Topic 5: Economic Symbols of Germany

Lesson Objective

The student will identify ways German families satisfy basic needs.

Materials and Resources

Transparency 21 -
“Needs and Wants”

Worksheet 21 - “Needs and Wants”

Strategies

People in all parts of the world must meet their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. To help students practice discriminating between “needs” and “wants,” distribute Worksheet 21, “Needs and Wants” for students to complete. The nine items on the sheet are representative of German stores and shops.

Needs
Photo 1	bakery store	There are sweet seductions everywhere in Germany. Pastries and bread are produce according to different traditions of baking and are sold at “deli” counters.
Photo 3	department store	“Kaufhof” belongs to one of the biggest department store chains: In Bonn, Kaufhof is located in a pedestrian zone surrounded by small boutiques, just across the famous roman Bonn cathedral.
Photo 5	groceries	Germans eat fresh vegetables and fruits daily. There is a strong competition between shops regarding price and quality of fresh products. In some cities and towns vegetables are sold at farmers’ markets in the town square once or twice a week.
Photo 6	optometrist	Just to attract passers-by, optometrists have invented a lot of interesting decorations for their windows.
Photo 9	shoes	Sold in stores much like those in the United States, it seems that shoes have the strongest attraction for customers.
Wants
Photo 2	dessert	Pastries often go together with cafés. Here, the filled chocolates, tarts and cakes are still made by hand.
Photo 4	tea	The “Teehaus Knusperhäuschen” is located in a typical small half-timbered house of the lower Rhine region: a smart specialist tea shop. Tea in its varieties of flavors is a favourite hot beverage in Germany.
Photo 7	flowers	Flower shops offer freshly cut flowers and plants in pots. Flowers are not only bought for visits but also for daily decoration.
Photo 8	books	The fear that bookstores would lose business with the introduction of PCs did not become reality. Bookstores are still a wonderland for young and old. Germany has 75 universities; technical colleges etc. not included. People are eager to learn.

---