Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Collection · 14 AI figures
The Great Depression and the New Deal
Humy team
14 AI figures for this unit, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, A. Philip Randolph and Frances Perkins. Share one link and students choose who to talk to.
Featuring Franklin D. Roosevelt, A. Philip Randolph, Frances Perkins and 11 more
Free teacher account · 20 AI messages a month · No credit card
- Figures
- 14
- Students join
- With a link
- Grading
- None, open exploration
Collection
Preview
The Great Depression and the New Deal
- Franklin D. RooseveltChat with Franklin D. Roosevelt
- A. Philip RandolphChat with A. Philip Randolph
- Frances PerkinsChat with Frances Perkins
- John Maynard KeynesChat with John Maynard Keynes
- Eleanor RooseveltChat with Eleanor Roosevelt
- Mary McLeod BethuneChat with Mary McLeod Bethune
- +8 more figures
The 14 figures in this collection
Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd President of the United States, known for his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II.
A. Philip Randolph
African American civil rights leader and labor organizer.
Frances Perkins
The first woman to serve as a U.S. Cabinet member, she was the Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and played a key role in the development of New Deal programs.
John Maynard Keynes
Economist and proponent of Keynesian economics.
Eleanor Roosevelt
First Lady, diplomat, and human rights advocate.
Mary McLeod Bethune
American educator and civil rights leader.
Herbert Hoover
31st President of the United States, a mining engineer, and humanitarian.
Harry Hopkins
One of the key architects of the New Deal program in the United States.
Henry Wallace
American politician and 33rd Vice President of the United States.
Huey Long
American politician and Governor of Louisiana known for his populist and controversial policies.
Robert F. Wagner
American politician and senator known for sponsoring landmark labor and social welfare legislation.
Harold Ickes
American politician and advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Rexford Tugwell
American economist and government official known for his role in the New Deal policies.
Father Charles Coughlin
Controversial Catholic priest and political radio broadcaster in the United States during the 1930s.
Lesson ideas
This assignment transports students into one of America's most challenging times: The Great Depression and the New Deal era. Through interactive AI conversations, participants will engage with the individuals who played integral roles in addressing the economic collapse and in shaping the government's response to alleviate the suffering. This period of profound hardship and transformative action offers a backdrop to explore complex social, economic, and political themes in 20th-century American history.
Activities
AI Interactions: Through personal interviews with historical figures, participants will explore the decisions, policies, and societal impacts that characterized the 1930s.
Analytical Essays: Students will reflect on the New Deal's effectiveness and the various opinions about it to gain deeper insight into how Americans responded to the Great Depression.
Group Discussions: Facilitated debates will broaden students' understanding of the time period, encouraging them to examine its lasting effects on American society and government.
Learning Outcomes
Gain a comprehensive understanding of The Great Depression and the New Deal era, with an emphasis on the diverse range of responses to the economic crisis.
Develop critical analysis skills by evaluating historical policies and their implications for modern economic and social welfare programs.
Enhance written and oral communication skills by discussing and debating the historical significance and contemporary relevance of the era's policies and figures.
In your classroom
From this page to your class in three steps.
Open it in Humy
Preview the collection, then choose Activate to add it to your collections. Add or remove figures any time.
Share one link
Students join with their first and last name. No email, no password.
Students pick a figure
Each student chooses who to question and starts a conversation.
Try this collection free
After sign-up, find it under Collections → Community library.
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What educators are saying
Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who is in this collection?
14 AI figures: Franklin D. Roosevelt, A. Philip Randolph, Frances Perkins, John Maynard Keynes, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary McLeod Bethune, Herbert Hoover, Harry Hopkins and 6 more. Each one has its own page on Humy.
How do students use a collection?
You share one link. Students see the overview and the list of figures, pick one and start a chat.
How is a collection different from an assignment?
An assignment is one task with a rubric, and Humy grades the work. A collection is a set of figures for open exploration of a topic, with no grading.
Do my students need accounts?
No. Students open the link you share and type their first and last name. No email, no password.
Is Humy free to try?
Yes. A free teacher account includes 20 AI messages a month, shared with your students, plus all five assignment formats and auto-grading. No credit card.
Is Humy.ai safe and compliant for schools?
Yes. Humy.ai is used by more than 100 schools, universities and organisations. The platform is FERPA- and GDPR-aligned, supports SSO, and offers an IT-approval pack tailored for school procurement teams.
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Bring the Great Depression and the New Deal to your class.
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