Weimar Crisis & Hyperinflation – Readers Theater Script (Grades 11-12)

Students grapple with reparations, Ruhr occupation and Hitler’s trial speech.

Focus: Students grapple with reparations, Ruhr occupation and Hitler’s trial speech.

Summary:
Economics meets extremism in this 10‑scene script that asks if democracy can survive hyperinflation.

Script Summary:

• Germany signs Versailles reparations.
• Ruhr occupation triggers passive resistance.
• Banknotes become wallpaper in hyperinflation peak.
• Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch & trial rhetoric.
• Dawes Plan offers fragile stabilization.

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)

• Readers Theater script (9 pages, 10 scenes, 14‑15 characters, editable Google Doc/PDF)
• Teacher Guide (10 pages) with scene summaries, primary‑source context, CCSS alignment, discussion questions
• Student Worksheet deck (25 Google Slides) covering vocabulary, short‑answer, analysis & extension tasks
• 20‑question self‑grading Google Forms quiz

Skills Addressed:

• Reading Dawes Report & trial speech
• Role‑play economic debate
• Evaluating links between crisis & extremism
• SAT vocab: hyperinflation, reparations

The worksheet deepens learning with:

• 10 text‑based comprehension questions
• 5 higher‑order analysis prompts
• 5 optional research extension questions (use of primary‑source links)