STUDENT • CYBERGUIDE • by Heidemarie Floerke (©2003)

Emil und die Detektive

by Erich Kästner

Introduction:

This activity will help you understand the life of the author, Erich Kästner, and along with that his famous novella Emil und die Detektive and its characters.

The Task:

After reviewing dates and information about key events in Erich Kästner's life you will create a timeline highlighting five (5) facts about Erich Kästner's life you find important or interesting to know about him.

The Process:

1. Explore the website below, and take notes on what strikes you as interesting about Erich Kästne's life. You must also include when and where he was born and when and where he died to your five facts. Your timeline should show a minimum of 7 events in total.

At first glance this may this may appear an overwhelming site. Take your time to browse through it. Click onto
Viele Links zu Erich Kästner and look under the Bibliographien. Also look at the link Ein persönlicher Eindruck on the initial page. There is a lot here don't look at everything but just the summary sections (kurzer Überblick) or specific dates of Kästner's life after clicking onto Leben on the right hand side.

a. pay attention to what you may believe influenced Kästner to become a writer.

b. take a piece of poster board and find an interesting representation of a timeline (e.g. horizontally, vertically, diagonally…)

c. Organize Erich Kästner's birth, your five (5) facts and his death on this time line.

d. It is not enough to simply give the date and place. Write at least one to two (1-2) sentences in German with each fact. Don't just copy the text, make sure you understand what it is you are reporting.

e. Incorporate at least 3 pictures into your time line. You may print images from web sites, draw pictures or copy from books.

2. Questions to answer after reading the web sites: Please answer the following questions in German using complete sentences:

a. Was waren Kästner's Berufe in seinem Leben?

b. Wo und wann wurde Kästner geboren?

c. Kannst du zwei (2) andere Werke von Kästner nennen?

d. Wo und wann ist Kästner gestorben?

e. Was sagt man über den Vergleich zwischen Emil Tischbein und Erich Kästner selbst?

Evaluation:

Checklist

Your time line must:

• include five (5) interesting facts in addition to the information about the author's birth and death
• display facts in proper chronological order
• include one to two (1-2) sentences with each event
• include at least three (3) pictures
• be graphically and visually appealing (neat, colourful, creative and easy to read)

Questions •Your answers must be in German, in complete sentences and grammatically correct.

Activity 2

Introduction:

This activity will help you develop an understanding of the life in Berlin in the 1920's where the story of Emil und die Detektive unfolds. You will also receive a glance at the Berlin of the 21st century.

The Task:

After viewing the information and pictures about Berlin then and now, you will create an informational pamphlet with pictures and some written material about the two Berlins.

The Process:

Explore each web site below and make notes of specific areas of Berlin you would like to focus your report/pamphlet on. the differences you observe about the city in the 1920's and city now and print out photos you find particularly interesting.

1. This is a site sponsored by the Goethe Institute. it provides pictures, discussions about East and West Berlin as well as general sightseeing tours and information on Berlin today.

2. This site has some wonderful pictures of Berlin in the1920's. It provides exact locations and connects them to the novella.

a. You may present your information in a pamphlet format (folded into three sections with the pictures and information viewed holding the paper in a landscape position). You may also present your information as a report with the pages stapled together in the left hand corner.

b. Your project should include at least three (3) pictures from each, the Berlin of the 20's and the Berlin today (six (6) pictures altogether)

c. All pictures should be accompanied by some writing about their importance to the comparison drawn, the beauty of the city at the given time and/or the reason you chose to include this picture to your project. Include an introductory paragraph to the project. All writing must be done in German and in complete and grammatically correct sentences.

Evaluation:

Checklist

Your pamphlet/report must:

• include six (6) pictures (three (3) for each period)
• include at least two to three (2-3) sentences with each picture as well as one (1) paragraph introducing your topic.
• be written in grammatically correct German
• be graphically and visually appealing (neat, colourful, creative and easy to read)

Activity 3

Introduction:

This activity will provide you with further insight into Erich Kästner's writing style. You will be able to observe the wonder of the German language to express the same information in different ways.

The Task:

After reading excerpts of the original text you are asked to focus on three (3) particular sections and compare them to the same three (3) sections in your reader. You will write these sections out on a piece of paper and compare them to one another.

The Process:

Explore Emil und die Detektive and read the text carefully. Find three (3) sections of the original text you wish to compare to the text read in class.

1. Click onto Emil's Geschichte from the menu of the first page of this site. The story unfolds as you surf from page to page accompanied by Photos from the 1930's film and of Berlin in the 1920's.

a. You may present your information on a piece of poster board or on an 8.5 x 11 piece of plain white paper, but nothing smaller than that.

b. Divide your surface into two columns. The column on the left should be titled Originaller Text and the column on the right should be titled Klassenbuchtext.

c. The results of your research (copied text from both sources) should be typed or neatly handwritten into both columns.

d. Highlight differences in the texts by underlining or by using different colours.

e. Write (in German) a short paragraph summarizing your observations after the comparison.

Evaluation:

Checklist

Your report must:

• include three (3) comparisons
• be of substantial length with each comparison extending at least over three (3) sentences
• show a close reading and an observant nature to the intricacies of the German language.
• include a summary paragraph in German
• be graphically and visually appealing (neat and easy to read)

Activity 4

Introduction:

This activity will provide you with a view into the world of a selection of artists in Berlin in the 1920's.The Berliner school of art and architecture, Bauhaus, with its founder Walter Gropius was at the forefront of creating modern art and architecture, where emotional expression and functionality were of utter importance.

The Task:

After viewing the web sites you are asked to create a slide show focusing on one (1) artist of the following three (3) artists: Wassily Kandisky, Paul Klee and Walter Gropius. The paintings or pictures you choose to present in your slide show must be accompanied by a minimum of 2 sentences in German.

The Process:

Explore the web sites below and read the accompanying texts. Select an artist of the three (3) choices provided and find five (5) paintings you wish to present in your slide show.

If you wish to go outside of the three (3) choices provided you are asked to discuss this with your teacher first. In such a case you must expect that the teacher will keep your research time on the web for that purpose to a time limit.

1. This site lists the names/links of some of the more important Bauhaus artists.

2. This site provides more detailed information about Paul Klee.

3. This site offers information on Paul Klee's biography in German.

4. This is a site of Paul Klee's biography in English. It is quite good.

5. This site offers some wonderful paintings by Paul Klee.

6. This site provides a good biography of Wassily Kandisky.

7. This site offers some good Kandisky pictures.

8. You will find some good information about Bauhaus in general on this site.

9. You will find more information about Bauhaus on this site as well as information about Walter Gropius.

a. You are asked to create your slide show at school in the given class time, using the technology provided. Please speak to your teacher if you have difficulties with this expectation.

b. Your slide show should consist of 5 pictures and accompanying text of a minimum of two (2 ) sentences in German with each picture.

c. The text should include the artist's name, title, history of the painting, your impressions or reasons for choosing it as part of your slide show etc.

d. The interval between each picture should be set at 10 seconds, so that there is enough time to read the text.

e. Choose interesting background colours and or borders. Explore the technology. You may but do not have to choose music to accompany your slide show.

 

Evaluation:

Checklist

Your slide show must:

• include five (5) paintings
• include a minimum of two (2) sentences with each painting
• show some understanding of the artist and the Bauhaus movement
• give evidence to an exploration of the technology involved in making a slide show
• be graphically and visually appealing (neat and easy to read)