Hyperinflation Activity

This activity is perfect for students studying hyperinflation and for teachers who want a more interactive lesson.

You will need to purchase a range of snacks (e.g. chocolate, sweets, crisps) that students can buy from the 1919 shop. Students are split into groups of five and each group is given a role pack: farmer, small business owner, pensioner, landowner, unemployed worker, or foreigner.

Each group receives a pack containing two envelopes: one for 1919 and one for 1923. Students begin by opening the 1919 envelope, which explains their situation in 1919 and includes a wage slip with money attached. They can then decide how to spend their money at the shop.

Once all students have visited the shop, they open the 1923 envelope, which contains hyperinflation currency. Only two groups are able to attend the second shop, as they are the “winners” of hyperinflation. Each pack also includes an information card explaining how hyperinflation has affected their group, either positively or negatively.

The key idea is that students can visually and practically see how farmers and foreigners benefit from hyperinflation, while other groups—such as retired people on fixed incomes—suffer and are unable to afford basic necessities.

After the activity, students complete reflection sheets with questions based on what they experienced, as well as interpretation and challenge tasks. While waiting to visit the shop, students stay engaged by completing two retrieval activities on Weimar Germany within their groups.

This activity does take time to set up, but once it has been printed, cut out, and organised into folders, it works perfectly. Our students absolutely love it—we use it every year, and it’s always one of the highlight lessons. Full instructions and printing guidance are included in the pack.

I even made the currency with teachers faces!