Diamond 9 Activity: Why did the US Economy boom in the 1920s?

This great resource is designed to help students understand why the US economy boomed in the 1920’s. The key theory underpinning this strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organise our knowledge and connect our learning. It can used as a starter or plenary and is suitable for middle to upper ability students as a stretch and challenge task. If you would like something aimed at middle to lower ability students, then please check out my card sort of this topic in my TES shop. This task is primarily designed to help students prioritise the different factors in preparation for an extended answer or essay.

The resource nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors to explain why the US economy boomed in the 1920s. Once students have cut the cards out they are set three tasks including:

1. Remove any reasons for the boom that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them.
2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons.
3. Make a smaller diamond shape using what you think are the four most important reasons why the US economy boom in the 1920’s. Record and explain your reasons.

At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thinking skills as well as their arguments for writing their essay.

The aims and objectives for this lesson are:

Theme: Why was there an economic boom in the 1920s?
Know: What were the main reasons why the US economy grew?
Understand: How did each factor help the economy boom?
Evaluate: Which factors were the most important?

WILF: What Am I Looking for?
Identify & describe: The main reasons why the US economy boomed?
Explain: How did each factor help the economy to grow rapidly?
Analyze: Which factors were the most important?

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Kind Regards

Roy