HISTORICALLY
SPEAKING GERMANY PATCH PROGRAM
complete 3 requirements to earn this patch
1. Did you know that Germany is about the size of the state of Montana?
Locate Germany on a map (make sure it is a recent map, the borders have
changed several times.) Find the capital. What continent is located on?
Identify Germany’s flag and the type of currency they use.
2. Find out what the German people call their country. Many
German words have been adopted in to the English language such as: sauerkraut, iceberg,
noodle, Volkswagen, and Kindergarten. Listen to a German language tape
or recite simple words or phrases in German or have fun creating your
own English words by combining different words together. Such as: ball-point
pen or zig-zag. See who can make up the longest word.
3. Germany customs and traditions have spread throughout the world. Here
are a few of these traditions: advent wreath, advent calendar, gingerbread
house, Christmas tree, Christmas ornaments, birthday parties, coloring
Easter eggs, and Santa Claus. Throw a German birthday party, make a Christmas
tree ornament, color Easter eggs, or look up the traditions of Saint Nick
(Santa Claus).
4. One of Germany’s favorite pastimes is the enjoyment of music. There were many classical musicians born in Germany such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms,
Handel, Hayden, and Mozart. Listen to a song from one of these composers
or attend a classical musical event. You may also visit an orchestra teacher.
5. The traditional German foods include meat, bread, cheese and potatoes. Germany boasts of over 200 different kinds of bread and rolls with names
like roggenbrot (rye bread), volkornbrot (multi-grain bread), and broetchen
(roll). Do you live in a community with a German Bakery or Panera Bread
Store? Try a typical German bread or the country loaf at Panera. How about
a German restaurant? Even the grocery store has German Food: sauerkraut,
marzipan, green-beans with spaetzles (in the frozen food section), or German
sausages or cheeses at the deli. Try a German food from the bakery, restaurant, grocery store or make something from the recipes included in the Germany manual!
6. Many years ago, The Brothers Grimm collected tales of German folklore
and put them in a book. Many of these stories should sound familiar to
you: Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Little Red Riding
Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, and Rapunzel. Read a book with one of these stories,
create a new modern ending to the story, or act out one of these stories.
7. There are several different castles in Germany. Take time to
study the castles, knights and other medieval ways. (940.1 in the library) or make a model
of a castle, draw a picture of a knight or princess or make a princess crown or hat.
8. Some of the most popular sports in Germany are soccer, tennis, handball,
gymnastics, and ice skating. Research more about famous athletes of Germany
or participate in a sport activity.
9. Just like the Brazilian Carnival or New Orleans Mardi Gras, most Germans celebrate “Karneval” or “Fasching”. Some other examples of holidays are:
Easter, St. Martin’s Day, St. Nicholas Day or Christmas. Visit a cultural
celebration or re-creation of a holiday event OR learn why they celebrated
the holiday. You may also create a drawing or art project, such as masks,
or food, such as, apple strudel, eaten at a German celebration.
10. When the Germans have a summer vacation, they always go somewhere! They travel out of country or visit many local landmarks such as beaches, mountains, lakes, forests; they camp or stay in hotels. When you have a summer vacation,
do you go somewhere? What was your most exciting place to visit? Tell your friends about the places you went to last summer.
11. Many people in southern Germany still wear traditional clothing. Some men wear Lederhosen and alpine hats. Women wear dirndls, full skirted dresses. Draw a picture of the clothing or study the traditional dress through books or the internet. (Examples of clothing are located in the manual.)
12. The Germans have contributed many inventions and discoveries to the world. Learn about some of these items or the people who invented them. For example:
The Printing Press, Bayer Aspirin, auto engine, x-rays, bicycles, Johannes Gutenberg, Count Zeppelin, and Albert Einstien.
13. The children in Germany enjoy a variety of games and toys. Some common games are “Change Change Little Tree”, puppets, or “Little Bird say Peep.”
There are several other games or toys enjoyed by children. Learn about
other games or toys in Germany, play a game they might have in Germany,
or make a puppet and create a fun play.
14. The first settlers in Germany were the Celts, and later the Germanic tribes. Locate Trier, Munich, and Hamburg on a map. Research how old these famous German cities are. Name two major rivers in Germany. What countries border Germany ? You may also visit a simulated German town.
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