Hillcrest High School Library

Johanna Spoljaric, Librarian

Ms. Ruggiero, Teacher

Down These Mean Streets

by Piri Thomas

 

Aim:  How can we find information about the important events in the United States in the 1930’s & 40’s?

 

Piri Thomas was born in the 1930’s during the Great Depression and he was sent to jail in the 1940’s when he was nineteen years old. 

Topics:  (1930’s)   Wall Street Crash –Al Capone – Scottsboro Trial - Bonnie & Clyde - J. Edgar Hoover -The Dust Bowl -   Mary McLeod Bethume –Jesse Owens   

(1940’s):  Richard Wright -  Japanese Internment Camps – Pearl Harbor – World War 11

 

Your group will be given a topic or event that occurred during the 1930’s or 1940’s, the most pivotal time of Piri Thomas’ life.  Working in groups, prepare a one page report about your topic or event.  Tell the class what you found most interesting about your topic or event.   Choose a presenter to read the report to the class.  You may include pictures.  The paper will be handed in to Ms. Ruggiero for extra credit.

 

Database website to use

http://hillcrestlibrary.org/databases.htm

Click on Student Resource Center Gold

Search by keyword – enter your search term

 

Other online websites

Piri Thomas' Words     

Interview With Piri Thomas   

American Cultural History  

ReTRo HouSeWiFe

                                   Video to watch:  WGBH American Experience . The Crash of 1929 | PBS