Rick Steves: The Story of Fascism in Europe -- PDF Worksheet & Crosswords

46 True/False Questions plus a crossword puzzle set differentiated into basic and advanced levels! Goes with the Rick Steves special, The Story of Fascism in Europe, currently available for free streaming online! Covers Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, totalitarianism, WWII, the Holocaust and more, all while visiting key historic locations along the way!

CAN BE DONE FULLY ONLINE HERE AT TPT AS A DIGITAL ACTIVITY! Just look for the link to use online on this resource's product page!

Teacher Information

This activity pack is designed for use with The Story of Fascism in Europe, a special episode of the television show Rick Steves’ Europe. The episode lasts about 56 minutes, double the usual time for an episode, and examines the history of fascism from starting with its roots in the post-WWI era. Major topics covered along with way include Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Guernica, World War II, the Holocaust and other civil rights abuses. As these topics are examined, the show takes viewers on a tour of key historical locations – the next best thing to being able to take your history class to Europe in person! The show concludes with a word of warning, detailing how an educated and aware electorate is of key importance in preventing another rise of fascism.

The special is summarized on the PBS website as follows: “In this one-hour special, Rick Steves travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe — taking millions of people with it. He traces fascism’s history from its roots in the turbulent aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people rose up, to the rise of charismatic leaders who manipulated that anger, and the totalitarian societies they built.”

Where to Find the Episode Online

The Story of Fascism in Europe is currently available through the streaming websites portal for PBS stations. At the time this packet was published, the episode could be streamed for free from the following addresses:

https://www.pbs.org/video/the-story-of-fascism-in-europe-pthanf/

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/fascism

Free access to the video at the above sites may cease in the future. However, another option is to purchase the episode outright; it is available for a low cost from web services such as iTunes or Amazon. It may also be available from other online companies. The best way to find out where is may be streaming either for free or purchase at any given time is to search for it on the Internet using search terms such as “Rick Steves’ Europe Story of Fascism” or “Rick Steves’ Europe Specials Story of Fascism.”

About This Fascism in Europe Worksheet Packet

This packet includes several resources to help you use The Story of Fascism in Europe in your classroom.

• 46 true/false questions presented in video order so students can work along with the episode if you wish.
• Several answer keys to meet your needs, including one designed for super-fast grading and another intended to help you conduct class discussions and clarify details for students.
• A crossword puzzle set with both basic and advanced levels of the puzzle so you have print-and-go instant differentiation!

Teacher Convenience Features In These Fascism Worksheets

I’m a teacher too, so I’m always looking for ways to become more efficient so I can get it all done and still have an enjoyable work-life balance! To that end, I’ve built several handy features into these Fascism in Europe Activities.

• Optional time stamps for the 46-question worksheet. As you page through this packet, first you will find the questions presented without time stamps. Immediately after that you will see the same questions presented with time stamps.
• Answer key for true/false choice worksheet, with the answer key exactly matching the student worksheet in format. This allows teachers to line up dozens of papers with the key and correct them all in a batch, greatly speeding the process up!
• Answer key with all false answers annotated to help you conduct class discussions about the worksheet problems and the episode contents.
• Several options and ideas for how to use the worksheets. Lots of instructional choices to select from so they suit your pacing and teaching style!
• Full answer keys for both the basic and advanced crossword puzzles

Episode Rating Information

The Story of Fascism in Europe is rated TV-G, indicating that it is suitable for audiences of all ages.

Ideas for Using These Fascism in Europe Worksheets

Only a teacher knows what constitutes best use for a particular class, but I always find it helpful to see what creative approaches other teachers are using. Here are some good options for the 46-question true/false worksheet and the crossword puzzles.

True/False Worksheet Instructional Options:

• Standard use: Print off copies of the true/false worksheet and have students complete it as they watch the film. Or send the copies electronically so students can complete them on tablet/laptop devices, if that is an option in your setting. Go over answers out loud if time permits (great for discussing/debriefing the film content) or collect papers to grade them more formally.
• Accommodate students who claim that the worksheets "go too fast:" Assign students to do only the evens or only the odds. After watching the film, pair students up to discuss and fill in missing answers.
• Create basic and advanced levels from the same worksheet: This is easily done by declaring that the "basic" level is odds-only (or evens-only) while the "advanced" level consists of all the questions. Encourage students to challenge themselves to do the advanced level by offering extra credit or by announcing that the basic level can only earn a C at best, but A and B grades are available at the advanced level.
• Run a game show: Have students watch the film carefully and take notes. Form groups afterwards and have them pool their notes, briefly discussing the whole film. Pass out the worksheets only AFTER this discussion and have each group fill out one collaboratively. Go over the answers out loud, calling on groups to respond. This option means making fewer copies: one per group instead of one per student.
• Run a multi-round game show: Print out only one copy of the worksheet and cut it apart to make question strips. Have students watch the film carefully and take notes. Form groups afterwards and have them pool their notes, briefly discussing the whole film. Ask the questions out loud, handing the question slip used to the group that first supplies the correct answer. In this way the question strips become a point counter to keep track of group progress. After all questions have been used, have each group ask each of their questions of the other groups -- this provides an additional level of review and gives groups a chance to recoup points they missed on the first round. This option means making only a single copy!
• My personal favorite -- Let students self-assess their learning: Print out one worksheet per student, but hang onto them until students have finished watching the film. Then pass them out and have students work in pairs or individually to see how much they remember even without having any notes to consult. Afterwards, go over the material aloud to review with the class and let them fill in the blanks.
• Use worksheets as a traditional quiz: As above, but collect papers for grading before going over the items aloud.

Crossword Puzzle Instructional Options:

• Use the true/false worksheet in any way you wish, and then use the advanced (Level A) or basic (Level B) crossword puzzle as a fun quiz to finish off your fascism unit.
• Pass out either the advanced or basic crossword puzzle for homework.
• Assign students to do the advanced puzzle in class. Go over answers. Then, on the following day, pass out the basic puzzle to do as a quiz. This has the effect of rewarding students who paid attention during the review, since all of the basic problems also show up on the advanced puzzle.
• Save the puzzles for later in the year when you need a fast, easy, relatively fun sub plan. Print off copies for your sub to pass out and leave instructions that students can treat it as a research task, using online resources to try to complete the puzzle! In my opinion, the advanced (Level A) puzzle is the best option in this case since you want students to have plenty to research!

LOOKING FOR AN EXAMVIEW VERSION INSTEAD?

The Examview version of the true/false worksheet is ideal for distance learning! (However, the Examview version does NOT include the crossword puzzles since Examview doesn't support that question type.) You can see full info on the Examview version of Rick Steves: The Story of Fascism here:

Rick Steves: The Story of Fascism in Europe Examview True/False Questions

I hope your students find this travel-based show as engaging as mine do! It makes for a fun, yet highly instructional, break from the usual documentary-style history videos!

LOOKING FOR MORE RICK STEVES VIDEO WORKSHEETS?

All of these are perfect for distance learning as the matching videos are currently all streaming for free online at the Rick Steves website and also on YouTube!

Great for Spanish / World Cultures / History / Social Studies Classes:

Rick Steves' Europe: Sevilla Worksheets

Rick Steves' Europe: Granada, Córdoba, & Spain's Costa del Sol Worksheets

Rick Steves' Europe: The Majesty of Madrid Worksheets

Rick Steves' Europe: Barcelona & Cataluña Worksheets

Also available: Rick Steves' Europe: Barcelona & Cataluña PDF/Examview/Blackboard Bundle

Great for European History / World History / Social Studies Classes:

Rick Steves: The Story of Fascism in Europe Worksheets & Puzzles

Also available: The Story of Fascism in Europe Examview Test Banks

Also available: The Story of Fascism in Europe PDF & Examview Bundle

Happy teaching,

Elise Parker TpT

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Elise-Parker-Tpt