How do we learn the skills we need to survive? What skills are necessary for survival? Objective By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: • Describe how the Great Depression changed the lives of cowboys and ranchers during the Great Depression. • Explain how learning new skills contributed to cowboy’s and rancher’s survival during the Great Depression. • Give examples of important skills in their lives today and describe how learning new skills will be important to preparing for life after high school. Background Cowboy life changed immensely after the close of the Open Range Cattl Duration: 60 Minutes.