Topic: Natural environment and economy of Germany

Target group

6th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

VIII. Neighbors of Poland: changes in industry in Germany; the cultural heritage of Lithuania and Belarus; natural environment and tourist attractions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia; political, social and economic problems of Ukraine; natural and socio‑economic diversity of Ukraine; natural and socio‑economic diversity of Russia; relations between Poland and neighbors.

Student:

1) characterizes the changes in the industrial structure in Germany on the example of North Rhine‑Westphalia;

7) understands the need to shape good relations between Poland and its neighbors.

General aim of education

The student will discuss the natural environment and give the characteristics of the German economy.

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• determine the location of Germany on the map of Europe;

• discuss the administrative division of our western neighbors;

• characterize the natural environment of Germany;

• explain the reasons for Germany's economic development;

• discuss changes in the industrial structure in Germany on the example of North Rhine‑Westphalia.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Introduction

• At the beginning of the lesson, the teacher launches on the multimedia board an exercise - puzzle, thanks to which the students learn about the subject of the lesson. Discussion.

• The teacher explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

• The teacher asks the student to launch the Google Maps on the interactive whiteboard and display the area to be covered by the lesson in the satellite view. Students analyze the photo together.

Realization

• Work in pairs. Characteristics of the natural environment: climate, vertical shape, river network. Students use geographical atlases and a geography teaching handbook.

• Work of the whole class team. Students determine the geographical location of Germany. They indicate the neighboring countries.

• Work in groups. The teacher divides the class into 4 teams. Students in each group develop the thematic area of Germany - economic power. Each group receives a sheet of A1 paper, divides it into the following areas: industrial districts, mineral resources, the largest international concerns based in Germany. Students use source materials such as a geography teaching handbook, Internet resources, geographical atlases. Students present their work using the „Chatting Wall” method.

• You will discuss the changes in the industrial structure in Germany on the example of North Rhine‑Westphalia. It can be a talk on the basis of materials from the Internet, textbooks, atlases.

• Students carry out the interactive exercises checking the level of knowledge learned during the lesson. The teacher initiates a discussion during which the correct solutions for all the exercises performed by the students are discussed.

Summary

• The teacher evaluates the work of the selected group. He asks for self‑esteem of students regarding team cooperation and the task performed. Evaluates the work of selected students.

• The teacher asks the students questions:

  • What did you find important and interesting in class?

  • What was easy and what was difficult?

  • How can you use the knowledge and skills you have gained today?

  Willing/selected students summarize the lesson.

Homework

• Listen to the abstract recording at home. Pay attention to pronunciation, accent and intonation. Learn to pronounce the words learned during the lesson.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Natural environment and economy of Germany

Germany is a large country in Western Europe, with an area of 357 thousand kmIndeks górny 2², which is between ten and twenty percent larger than that of Poland. It is located between the North Sea, Jutland and the Baltic Sea in the north, and the Alps in the south. The border with Poland is 467 km long and runs mainly on the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers.

The administrative division of Germany is based on historical regions. The basic units are the 16 States of Germany, also known as Lands. 13 of them are (usually large) historical regions, and 3 lands constitute the areas of separated cities – Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen together with Bremerhaven. The names of the lands are used very frequently in Germany, much more often than the names of voivodeships in our country. The local people usually feel strong emotional ties to their land.

Germany has 82 million inhabitants, which is more than twice as many as Poland. It is the second most populated country in Europe after Russia. The population of Germany is distributed quite densely virtually throughout the country. The average population density is 230 people per 1 kmIndeks górny 2², but there are several areas with very high population density:

Germany is the world’s fourth largest economic power after the United States, China, and Japan. The total value of the Gross Domestic Product of our western neighbors is 8 times higher than that of Poland. Germany owes its economic success, among others, to the American Marshall Plan, which after World War II covered the countries of Western Europe, including the Federal Republic of Germany. As part of this plan, the US gave a huge amount of money to rebuild war damage, securing lasting political support in return. In addition, the very good organization of work and discipline, for which our neighbors are well known, also contributed to Germany’s intensive economic development.

The post‑war development of the German economy was based on heavy industry concentrated in the Ruhr Area. Hard coal was mined there. There were numerous ironworks and plants of the electromechanical and chemical industry. In 1951, Germany together with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy formed the European Coal and Steel Community, which was the beginning of the construction of today's common Europe. In 1957, the same countries established the European Economic Community (EEC), which after the accession of another six countries in the 1970s and 1980s transformed into the European Union in 1993.

The German economy today is based mainly on high‑end services in which nearly 70% of all employees work. These services are located primarily in cities, where - as we remember - over 70% of the population lives. Trade (including foreign trade) and transport - road, rail, air as well as sea and inland waterways are of the greatest importance.

German industry has significantly changed in the last few decades. In the industrial Ruhr Area less and less hard coal is mined. It becomes unprofitable. However, large amounts of steel are still produced there. The steel is used, among others, for the production of means of transport. Germany's industrial flagship is cars, whose production has long gone beyond the borders of the country. Opel Astra and Volkswagen Caddy vans are assembled in Poland. Various other German factories operate in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe due to cheaper workforce. Our western neighbors operate less and less mass production plants that are located in the country. However, there are still specialist equipment factories known for high quality. They manufacture machines and devices for industry, agriculture or services. In addition, modern technologies (Hi‑Tech) are developed in numerous scientific centers.

The most important mineral resource is lignite. Germany takes first place in the world in the lignite mininig. The potassium salts are also very important. In addition extracted are, rock salt, oil, and natural gas. The output is not very large, although several times more than in Poland.

The map of the main German mineral resources is published in the e‑textbook.