holocaust, and the war’s turning points in both Europe and the Pacific. The activity also covers how the war ended, the use of atomic bombs, and how World War II reshaped the global order and set the stage for the modern world. Included in this resource: Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ©2025 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.