Economics in One Lesson (Hazlitt) Reader's Theater Script | High School Econ 101.5

This 12-scene Readers Theater script for Grades 9–12 brings Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson into a modern high school classroom. Students explore real-world topics like rent control, minimum wage, and tariffs. Led by Mr. Carter (mainstream) and Ms. Lopez (Austrian), four teens—Mia, Jay, Sara, and Liam—tackle rent control, minimum wages, and tariffs, uncovering hidden costs. Time-traveling Hazlitt, Mises, and Friedman, plus modern voice Sowell, join the fray across 10 roles (6 students, 4 guests). Perfect for grades 9-12, it offers flexible casting.

The worksheet deepens learning:

• Short-Answer: Basics like “Why does Liam worry about wage cuts?” with quotes.
• Long-Format: Life ties like “How might Sowell shape your tax view?”
• Economic Concept: Research like “Find 2005-2015 disaster spending” for unseen proof.
• Themes and Discussion: Talks on short-term vs. unseen, like “What’s your spending trade-off?”
• Application Focus: Students cite evidence and link to today, from $800 phones to $15 wages.

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What's included?

(a single PDF with links to Google Docs/Slides, if print format is preferred you can download from your Google Drive to word/pdf/ppt/etc)

1) Teacher's Guide & Answer Key

• Standards Alignment (CCSS Grades 9~12, CCRA)
• Teacher Tips
• Answer Keys for all worksheet sections
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts
• Format: Google Doc (6 pages)

2) Readers Theater Script

• ~10 Characters, 3150 words
• Format: Google Doc (9 pages)

3) Script Worksheet

• 10 Vocabulary Words
• 10 Short-Answer Questions
• 5 Economic Concept Research & Extension Questions
• Format: Google Slides (22 Slides)

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about 50~60 minutes
• Depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.

Script Summary:

• Scene 1: The Economics Riddle Mr. Carter and Ms. Lopez introduce Hazlitt’s lesson—short-term gains mask long-term costs—as Mia questions rent control’s catch.
• Scene 2: The Broken Window Trap Teachers use a broken window to show destruction’s unseen losses, with Jay defending storm jobs.
• Scene 3: Rent Control Debate Students clash over rent control’s $500 savings vs. housing shortages, testing Hazlitt’s lens.
• Scene 4: Henry Hazlitt Arrives Hazlitt (1946) warns rent control dries up homes, facing Jay’s push for now.
• Scene 5: Public Works Reality A $50 million bridge reveals taxes’ unseen cuts, like Sara’s art class, challenging Mia’s “free” view.
• Scene 6: Thomas Sowell Weighs In Sowell (2023) critiques public spending’s trade-offs, tying to Liam’s lost club.
• Scene 7: Minimum Wage Clash Mia’s $15 wage hope meets Liam’s job-cut fears, probing price-fixing’s fallout.
• Scene 8: Ludwig von Mises Enters Mises (1949) slams wage mandates as market distortions, clashing with Mia’s fairness plea.
• Scene 9: Tariffs’ Hidden Sting Teachers show tariffs’ $200 phone hike vs. 1,000 jobs, with Sara feeling the consumer pinch.
• Scene 10: Milton Friedman Joins Friedman (1976) blasts tariffs as a tax on all, facing Jay’s job defense.
• Scene 11: Students Decide Students vote on rent control or tariffs, with Sara picking markets over meddling.
• Scene 12: Seeing Tomorrow Teachers tie Hazlitt’s filter to today’s policies, urging Liam to dig deeper.

Skills Addressed:

• Reading fluency and comprehension
• Evidence-based reasoning
• Economic literacy
• Speaking & collaboration

Will this meet your classroom's needs?

Try this FREE Globalization & Tariffs script from the ECON 101.5 series first :)