Topic 4: Political Symbols of Germany

Lesson Objective

The student will compare community services in Germany and the United States.

Materials and Resources

Handout 20 - “Community Services”

Worksheet 18 - “Finding Places in a German Town”

Strategies

There are many people in German communities who provide services to citizens. These “community helpers” are similar to those in the United States. Distribute Handout 20, “Community Services” and have students compile a list of the occupations and services depicted:

Photo 1 – police presentation;
Photo 2 – telephone booth;
Photo 3 – fire fighter;
Photo 4 – mail delivery;
Photo 5 – pharmacist;
Photo 6 – highway;
Photo 7 – public transportation.

[NOTE: Many community services are provided to German citizens by the government. For example, the German Federal Post Office (Deutsche Post AG) is the biggest service enterprise in Europe. It is identified by its bright yellow mailboxes and trucks with their distinctive postal horn symbol. Besides performing what Americans think of as normal postal services, the Deutsche Post AG also offers banking services (both savings and checking accounts can be handled through local post offices). In the past few years, the Deutsche Post AG has tried to expand its services in the field of logistics to other countries.]

As a culminating activity, distribute Worksheet 18, “Finding Places in a German Town.” This activity requires students to identify buildings, dwellings, government services, and then apply their new skills with the German language to follow a set of directions.

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