The Watergate Scandal and Richard Nixon a Mini-Play or Classroom Skit

Description

This lesson has students recount the major details of the Watergate scandal in a mini-skit or mini-play. The actual scandal is VERY complicated and had dozens of people who were involved. For the purposes of this lesson, I simplified the story down to the major people and events. Students will re-enact the actually burglary, the meeting of Woodward with a “secret informant,” and some of Nixon’s meetings with this White House aides. The skit takes students from the planning of the burglary to Nixon’s resignation.

Included in this resource:

• A Word Version of the skit/ mini-play (editable)
• A PDF Version of the skit/ mini-play (not editable)
• A PowerPoint version and a Google Slides version of the exit ticket
• A Canva and Google Slides version of the scene slideshow
• A lesson plan with guidance for implementation

This lesson addresses the following NYS Social Studies standards:

8.9d – Economic recession during the 1970s and concerns about the growth and size of the federal government encouraged fiscal conservatives to push for changes in regulation and policy.

© COPYRIGHT 2026 PEACEFIELD HISTORY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Permission is granted to copy pages specifically designed for student or teacher use by the original purchaser or licensee. This is intended to be used by one teacher unless additional licenses have been purchased. The reproduction of any other part of this product is strictly prohibited. Copying any part of this product and placing it on the Internet in any form besides Google Classroom is strictly forbidden. Doing so makes it possible for an Internet search to make the document available on the Internet, free of charge, and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).