Introduction

Before you read Out of the Dust or No Promises in the Wind, we
will spend some time getting familiar with the 1930s. We all know the stock
market crashed, but there are other events of the time period worthy of
recognition. It is important that you know current events of the 1930s to help
you answer the investigation question above. One major facet of family life in
the 1930s was listening to the radio, but they did not listen only to hear
music. They also listened for entertainment. Radio programs like The Shadow,
The Guiding Light, and Little Orphan Annie entertained families instead of
television.

The Task

A group of four to five students, after researching and writing individually, will organize and record a radio show that sounds realistic of the 1930s. Each person in the group will write a different part of the show.  Below is a list of those parts.  Click on the job below to find out more about the task, resources, and process you will need to complete and use.

 Hard News Writer
 Radio Program Writer
 Sports Writer
 Commercial Writer
 Movies and Music Feature Writer

Resources (each job above has its own links)
1930s WebQuest (Lots of Links here!)
Out of the Dust WebQuest
Great Depression WebQuest

The Process

In this WebQuest, you and three to four others will complete the following steps:
1. Research one aspect of 1930s pop culture: news events, radio programs,
music and movies, sports, and commercials. You will randomly select the area to
be researched. Realize that although there is a given area to research that you still have
to limit your topic. For example, if you are researching hard news, you must
collect information about one hard news event of the 1930s.

2. Individually write a script for a portion of a radio show based on your research. You wll learn the format used when writing a radio script and the style used for different sections of the program. News stories will be factual. Radio programs will be based on a character from this period, but you will write an original episode. Music/movie researcher will write two teasers on new releases of the 1930s. Commercials will be persuasive; you pick two1930s product you want to sponsor your show.

3. Your group should select an original title, background music(remember the Great Depression CD in the room), and at least two sound effects (live, pre-corded, or Internet).

4. Practice, practice, practice! Schedule a recording session for your group during lunch or after school. If you want to record at another location, this might provide additional time and chances for the best recording.

Evaluation

You will get credit for the following tasks:

1. Completing a research help sheet.

2. Writing a section of the script in proper form.

3. Performing and recording the radio show for the listening pleasure of your classmates.

4. Working well with group members.

Steps must be completed in this order. For example, no credit will be given for a script until a complete research help sheet exists. See the Radio Show Rubric.

Conclusion

After completing your radio show and listening to the others in your class, you will understand the culture, lifestyle, and events of the 1930s. In having this experience, you will have a greater appreciation for the conflicts for in the novels and the decisions characters make.