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Inquiry 3: Is reunifi cation in Germany still an ongoing process?
C3 Framework Indicator
D2. His.1.6-8. Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts. D2. His.4.6-8. Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras. D2. His.16.6-8. Organize applicable evidence into a coherent argument about the past.
Staging the Compelling Question Students will analyze the legacy of the division of Germany and compare the lasting perceptions after Reunification between areas that were either former East Germany or former West Germany.
Supporting Question 1 Supporting Question 2 Supporting Question 3
What events led to the division of Germany? What was the process of reunification between West and East Germany? What are the differences or similarities between cities, regions, or people that were once in East Germany or West Germany?
Formative Performance Task Formative Performance Task Formative Performance Task
Timeline: Students will read the information from the NATO German Reunification article, and use it to create a timeline of the division of Germany after World War II to German Reunification on October 3, 1990. After watching the German Reunification: How Two Countries (Sort of) Became One Unpacked video, students will create a six-word essay explaining the process of reunification in Germany. Using the information from both of the articles provided, students will create a Venn diagram showing fundamental differences and similarities (economic, political, social) between the former East and West Germany.
Featured Sources Featured Sources Featured Sources
Source A: “German Reunification.” Source B: “Free Downloadable Graphic Organizer Templates.” Source A: German Reunification: How Two Countries (sort of) Became One Unpacked Source B: “How to Use 6-Word Memoirs in the Classroom.” Source A: “How the Attitudes of West and East Germans Compare, 30 Years after Fall of Berlin Wall.” Source B: “‘Germany looks Like It’s Still Divided’: Stark Gaps Persist 30 Years after Reunification.” Source C: “Free Downloadable Graphic Organizer Templates.”
Summative Performance Task Argument: Construct an argument (essay or presentation) that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from the formative performance tasks while acknowledging competing views. Extension: Students will research and create a presentation about how citizens celebrate German Unity Day.
Taking Informed Action
Understand: Reunification in Germany is a continuing process. Assess: How do these differences play a role in where people live or what jobs they work? Act: How do our perceptions of different areas throughout the United States determine how we interact with those areas? Do we want to live there or are we unwilling even to visit?
COMPELLING QUESTION
Is reunification in Germany still an ongoing process?
Target Grade Level: 7th Grade Target Courses: Eastern Hemisphere Geography, World Geography, World History
INQUIRY OVERVIEW
Students will analyze the division and reunification of Germany and compare the lasting perceptions after reunification between areas that were either former East Germany or former West Germany.
TEACHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION
After WWII, the Allies divided up Germany and Berlin. The British, French, and United States gained control of the West, while the Soviet Union gained control of the East. In 1949, Germany was formally split into two separate nations: The Federal Republic of Germany (West) and the German Democratic Republic (East). For the next 41 years, the two nations remained divided and were governed in completely different ways. The two Germanys went down two different socioeconomic paths. The West took on capitalism and a market economy, while the East was under strict communist control, highly organized on all levels by a strong centralized government. As time progressed and political pressures grew in Eastern Europe, civil unrest became stronger in East Germany. Finally, on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came down, and the process of German Reunification began, officially reuniting the two nations on October 3, 1990. In the 30 years that followed, reunification has been on ongoing process. Some challenges and preconceived notions remain, and we will look at how this has affected modern Germany and continues to do so.
For further background information on history of East and West Germany, see:
• Britannica. (n.d.). The era of partition. https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/The-era-of-partition. • Britannica. (n.d.). The reunification of Germany. https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/The-reunification-of-Germany. • NATO. (n.d.). The Fall of the Berlin Wall - German Reunification. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_136311.htm. • CVCE.eu University of Luxembourg. (n.d.). The Division of Germany. https://www.cvce.eu/en/education/unit-content/-/ unit/55c09dcc-a9f2-45e9-b240-eaef64452cae/5d3b421b-9a4b-46fc-a041-fab64325d6a6.
SUGGESTED TIME FRAME
Three 50-minute class periods
CONCEPT LIST
• Cold War • East Germany • West Germany • Soviet Union • Berlin Wall • Allies • Federal Republic of Germany • German Democratic Republic
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
• Connolly, K. (September 16, 2020). ‘Germany Looks Like It’s Still Divided’: Stark Gaps Persist 30 Years after Reunification. The
Guardian. Retrieved Aug. 19, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/germany-east-west-gaps-persist30-years-reunification. • DW News. (October 02, 2020). German Reunification: How Two Countries (Sort of) Became One Unpacked. YouTube. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1LU0bwxfhI. (13:49 minutes) • Gramlich, J. (October 8, 2019). How the Attitudes of West and East Germans Compare, 30 Years after Fall of Berlin Wall. PEW
Research. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/18/how-the-attitudes-of-westand-east-germans-compare-30-years-after-fall-of-berlin-wall/. • HMH Shaped Staff. (January 20, 2021). Free Downloadable Graphic Organizer Templates. Retrieved August 29, 2022, from https://www.hmhco.com/blog/free-graphic-organizer-templates. • Imperial War Museums. (n.d.). What Was the Berlin Wall and How Did It Fall? Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www. iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-berlin-wall-and-how-did-it-fall#:~:text=In%201949%2C%20Germany%20formally%20 split,allied%20to%20the%20Soviet%20Union. • NATO. (n.d.). German Reunification. Retrieved on Aug. 29, 2022, from https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/ declassified_136311.htm. • Smith, L. (May 23, 2022). How to Use 6-Word Memoirs in the Classroom. Retrieved Aug. 18, 2022, from https://www.edutopia. org/article/how-use-6-word-memoirs-classroom. • Transatlantic Outreach Program. (2022). Let’s Explore Modern Germany—Resources for Middle School Educators. Goethe-
Institut. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2022, from https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/spr/unt/efd/top/leg.html.
INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY/HOOK/DISCUSSION
Students will discuss how our environment can shape our views of others. Students will start by discussing how we view our own school or town versus our rival school. Students then view pictures of Berlin in the East and West, and discuss how that division can shape the perceptions between East and West, and how they viewed each other.
SUPPORTING QUESTION 1
What events led to the division of Germany?
➤ Formative Performance Task 1 Timeline: Students will read the information from the NATO German Reunification article and use it to create a timeline of the division of Germany after World War II to German Reunification on October 3, 1990.
➤ Featured Sources 1 • HMH Shaped Staff. (January 20, 2021). Free Downloadable Graphic Organizer Templates. Retrieved August 29, 2022, from https://www.hmhco.com/blog/free-graphic-organizer-templates. • NATO. (n.d.). German Reunification. Retrieved on Aug. 29, 2022, from https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/ declassified_136311.htm.
SUPPORTING QUESTION 2
➤ Formative Performance Task 2 After watching the German Reunification: How Two Countries (Sort of) Became One Unpacked video, students will create a sixword essay explaining the process of reunification in Germany.
➤ Featured Sources 2 • DW News. (October 02, 2020). German Reunification: How Two Countries (Sort of) Became One Unpacked.
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1LU0bwxfhI. (13:49 minutes) • Smith, L. (May 23, 2022). How to Use 6-Word Memoirs in the Classroom. Retrieved Aug. 18, 2022, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-use-6-word-memoirs-classroom.
SUPPORTING QUESTION 3
➤ Formative Performance Task 3 Using the information from both of the articles provided, students will create a Venn diagram showing fundamental differences and similarities (economic, political, social) between former East and West Germany.
➤ Featured Sources 3 • Connolly, K. (September 16, 2020). “Germany Looks Like It’s Still Divided”: Stark Gaps Persist 30 Years after
Reunification. Retrieved Aug. 19, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/germany-eastwest-gaps-persist-30-years-reunification. • Gramlich, J. (October 8, 2019). How the Attitudes of West and East Germans Compare, 30 Years after Fall of
Berlin Wall. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/18/how-theattitudes-of-west-and-east-germans-compare-30-years-after-fall-of-berlin-wall/. • HMH Shaped Staff. (January 20, 2021). Free Downloadable Graphic Organizer Templates. Retrieved
August 29, 2022, from https://www.hmhco.com/blog/free-graphic-organizer-templates.
SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK—ARGUMENT
Construct an argument (essay or presentation) that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from the formative performance tasks while acknowledging competing views.
Extension Option (Choice of Creative Format instead of Argument)
Students will research and create a presentation about how citizens celebrate German Unity Day.
Taking Informed Action
Understand: Reunification in Germany is a continuing process.
Assess: How do these differences play a role in where people live or what jobs they work?
Act: How do our perceptions of different areas throughout the United States and determine how we interact with those areas? Do we want to live there, or are we unwilling even to visit?
MODIFICATIONS FOR DIFFERENTIATION
Below Level: Instead of writing an argument, students can create a T-chart showing political/social/economic differences between former East Germany and West Germany, then present those to the teacher.
Advanced: Have students research the similarities and differences between the Western European nations, and nations that were once under the Iron Curtain. Students then will present their findings to the class.
Brent Melton (TOP 2, 2022) teaches 7th grade Eastern Hemisphere Geography at Yukon Middle School in Oklahoma.
