Adolf Hitler Lesson Plan: World History and Global Conflict

Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12

NOTE TO EDUCATORS: The BrainPOP movie featured in this lesson plan describes Adolf Hitler's antisemitic and racist ideology and the brutal policies enacted under his rule. Due to the difficult nature of this topic, consider previewing the movie before showing it to the class.

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Adolf Hitler Lesson Plan.

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Adolf Hitler, and supports the standards of understanding key events and periods across the world and analyzing the factors that enabled Hitler’s rise to power. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of creative projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Ask students: 

  • Why is it important for members of a community to speak up for one another?
  • How can community members support justice with their words and actions?

Step 2: BUILD BACKGROUND

  • Read aloud the description below the Adolf Hitler Topic Page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “In Depth” or “Politics”. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY 

Students synthesize their ideas and express them through one or more of the following creative projects. They can work individually or collaborate.  

  • Make-a-Movie: Produce a mini-documentary explaining the events and ideas that led to Hitler’s rule.
  • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying Hitler’s policies and explaining their impact.
  • Creative Coding: Code a conversation about the dangers of a dictatorship.

Step 4: REFLECT & ASSESS 

Reflect: After sharing creative projects with each other, students reflect on what they’ve learned about Adolf Hitler. Prompt them by asking questions such as: 

  • How did the Great Depression help Hitler rise to power?
  • What other events, actions, and ideas enabled Hitler’s brutal policies? 
  • What does the phrase “We are all responsible for the world we live in” mean to you? Why is this important?

Assess: Wrap up the lesson with the Adolf Hitler Quiz. 

Step 5: Extend Learning

Deepen your understanding of the impact of Adolf Hitler’s rule with topics like Holocaust, World War II, Elie Wiesel, and Anne Frank.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  6-8, 9-12, Adolf Hitler, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.2