Great Depression Hobo Symbols

The Great Depression was a hard time for many Americans. During the peak of the Great Depression, nearly 25% of Americans were without a job. The name “hobos” referred to people, especially young men, who traveled across the country in search of work. Many of them came from the “Dust Bowl” region seeking refuge from drought and dust storms. Hobos typically traveled by hopping on and off trains. They lived in makeshift camps called “hobo jungles” and developed a form of communication through symbols, or pictographs, to warn each other of dangers or opportunities. Students will use the pictographs to find the hidden hobo symbols throughout the town and then answer questions about what the symbols mean. They will then create their own symbol using the space provided and explain what it means.

This can be used for homeschool or in the classroom.

This is a single worksheet from our Stories in History- Modern American History full year curriculum. Check out all of our Modern American History worksheets and full year curriculum here.