Introducing KNOVA — A free reading app with curriculum-aligned passages on History & Science for Grades 3-8Learn More →

Fixing the Land After the Dust Bowl — Reading Comprehension

No ratings yet

Premium Resource

Grades

Standards

D2.HIS.2.3-5
D2.HIS.3.3-5
RI.4.3
RI.4.4
W.4.2
SL.4.2

Rate this resource

Send Feedback / Report an Issue

About This Reader

This engaging U.S. history reading passage explores how Americans bravely faced and solved the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. Students will learn about the causes of the Dust Bowl, the struggles farmers faced, and how the government, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, helped fix the land through new laws and programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps. The story highlights unity, problem-solving, and the importance of protecting natural resources. The passage includes key vocabulary, a Spanish translation, and aligns with C3 Framework and Common Core standards for history and literacy. Activities include a multiple-choice quiz, writing prompts, a timeline, and graphic organizers to deepen understanding. A read aloud audio and a relevant public domain image help bring the history to life. This resource is perfect for building foundational literacy and history skills while connecting to real events that shaped America.

CONTENT PREVIEW

The winds of the "dust bowl" have piled up large drifts of soil against this farmer's barn near Liberal, Kansas.
Source: Library of Congress - Rothstein, Arthur, 1915-1985

The Dust Bowl was a time in the 1930s when huge dust storms swept across the Great Plains. Wind blew away the topsoil because the land was very dry. This happened after years of drought and bad farming practices. Crops could not grow, and many families lost their farms.

Farmers and the government knew they had to make a change. The United States government started new recovery programs to help farmers. One important group was the Soil Conservation Service. This group taught farmers better ways to care for the land. Farmers learned to plant trees in rows called windbreaks. These trees stopped the wind from blowing away the soil.

People also learned new ways to plow the land. Instead of leaving fields bare, they planted cover crops to protect the soil. Farmers built terraces, which are small steps on hillsides. Terraces slowed down rainwater and kept soil from washing away.

Many farmers joined together to share ideas and help each other. They worked as a team. The government gave them new seeds and tools. Recovery programs paid some farmers to plant grass instead of crops. Grass roots held the soil in place. These changes helped the land heal.

After several years of hard work, the Great Plains started to recover. Rain finally returned, and crops began to grow again. Because of new farming practices and government programs, dust storms became less common.

The Dust Bowl taught Americans the importance of soil conservation. By caring for the land, farmers made sure that people could grow food and live in the Great Plains for many years to come.

Interesting Fact: After the Dust Bowl, more than 200 million trees were planted in the Great Plains to protect the soil from wind.

What caused the Dust Bowl?

Drought and bad farmingToo much rainEarthquakesCold weather

What is a windbreak?

Row of treesFarm toolType of soilWater tank

Which group helped farmers recover?

Soil Conservation ServiceForest RangersCowboysFishermen

Why did farmers plant cover crops?

To protect soilFor decorationTo make medicineTo feed animals

How did terraces help the land?

Slowed rainwaterMade it rainCaught dustGrew trees

What happened after rain returned?