Topic 1: Physical Geography of Germany

Lesson 6: How do the regions and cities of Germany compare?

Lesson Objective

Students will compare and identify the characteristics of the different cities and regions across Germany in order to discuss the greater variation of the German States and cities.

Materials and Resources

CD ROM - “Diary of Jenny’s Travels Through Germany”
Worksheet 5 - “Map of Germany”
Worksheet 6 - “Comparing Cities and States in Germany”
Transparency 14 - “Traveling through Germany Map”
Worksheet 7 - “Jenny’s Travels through Germany”
Worksheet 8 - “Sister City Data Sheet”
Handout 5 - Transcripts of “Diary of Jenny’s Travels through Germany”

Strategies

The activities in this lesson provide students with a travelogue through six regions in Germany. Worksheet 5 “Map of Germany”, and Worksheet 6 “Comparing Cities and States in Germany” and internet resources should be used when studying the cities and regions. The map provides students the opportunity to trace the travels from city to city. Worksheet 6 allows students to compare features of each city and record information about the travels.

Before showing the enclosed CD-Rom “Jenny’s Travels through Germany”, hand out Worksheet 7 “Jenny’s Travels through Germany” and follow the instructions given there.

Many cities in the United States have established “sister city relationships” to promote better cultural understanding at a grass roots level. This activity may serve as a culmination of what students have been learning about Germany and Germans. Based on their studies, the class should generate a list of about six German cities that they find interesting and with which they would like to pursue further contact. As a group work, students would be asked to complete Worksheet 8 “Sister City Data Sheet” with information about a different German city.

Once the data is obtained on the different cities, the whole class should discuss the following questions:

Which German city(ies) are most similar to our own (or nearby) U.S. city?
How does our own city differ from these German cities?
With which city should our class form a “sister city” partnership, and what are the advantages and disadvantages to our selection?

Once the German city has been selected, one letter from the class should be sent to the Sister City organization requesting further information about:

the city as well as
appropriate contacts and addresses

Sister Cities International
1301 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
E-Mail: 6524info@sister-cities.org
Internet: www.sister-cities.org

This project could be a community activity involving local businesses and political leaders from the students’ city. A great deal of current information could thus be obtained which would promote better international understanding and cooperation between the Germans and the US-Americans.