Notable Trade Book Lesson Plan Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story by Dandi Daley Mackall

This technology-infused lesson uses the historical fiction book, Rudy Rides the Rails, which is based on the real “Ramblin’ Rudy” who rode in railroad cars searching for work during the Great Depression. Instructional development focuses on students working collaboratively as they investigate how economic factors directly affect living conditions. This lesson incorporates history and basic economic concepts that allow students to understand how global and national conditions affect the lives of people, not only in the past but also currently. This lesson is designed for students in the middle grades but can easily be adapted for high school students.