German Level 4, Activity 07: Karneval / Carnival (Online)
Description: Students will learn about the Carnival holiday in Germany, as well as what it is called in the different parts of Germany. Students will also give their opinions on a variety of different topics related to this celebration.
Semantic Topics: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Karneval, Holidays, Feiertage, Feste, Celebrations, Feiern, Fastnacht, Fasching, Adjective Use, Adjektivgebrauch, Conjunctions, Konjunktionen.
Products: Karneval, Mardi Gras.
Practices: Traditions related to Karneval in a German speaking country. Traditionen im Zusammenhang mit Karneval in einem deutschsprachigen Land.
Perspectives: Value attached to the cultural tradition of Karneval in a German speaking country. Wert auf die kulturelle Tradition des Karnevals im deutschsprachigen Raum gelegt.
NCSSFL-ACTFL World-Readiness Standards:
- Standard 1.1 Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
- Standard 1.2 Students understand and interpret spoken and written language on a variety of topics.
- Standard 1.3 Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.
- Standard 2.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied.
Idaho State Content Standards:
- Objective: COMM 1.1- Interact and negotiate meaning (spoken, signed, written conversation) to share information, reactions, feelings, and opinions.
- Objective: COMP 1.1- Observe formal and informal forms of language.
- Objective: COMM 2.1- Understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, or viewed on a variety of topics.
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can understand cultural aspects of Carnival.
- I can compare celebrations in the U.S. with those in German speaking countries.
- I can express and respond to opinions on celebrations.
Materials Needed:
Warm-Up
1. Discuss the Can-Do Statements with the students.
2. Have you heard of Carnival before?
Habt ihr den Begriff Karneval schon mal gehört?
3. What do you know about Carnival already?
Was versteht ihr schon über Karneval?
Main Activity
1. We will watch this video about Carnival
Wir werden dieses Video über Karneval sehen!
2. Discussion Questions:
- Was habt ihr aus dem Video gelernt? (What did you learn from the video?)
- Warum feiern die Deutsche Karneval? (Why do Germans celebrate Karneval?)
- Was macht man während/nach des Karnevals? (What do you do during and after Karneval?)
- Was isst man und was trinkt man? (What do you eat and what do you drink?)
- Gibt es in den USA ein ähnliches Fest? (Is there a similar holiday in the US?)
- (Would you join a political or funny parade there?)
- Wie soll Karneval nach Coronazeit aussehen? Denkt ihr dass es das gleiche als normal ist? (How do you think Karneval should look after the Covid Pandemic? Do you think it is the same as normal?)
Wrap-Up
Ask students the following question(s) to finish the activity:
- Würdet ihr Karneval besuchen? (Would you visit Karneval?)
- Wenn ja, wie würdet ihr euch verkleiden? (What would you dress up as?)
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 understand cultural aspects of Carnival.
- I can compare celebrations in the U.S. with those in German speaking countries.
- I can express and respond to opinions on celebrations.
cultural Resources
Linked is a video from Deutsche Welle, Karnaval in Köln, Mainz und Rottweil.
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