Topic 4: Political Symbols of Germany

Lesson Objective

The student will describe Germany in relation to national symbols.

Materials and Resources

Transparency 17–17G -
“Public Buildings”

Teacher Resource 13 - “Public Buildings”

Handout 17 - “Map of Berlin”

Handout 18 - “Map of Washington, D.C.”

Worksheet 15 - “Locating Public Buildings”

Strategies

The cities of Berlin and Washington contain many monuments, museums, memorials, and public buildings, of which many are unique as monuments to the history and culture in their countries. Others are similar in their purpose and meaning to each nation.

Teacher Resource 13, “Public Buildings” provides background information on the following “parallel” sites in the two cities (Transparency 17–17G “Public Buildings”) and their significance. Information on the sites in Washington are readily available in textbooks and the school media center.

WASHINGTON	BERLIN	SIGNIFICANCE
Capitol White House Iwo Jima National Cathedral Kennedy Center Smithsonian Institution with: Air and Space Natural History Portrait Gallery American History Arts and Industries National Zoo Lincoln Memorial	Reichstag Chancellery Victory Column Berlin Cathedral Philharmonie Museum Island with: National Gallery Neues Museum Pergamon Museum Bode Museum Altes Museum Zoological Garden Brandenburg Gate	site for meetings of the national legislature office and home of the president in Washington/ office of the chancellor in Berlin war / victory memorials the “nation’s churches” centres of the performing arts museums of country wide importance details see text   animals from around the world symbols of divisions and unification

Distribute the maps of Berlin (Handout 17) and Washington (Handout 18) to students along with Worksheet 15, “Locating Public Buildings.” Assist students in locating the sites on the map, recording the map grid coordinates, and determining the significance/ relationship of the two sites.

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