Last week MK classes finished the unit on fruit, vegetables and groceries with a shopping experience. Students brought their German shopping lists and payed at the store using Euros.

Every year in December we are exploring German culture and tradition. We listen to music, learn poems and songs, and enjoy special treats. In Germany, families will spend afternoons making crafts by candle light. In German class OK are working on decorating their German holiday menu using sponge print, MK made and decorated a tree ornament and YK made an “Apfelmännchen”. The finished projects will be coming home this week.         MK learned about fruit, vegetables and grocery items. After the break we will look at the currency, set prices for food items, make a shopping list and go shopping in our classroom. YK finished the unit “Der Körper”(The Body).The books  came home in their Friday folders. In January OK will start working with our “Planetino” textbook.

Frohes Fest   von Beate

On Wednesday the 5th graders presented the German skit “12 Kekse” (12cookies) to their classmates, MK and YK classes. It was fun to see them perform and listen to the excellent pronunciation. Congratulation to a job well done!

A German legend tells that on one very cold winter night Martin cut his cape in half to share it with a poor beggar. This way both men survived the bitter cold and the beggar was able to tell his story. The people honored Martin by parading him through the town on a white horse. Later Martin devoted his life to helping people in need. In German families celebrate St.Martinstag by taking part in lantern parades, bond fires and enacting the legendary story.

At Rivendell the coat drive organized by MK was a great success. With the help of the whole Rivendell community we were able to donate 78 coats to Crossroads Safehouse, just when it got really cold in Colorado. Thank you!

St.Martins play

YK classes had a lot of fun during our annual lantern parade.They showed their beautiful lanterns and we could all hear them sing “Laterne, Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne”.

Older Kids studied the political structure of Germany. They learned that Germany is a Federal Republic with 16 states. Students made posters showing the coat of arms, the capital, the population and two interesting facts of each of the federal states and presented them to the class.

Willkommen to a new year of German at Rivendell with many fun and challenging activities for your students. Looking through the lens of exploration will help us to discover similarities and differences between English and German language and culture.

Last week the Rivendell community celebrated their first German “Fasching”. The Older Kids classes in costumes presented a song/ dance and introduced their costumes in German. They taught some of the dance moves to the whole school and everybody was able to join in. Back in the classroom OK were treated to jelly donuts (Traditionally some filled with mustard), soft pretzels and sparkling cider. A big thank you goes to our parent volunteers for making this a fun experience for our students.

The weeks of December were filled with learning about German culture and traditions. We learned German songs, recited poems and opened the advents calendar. OK were able to taste some seasonal treats. All the students made a craft to take home before winter break.
I wish you a restful time and look forward to seeing everyone next year.