Art and Culture of Germany

Germany has a rich and varied cultural, social, and political history. The geography, traditions and history of the country can be studied from a variety of perspectives and across several different disciplines. Certainly, geography teachers will teach about Germany as part of their study of Europe, but art teachers may choose to explore specific artists or movements from Germany as well. Social studies teachers will want to convey that the history of Germany was not only influenced by other nations, but also that Germany itself had a significant impact on world history.

Germany was at the forefront of many art movements and its painters were often the leaders of new schools of thought and style. Students can research a German art movement like Der Blaue Reiter, Die Brucke, Bauhaus or Expressionism or they can research individual artists (Jean Arp, Max Ernst, Albrecht Durer, Ludwig Kirchner and Peter Bruegel). Germany also has a rich musical heritage. Students should be exposed to the music of German composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Schoenberg and Bach. Students may present a Power Point, poster or report detailing their research.

Students can enjoy doing research and making models or drawings of the numerous landmarks throughout Germany. Using clay, Model Magic, Sculpey or a similar material, you can have students create a small model of some of Germany’s most important sites including the Brandenberg Gate, the Reichstag, the Cathedral of Cologne and the Berlin Opera House to name a few. You may also choose to have them write a brief report on the site to reflect their research.

Divide students into small groups to report on different German cities and regions including Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Each group should chart the history of the place, its landmarks and significance. The information gathered should be presented to the class either orally with visual aids or through a Power Point presentation.

Germany Lessons and Activities:

Spend a Week in Germany

Students “Spend a Week in Germany” in this interdisciplinary lesson that combines social studies with language arts, math and science. Students learn some basic German vocabulary, create Power Points in which they demonstrate their knowledge of the country and they research relevant socio-political issues as they relate to the European nation. This lesson can easily be adapted to suit the study of any country.

Germany’s Aggression

No study of Germany is complete without an analysis of German in the first half of the twentieth century. Students learn about the role Germany played in World War I and how it precipitated World War II. Students develop an understanding of how Germany’s international relations influenced the changing face of twentieth century Europe.

Nazi Germany Through An Examination of the Holocaust

It is also important for students to understand Germany’s history with regard to the Holocaust. There are many excellent lessons available on this topic and teachers should proceed with extreme caution when teaching about such sensitive material.

Remembering to Never Forget

This is another excellent lesson about the Holocaust that teachers can use to teach students about Germany during this time period.

Germany and the European Union

For those seeking lessons that explain the role of Germany in today’s world, this lesson offers a comprehensive analysis of Germany vis-à-vis the European Union. Much of this lesson is in German but it does have some excellent references.