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

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, Weihnachtsmärkte, Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlmärkte, Krampus, Descriptive Adjective use,  Beschreibende 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 German traditions.

Warm-Up

1. Discuss the Can-Do Statements.

 

2. Was wissen Sie über deutsche Weihnachtstraditionen? (What do you know about German Christmas traditions?)

Main Activity

1. Discuss the German Christmas traditions from the Google Presentation.

  • Diskutieren Sie die deutschen Weihnachtsbräuche 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.

  • Sehen Sie sich das Krampus-Video an.

Wrap-Up

Ask the students the following question to finish the activity:

  • Wie sind deine Weihnachtstraditionen im vergleich zu deutschen 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 German traditions.

Cultural Resources

Linked is a video about German Christmas Markets.

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