The Indie ScholarThe 1920s & 1930s
This unit covers the period of decadence that led to the period of depression — read books, participate in simulations, listen to music, and examine primary sources to discover what life was like.
- The Roaring Twenties — jazz, Prohibition, and a booming economy
- The 1929 stock market crash and the start of the Great Depression
- Primary sources from both the boom and the bust
- Simulations and period music that bring the decades to life
- A significant historical figure of their choosing, researched in depth
Student Workbook
FreeWritten directly to the student — guides them through daily reading and activities with minimal parent involvement.
Answer Key
Add-onIdentical to the student workbook, with answers included. Not required to complete the unit.
Required Text
American History: a Visual Encyclopedia, plus What Were the Roaring Twenties? and What Was the Great Depression?
Hands-On Activities
Simulations of boom-time and bust-time decision-making, plus a biography poster project.
Choose one historical fiction title to read alongside the unit.
Grade Range
Built for 4th–8th grade. Can be scaled down, but not recommended for high school students.
Pace
Written to cover 20 school days of self-guided study.
Best Fit
Students who like connecting economics, culture, and everyday life across a fast-changing decade.
- Read the required chapters and complete the daily workbook pages at your own pace.
- Choose one historical fiction book and one nonfiction title to read alongside the unit.
- Participate in the boom-and-bust simulations built into the workbook.
- Research a significant person of your choice and build a biography poster as a final project.
The workbook is free to download
Since the full student workbook is free, you can preview the whole unit before you start — these are real pages from the actual unit, not mockups.
Click any page to open the full, real workbook PDF.
Download the workbook →
