World Geography & Government: Hitler's Olympics of 1936 (Includes PowerPoint)

Following World War I, Germany was in economic, political, and physical ruins. In 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor and began his quiet quest against anyone who was not Arian. In 1931, Germany was given the option of hosting the1936 Olympics. Hilter wasn't sure it was a good idea until he was convinced that they could build the largest stadium and make Germany look as if it was not in ruin. He agreed. The 1936 Olympics were different from the Olympics from the past. It incorporated theatre, high-tech equipment for the games, and a wonderful production with a lot of rituals that would continue into the Olympic games after Hitler's Olympics.

Hitler kept his secret of his war against the Jews throughout the two weeks of the Olympics using propaganda to show the world how well Germany was doing; the world, however, had no idea was in store for Germany and the Jews who lived within its borders.

OBJECTIVES:
• Students will understand the concept of propaganda and how it was used during the Olympics in 1936
by the Nazi regime. (Bloom’s Taxonomy: Understand)
• Students will understand the events that led up to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. (Bloom’s: Understand)
• Students will recognize the governmental workings to boycott Jews from the Olympics. (Bloom’s: Understand)
• Students will investigate, identify, and present today’s propaganda techniques throughout the world in
Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South American. (Bloom’s: Understand and Create)
• Students will critique and defend their work as propaganda. (Bloom’s: Evaluate)
• Students will judge whether they agree with statements using the Before & After technique. (Blooms: Evaluate)

INCLUDES
• Lesson Teaser/Bump: Hitler’s Olympics PowerPoint
• Dice: One per group
• Article: History Behind Hitler’s Olympics (Student Group Reading Activity)
• Group Project Activity Instruction
• Mustache art (For Fun)
• Examples of Government Propaganda with teacher guides.
• Before & After: Agree or Disagree Warm-up and Follow-up Activity
• Exit Cards
• Grading Rubric (Included)
and more.