Introducing Germany

Why study Germany?

Lesson Objective

The students will articulate a rationale for studying the role of Germany in the development of the European Union.

Resources Needed

Transparency 1 - “Why Study Germany”

Teacher Resource 1 - “Conversation Notes for ‘Why Study Germany’”

Strategies

An understanding of the central role Germany played in the establishment of the European Union is fundamental to student understanding of the growing alliance on the continent. This lesson is designed to help students identify some of the primary factors that place Germany in this critical position.

Begin this lesson by leading a brainstorming session asking students to generate a list of reasons for studying Germany. The teacher should record reasons identified by students on a chalkboard, flipchart, or overhead projector. A “starter list” of reasons can be found in Transparency 1 “Why Study Germany” and detailed explanations of each reason can be found in Teacher Resource 1, “Conversation Notes”.

For students that may need some support in identifying reasons to study Germany, the teacher may collect newspaper articles and place five different articles in a folder. Placing students in groups of five, students each examine one article to read and identify a reason from the article for studying about Germany.