You're a farmer in 1930s Oklahoma and you never thought you'd see this day. Your fields have literally turned to dust. This Depression the radio folks were talking about just reached the heartland.The epic disaster of the Dust Bowl brings home the cruel consequences of drought. The calamity that struck Depression-era America was startling for its far-reaching effects across our country, teaching us much about the nature of droughts and their dreadful devastation. The science section of this book examines the lessons from the Dust Bowl droughts for farmers, including the importance of topsoil. The history of droughts around the world compares impacts on a wide variety of societies. The final chapter looks at the latest tools and technologies developed to help us survive future droughts. The ample back matter will help students find sources to write informed and compelling reports on this subject.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.