7th grade students in Mrs. DelToro’s Kansas History class recently engaged in a Land & Water Rights unit, focusing on the 1930s in both the United States and Kansas and connecting those issues to present day.
Through the River’s Reach Simulation, students analyzed competing interests surrounding land and water use while also examining the ethical and legal complexities of pollution, eminent domain, and Indigenous sovereignty.
Students also studied major historical challenges such as drought, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression. In addition, they explored federal programs created during this era, including the Civilian Conservation Corps, Rural Electrification Administration, and the Works Progress Administration, initiatives that provided immediate relief and, in some cases, continue to impact communities today.
