German inquiry project

Introduction; This project will allow students to go over German politics and to discuss the effects of the refugee program on German elections and the feelings of German people.

Unit: German political parties and current events

Driving Question

●     Persistent issue: How will the refugee policy and the effects it has had on Germany change  their election?

●     Central Question: How could Germany deal with the influx of refugees and what do they do with the ones that are currently there now?

Lesson 1: Grabber and Introduction

Introductory grabber: Instructor begins by introducing news article from CNN student news over the impact of the refugee crisis on Germany’s election. Students are instructed to identify the impacts on the election. (ie. The far right group the Afd gaining ground. Merkel's party coming third in a local election) and arguments that will advocate for the refugee program and opponents against the refugee program. (advocates: refugees need somewhere to go, we should help save lives; Opponents: terrorism, rapings and killings of German citizens..) The class discusses whether Germany should keep allowing refugees in or should stop the refugee policy. As part of the discussion, the instructor asks the class to interpret a chart on the election results in a region of Germany.

Introduce the Central Question: The instructor relates the German election and the refugee crisis in Germany.: Both cases issues involve conflicts between who should we put first in the refugee crisis the refugees or the German citizens knowing what has happened since the refugee crisis.These issues raise a question that Germany has dealt since the beginning of the refugee crisis: When is the German government justified in allowing more refugees even though there is a threat of terrorism? As the first leader of the new government, the decisions that Germany makes will affect the sort of country that Germans have then and now.

Lecture: Instructor presents an overview lecture of the refugee crisis in Germany and how many refugees they have taken in (number of refugees, events like the mass raping and terrorist attacks in Germany and Europe and german election results. The class completes a data retrieval chart summarizing the opposing positions taken on these key issues by the two political parties the  AFD and the CDU. Students are informed that for the next several days they will be examining these differences and the political parties idea for Germany for that party in power that affect the way Germany deals with open borders and what they will do with the current refugees in Germany. In the end, students will decide when they believe the German government should  stop or continue the refugee program and what they should do with current refugees.

Culminating activity

Debate Activity

Three 90-minute class periods

Introduction: When students enter the classroom, the desks have been set up for group work, and students' names are placed on the desks in which they are to sit. The instructor explains that students will participate in  a group presentation debate over the refugee crisis in Germany.

Lecture: In a brief lecture, the instructor explains the refugee program/crisis to the students and the political parties (definition of refugee, description of the two parties the AFD and CDU and their stances on the program). The class examines a chart showing the number of refugees taken in by Germany. Another chart is also examined which shows the AFD and CDU position on the refugee program. (AFD: anti immigration, wants to stop refugee influx and close off borders; CDU: pro- immigration, want to allow refugees in, open borders.). The instructor reviews the German election results and events that have happened after the refugee program and asks students to consider whether the AFD will gain ground or will fade away. Students will debate this issue as part of the refugee debate\

Activity Overview: Students participate in a debate that examines two questions: Should Germany keep allowing refugee into their country? What should Germany do with the current refugees in their borders now? Students form two groups who represent the two political parties  with differing perspectives on the issues of the refugee crisis(The CDU and the AFD.) Each student has a role with individual responsibilities: The lead political figure of both parties will discuss the stances on the refugee program for their respective party and the clerks will write down questions, they will also take notes of what the two leaders are saying. The group will elect a few members of their group before the debate to be local leaders from certain local provinces in Germany and these local leaders will ask their own leading figure a question or will ask the other leading figure the question.

Preparation for Debate: The instructor begins by reviewing procedures and expectations for the debate activity. Students are given a summative sheet of the two political parties stances and their leading figures on the refugee program and what they plan on doing for the program.

Groups discuss their political party, prepare the leading figure for assuming the role, anticipate questions that are likely to be posed to their character, develop questions to ask others. Each group also designs a nameplate with a graphic that symbolizes its position.

As the groups complete preparations, the instructor visits each group to monitor progress and check the questions prepared by the local leaders and the clerks. Based on his review, the instructor may suggest developing questions in areasthat might have been overlooked and suggest additional questions that their leading figure may be asked by others.

Role Play:The leading figures each sit in a chair that is in the middle of the room. The local leaders will sit behind their leading figure in  a row. The clerks and other party members will form the audience behind their local leaders. Each student receives a sheet for summarizing each parties and leaders views on the refugee program. The debate opens with the instructor  introducing the two parties and their figures. After the leading figures state their positions, the floor is opened to questions. The instructor moderates the discussion by recognizing student questioners and asking questions when needed to keep the discussion focused and to have students reflect upon the view the parties have for Germany concerning the refugee program. The instructor also prompts local leaders when the leading figure has difficulties articulating their arguments. After the issues have been examined fully, the instructor brings the debate to a close.

Debriefing: Following the debate, students review the summative sheet and compare and contrast positions taken by the two parties. The instructor clarifies any misrepresentations of the two parties positions. The class discusses what political motivations influenced each of the parties actions and positions. The class also discusses personal experiences and historical and current events that shaped the leading figures and parties perspectives (For example, Angela Merkel was part of the CDU and wanted open borders for Germany and to help the refugees from the Middle east. Angela Merkel's political history with the CDU led her to want to help people from war torn countries).Finally Students will review German election results for local elections and discuss their effects on the views on German citizens (the AFD winning some local elections and gaining ground in smaller local government positions and how the german citizens will vote in future elections), and relate those to the rise  of backlash from events of the refugee program.The instructor concludes by observing that many of the situations in Germany have only happened over the past year. The question of the refugee program has only started when the refugee program started in 2015 and the terrorist attacks on German citizens over the past year after the refugee program started. In the next lesson, the class will look more closely at another event that raised the issue of the refugee program: the cost for the taxpayers to take care of the refugees and to allow them into Germany.