The CCC: Jobs for Young Men — Reading Comprehension

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D2.HIS.2.3-5
D2.HIS.3.3-5
D2.HIS.14.3-5
RI.4.3
RI.4.4
W.4.2

About This Reader

This history reading passage explores the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a program created during the Great Depression to help young men and the country. Students will learn how the CCC provided jobs, built parks, and restored forests. The passage uses clear, simple language and is supported by a glossary, timeline, and comprehension activities. Included are read aloud audio and a Spanish translation to support all learners. Designed for upper elementary, the resource meets C3 Framework standards and Common Core literacy requirements. The activities encourage deeper thinking, including writing, timelines, and graphic organizers. This passage is perfect for lessons on the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the New Deal, building knowledge about U.S. history and how Americans worked together to solve big problems.

CONTENT PREVIEW

"Civilian Conservation Corps - NARA - 195832"
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).

The United States faced hard times during the Great Depression. Many people lost their jobs. Families did not have enough food or money. Farmland was ruined by dust storms, called the Dust Bowl. The land was dry, and crops would not grow. People needed help, and so did the land.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started a new program called the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC. The CCC gave jobs to young men between ages 18 and 25. These men left their homes and went to live in camps. At the camps, they worked on projects to improve the land and help local communities.

CCC workers planted millions of trees. They built roads, trails, and picnic areas in parks. They stopped soil from washing away by building terraces and planting grass. Their work made forests healthier and helped protect wildlife. One CCC worker said, "We are not only fighting for jobs, but for our country’s future."

The CCC also helped families. The government paid the young men for their work. Most of the money was sent home to their families. This helped parents buy food, clothes, and other things they needed. The CCC gave hope to people when they needed it most.

Life in the CCC camps was hard but rewarding. The men woke up early each day. They learned new skills, such as carpentry or firefighting. Many men made friends from all over the country. Some earned their high school diplomas while in the CCC. The men learned the value of teamwork and helping others.

The CCC lasted for nine years, from 1933 to 1942. When World War II began, many former CCC workers joined the military. The skills they learned in the CCC helped them serve their country. The parks and forests they built are still enjoyed by people today.

Interesting Fact: More than three million young men worked in the CCC, planting over two billion trees across the United States!

Who started the CCC?

Franklin D. RooseveltAbraham LincolnGeorge WashingtonJohn Adams

When did the CCC begin?

1929193319411950

What did CCC workers plant?

CornWheatTreesCotton

Why was the CCC important?

It gave jobs and helped nature.It built shopping malls.It started the Dust Bowl.It closed all the parks.

How did the CCC help families?

Sent money home to families.Gave families new homes.Moved families to camps.Taught farming only.

What skills did CCC men learn?