European Geography & Cultures Lesson Plan 6 ~ The Alpine States

This post is part of the European Geography and Cultures Series. Please the Introductory Post for a list of countries covered with links to all of the blog posts of this series.

This is a Geography Lesson Plan for The Alpine States: Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, and Slovenia.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.

You can download this lesson plan (including checklists) as a PDF file. Click on the thumbnail below and open the PDF file in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the image above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

Introduction to The Alpine States

Read

Look What Came From Austria (The images in the PDF file provided below and my sample cards are based on this book.)

Map Folders and Stamp Albums (Follow General Instructions.)

Pass out Folders and Stamp Albums.
Pass out postage stamps from Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, and Slovenia, and stamp hinges.

Physical Geography of Germany

1. Where on Earth?

Find the continent of Europe and Germany on a globe. the countries of Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, and Slovenia on a globe. Have students color the Alpine States on the map on their folder.
Find Europe andthese countries in the Atlas: start on page 76 of Where on Earth? Atlas, then find the countries on page 78. Move on to page 80 to view the landscape, and to page 94 to see it by night.

2. Land, Climate, Population and Wildlife

The climate of the Alpine States is temperate.
To see pictures of some of the animals living in the Alps visit: https://www.alpenwild.com/staticpage/wildlife-in-the-alps/.
Read page 56 – 57 of the DK Children’s Atlas about the Alpine States. Find out about agricultural products, major landforms, and water bodies.

3. Card File (Follow General Card File Instructions.)

Listen to Around the World Stories from Austria while working (subscription required).
Flag and Map Country Cover Card PDF File (see below)
Country Information Card PDF File (see below)
Category Cards – plain index cards or pre-printed PDF File (you may want to provide samples for students to copy)
Images PDF File for Category Cards (see below)

PDF Files to Download for Card File

Click on the thumbnails below and open the PDF files in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the images above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

People

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities. Listen to related music and/or stories while doing projects if possible.

1. Artists

* Franz Richard Unterberger * Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Look at art from one or more of these artists on the iPad or in a book from the library.
Paint a picture inspired by Hundertwasser: http://zilkerelementaryart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/5th-grade-hundertwasser-flowers.html or http://kidsartists.blogspot.com/2012/10/lollipop-trees-in-style-of-hundertwasser.html or http://josettebrouwer.edublogs.org/2015/02/03/ketchup-time/.

2. Authors & Poets

* Christine Nöstlinger * Ludwig Bemelmans * Johann Nestroy

Read or listen to a story by Ludwig Bemelmans (author of the Madeline books).
Find out more about one of the authors above.

3. Composers

* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart * Joseph Haydn * Johann Strauss * Franz Xaver Gruber & Joseph Mohr (Silent Night)

Listen to Mozart’s Magic Fantasy: A Journey Through ‘The Magic Flute’ (Classical Kids Audio Series).
Listen to Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage (Classical Kids Audio Series).
Listen to The Story of Haydn in Words and Music (VOX Music Masters Series).
Listen to The Story of Strauss in Words and Music (VOX Music Masters Series).
Read Silent Night : The Song and Its Story, by Margaret Hodges

4. Prominent People

* The Von Trapp family * Gisela Louise Marie, Archduchess of Austria

Read or listen to a story about one of these important people.
Watch The Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music.
Watch The Sound of Music.

5. Scientists

* Ferdinand Porsche (automobiles) * Eduard Haas (PEZ) * Max Valier (Rocketry)

Read or listen to a story about a scientist from Austria.
Do a related experiment.

Places & Food

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities.

1. Landmarks & Attractions

* Café Central in Vienna * Schonnbrunn Palace * Kunsthistorisches Museum * Imperial Palace

* Mozartplatz and Mozart’s Birthplace

Go on an online Sound of Music Tour: https://www.bigboytravel.com/europe/austria/salzburg/soundofmusicfilmlocations
Make an Edelweiss Paper Flower Craft: http://www.paper-and-glue.com/2015/06/switzerland-edelweiss-flower-craft.html?m

2. Festivals & Events

* Vienna Adventsmarkets * Vienna Ostern Markets * Lichterfest * Wiener Wiesn

Make Austrian Easter Eggs: https://www.redtedart.com/how-to-austrian-easter-egg-blowing
Make a Dried Orange Christmas Garland: https://rockyhedgefarm.com/blog/diy-orange-garland-homemade-holiday-series/11/10/2017

3. Food

Make Jägerschnitzel (Pork Cutlets): https://www.carriesexperimentalkitchen.com/jagerschnitzel/.
Make Linzer Cookies: https://www.daringgourmet.com/linzer-kekse-austrian-linzer-cookies/.

Find more ideas on my Austria Pinterest Board!

Checklists

Checklist for Basic Materials:

Globe
DK Where On Earth? Atlas
DK Children’s World Atlas
Look What Came From Austria (or similar book)
Map Folders, Stamp Albums, Stamps & Hinges
Card File materials including printed PDF files (see general instructions)
Music and/or Story CDs
Stories from Austria by https://www.aroundtheworldstories.com
iPad or Computer with internet connection for research (optional)

Checklist for Projects:

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Checklist for International Food Dishes:

Austrian Recipes
Recipe ingredients: ______________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Please comment below with your questions and suggestions – I will respond as soon as I can! Thank you for visiting Cotton Ridge Homeschool!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.