New Accessible Lesson Plan: The Great Depression, Dust Bowl, Disability: Background for “Of Mice and Men”

This lesson guides students in exploring the Great Depression of 1920-1940 with a focus on the Dust Bowl, Migrant Workers, and the status of people with disabilities during this time period. The lesson is conceived as a research project in preparation for reading John Steinbeck’s novella “Of Mice and Men”, and could also be an interdisciplinary unit linking American History, English Literature, and Disability History. It can be co-taught by the subject teacher and the Special Education Teacher. Common Core Standards in English Language Arts met by this lesson are specified. It features a rich array of primary sources, and thoughtful planning to adapt the lesson to the needs of individual students, including a UDL chart and lesson vocabulary. Download the lesson, or view all lessons and primary source sets in the Resource Library.