German Level 3, Activity 14: Weihnachten / Christmas (Face to Face)

Up-close photo of a Christmas wreath.
Nicole De Khors
Description: Students discuss German Christmas traditions and the differences between a traditional U.S. Christmas and a German Christmas

Semantic Topics: Christmas, Weihnachten, Christmas Markets, Weihnachtsmarkt, Christkindlmarkt, Krampus,  Adjectives,   Adjektivverwendung.

Products: Christmas Market Video, Weihnachtsmarkt-Video.

Practices: Traditions related to Holiday celebrations in German speaking countries.  Traditionen im Zusammenhang mit Feiertagsfeiern im deutschsprachigen Raum.

Perspectives:  Appreciation of the Christmas traditions in German speaking countries.  Wertschätzung der Weihnachtstraditionen im deutschsprachigen Raum.

NCSSFL-ACTFL World-Readiness Standards:

  • Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied.
  • Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through German and the German speaking world.

Idaho State Content Standards:

  • Objective: CLTR 1.1 Analyze the cultural practices/patterns of behavior accepted as the societal norm in the target culture.
  • Objective: CLTR 1.2 Explain the relationship between cultural practices/behaviors and the perspectives that represent the target culture’s view of the world.

NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:

  • I can talk about German holiday traditions.
  • I can answer questions about holiday traditions.
  • I can compare my culture’s traditions to the German traditions.

Warm-Up

Ask the students what they know about Christmas traditions in German speaking countries.

  • Fragen Sie die Schüler, was sie über Weihnachtstraditionen im deutschsprachigen Raum wissen.

Main Activity

1. Discuss the German Christmas traditions from the Google Slide Show.

  • Diskutieren Sie die deutschen Weihnachtstraditionen aus der Google Slide Show.

2. Tour of a virtual Christmas Market with the video.

  • Rundgang durch einen virtuellen Weihnachtsmarkt mit dem Video.

3. Watch the Krampus Video with the students.

  • Zeigen sie das Krampus Video den Studenten.

Wrap-Up

Ask students the following question to finish the activity:

  • Wie sind deine Weihnachtstraditionen im vergleich zu Deutsche Weihnachtstraditionen? (How are your Christmas traditions compared to German Christmas traditions?)

End of Activity:

  • Read Can-Do statements once more and have students evaluate their confidence. (Use thumbs up/thumbs down)
  • Encourage students to be honest in their self-evaluation.
  • Pay attention, and try to use feedback for future activities!

NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:

  • I can talk about German holiday traditions.
  • I can answer questions about holiday traditions.
  • I can compare my culture’s traditions to the German traditions.

cultural resources

Linked is a video about German Christmas Markets.

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