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German Unification Challenge
Grades 9-12 Activity
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. The event paved the way for the unification of former East Germany and West Germany as a single country less than one year later, on October 3, 1990.
To emphasize the significance of the event, have students analyze the challenges Germany unification presented. Then have them examine similarities and differences between two separate countries and imagine a hypothetical scenario in which they merge into a single country.
Cultural Learning Activity
Begin the activity by asking students to read the CultureGrams World Edition report for Germany, paying particular attention to the History, General Attitudes, and Economy sections. As a class, discuss the challenges the former East Germany and West Germany faced when they became a single country in 1990. The two countries shared a language and common history, but reunification still presented major problems. Help students identify some of the challenges.
Next, how would these problems be compounded if two countries with different languages and cultures attempted to unify? Assign each student two countries to research.
The countries may be assigned within a particular region the class is studying, or they may be assigned at random from any part of the globe. For example, the names of different countries could be written on slips of paper placed in a bowl, and each student could determine their assigned countries by drawing two slips of paper.
The students should imagine a hypothetical scenario in which the two countries neighbor each other and plan to merge into a single, unified country. With this scenario in mind, the students should read the CultureGrams reports for their assigned countries. They should take notes on what characteristics the countries share and how the countries are different.
Using their notes, the students should write an essay analyzing the prospects for the new country. What challenges would the new country face? How would the country benefit?
PROQUEST SUPPORTS EDUCATION | TOOLS & RESOURCES
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