10/27/2026
Students in Kyle Magee's U.S. History classes at Mize High School discovered the answer through an immersive and interactive history lesson titled "From Wall Street to Dust" on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Instead of simply reading about the Great Depression, students experienced it through the eyes of Walter "Walt" Mercer, a fictional Wall Street stockbroker whose life is upended by the 1929 Stock Market Crash. Mr. Magee brought Mercer's story to life, guiding students on a journey from the financial towers of Wall Street to the breadlines of Chicago, the farms of Mississippi, the devastating Dust Bowl, and ultimately the migrant camps of California.
Throughout the lesson, students became historical investigators. Armed with a Hobo's Travel Journal, they examined authentic historical photographs, analyzed reconstructed documents and artifacts, calculated financial losses, studied sharecroppers' struggles, and made difficult survival decisions during one of America's darkest economic periods.
Students explored the Bonus Army protests, the hardships of homelessness and unemployment, the environmental devastation of the Dust Bowl, and the desperate journey west along Route 66. They also investigated the government's response to the crisis, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs.
At several points, students faced the same difficult choices ordinary Americans did: Should they stay or leave? Take a dangerous opportunity or risk going hungry? Should they trust promises of work hundreds of miles away?
The lesson combined dramatic storytelling, historical evidence, critical thinking, mathematics, geography, and decision-making to help students understand not just what happened during the Great Depression, but how it affected real families.
The goal was simple: to move history beyond the textbook and help students understand the resilience, sacrifices, and determination of Americans who endured the Great Depression.
The activity is part of Magee's ongoing effort to make U.S. History engaging and interactive, allowing students to explore historical events and better understand their lasting impact on American society.
