Lesson Plan

Resources → Subject Notes → History → Notes
Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: History
Lesson Topic: 3.2 Germany, 1918–45
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the political, economic and social conditions in Germany after WWI that led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic.
  • Explain how the Nazi Party gained power between 1920 and 1933, citing key events and legislation.
  • Analyse the methods the Nazis used to consolidate totalitarian control domestically and internationally.
  • Evaluate the impact of the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression on German politics.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • PowerPoint presentation with maps and timelines
  • Handout summarising key dates and events
  • Primary source excerpts (Treaty of Versailles article, Nazi propaganda poster)
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Quiz cards for exit ticket
 Introduction:
Begin with a striking image of the 1918 German Revolution and ask students what they think caused such upheaval. Link to their prior knowledge of WWI’s end and the Treaty of Versailles. Outline today’s success criteria: students will trace the chronology, explain causes of the Nazi rise, and assess how totalitarian control was established.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Students place a set of events on a blank timeline.
  2. Mini‑lecture (15') – Overview of the Weimar Republic’s crises using PowerPoint.
  3. Group analysis (20') – Examine primary source excerpts (Treaty excerpt, propaganda poster) and answer guiding questions.
  4. Interactive timeline activity (15') – Teams add key Nazi milestones to a class timeline on the board.
  5. Debate (15') – “Was Hitler’s rise inevitable?” using evidence from the sources.
  6. Check for understanding (5') – Quick quiz (Kahoot or handout) covering key dates and legislation.
  7. Exit ticket (5') – One‑sentence answer to: “What was the most decisive factor in the Nazis consolidating power?”
Conclusion:
Summarise how economic hardship, political instability and effective Nazi propaganda combined to dismantle democracy. Ask students to write an exit ticket reflecting the decisive factor they identified. Assign homework to create a brief timeline of 1918‑1939 events for revision.