Grade 7
Social Studies
Unit: 11 Lesson: 01
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The Dust Bowl: 1930s
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§  The Dust Bowl was an area of the
country that was affected by drought in
the 1930s, with 1934-1936 being the most
severe.
§  The states most affected were Wyoming,
Montana, North and South Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado,
New Mexico, and Texas.
©2012, TESCCC
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©2012, TESCCC
The Dust Bowl: 1930s
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§  The area most affected in Texas was the
panhandle.
§  Cities such as Dalhart, Amarillo,
Lubbock, Midland, Odessa and the
small communities surrounding them
were heavily impacted.
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The Dust Bowl: 1930s
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Causes:
§  Severe drought (no rain)
§ 
High winds and temperatures well over 100 degrees.
§ 
Farming methods at that time did not use ground
cover, crop rotation, or soil conservation methods.
§ 
The result was that the dry conditions and high
winds caused the soil to turn to dust and blow away.
©2012, TESCCC
The Dust Bowl: 1930s
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Effects:
§  Severe dust storms or “black
blizzards” devastated
communities.
§  Crops were ruined.
§  Livestock perished.
§  Family farms were lost.
©2012, TESCCC
The Dust Bowl: 1930s
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Effects:
§  Adults and children died from dust
pneumonia.
§ 
Children wore dust masks walking to school.
§ 
Homes were overcome with insects and pests
such as scorpions, spiders, rattlesnakes.
§ 
Thousands of jackrabbits devoured family
gardens.
©2012, TESCCC
The Dust Bowl: 1930s
Effects:
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§ 
Acts of daily life such as breathing, eating, and
working were no longer simple.
§ 
Children wore dust masks to and from school.
§ 
Women hung wet sheets over windows in a futile
attempt to stop the dirt from entering their
homes.
§ 
Farmers watched helplessly as their crops and
land blew away.
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The Dust Bowl: 1930s
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§  West Texas was hit the hardest,
but people all over the state were
hurt economically during these
years.
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Pretend you are one of the children in this picture.
Turn and talk to a partner and say one word
describing how this makes you feel.
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Turn to your partner and describe the picture below.
What does it remind you of?
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Turn to your partner and explain in a sentence
why these severe dust storms were called “black
blizzards.”
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A black blizzard over Prowers Co., Colorado, 1937
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Turn and talk to your partner. What do you
think happens inside the houses when a dust
storm like this hits?
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Dust storm
approaching Stratford,
Texas Dust bowl
surveying in Texas
Location: Stratford,
Texas
Photo Date: April 18,
1935
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Turn and talk to your partner. Why
would the severe drought hurt
cattle and other animals?
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©2012, TESCCC