Grade 7 Social Studies Unit: 11 Lesson: 01

©2012, TESCCC The Dust Bowl: 1930s – § 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.

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©2012, TESCCC The Dust Bowl: 1930s – § 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.

©2012, TESCCC The Dust Bowl: 1930s – 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 Effects: – § Severe dust storms or “black blizzards” devastated communities. § Crops were ruined. § Livestock perished. § Family farms were lost.

©2012, TESCCC The Dust Bowl: 1930s

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: – § 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.

©2012, TESCCC The Dust Bowl: 1930s – § West Texas was hit the hardest, but people all over the state were hurt economically during these years.

©2012, TESCCC 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. –

©2012, TESCCC Turn to your partner and describe the picture below. What does it remind you of? –

©2012, TESCCC Turn to your partner and explain in a sentence why these severe dust storms were called “black blizzards.” –

A black blizzard over Prowers Co., Colorado, 1937

©2012, TESCCC Turn and talk to your partner. What do you think happens inside the houses when a dust storm like this hits? – Dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas Dust bowl surveying in Texas Location: Stratford, Texas Photo Date: April 18, 1935

©2012, TESCCC Turn and talk to your partner. Why would the severe drought hurt cattle and other animals? –

©2012, TESCCC