Last year my 3rd and 4th year students enjoyed reading Goethe's "Todestanz" for Halloween. I hung one of those paper skeletons in the front of the class to set the atmosphere.
To enhance the mood of the poem I read it dramatically one time through. Then I explained, also somewhat dramatically, what was going on in the poem. I read through the poem again. Sometimes a poem loses its appeal if the kids have to work too hard to understand the meaning right at the beginning.
Talk about activities that appeal to boys. We all laughed at the spectacle of clattering skeletons dancing in their loose, ill-fitting garments. We felt how Goethe built up the sense of frenzy then felt the tension at the approach of the grim reaper. The end of the poem left us chilled with the fate of the watchman. uuueeeuuu!
After having fun with the poem we did some language activities such as identifying vocabulary, looking at some grammatical structures and reading orally both chorally and with a partner.
I got much positive feedback from the students, especially the boys, on how much they liked the poem. I found the website with Goethe's poem "Totentanz"
This is the activity I do. More explanation follows the handout that I give the students.
Allerheiligen oder Ein Totenfest
Research a famous German speaking person who is no longer living.
Make a tombstone with an epitaph.
The tombstone must be three dimensional (it must stand up.) It
should be no larger than 9 X 12 inches.
The tombstone must contain a minimum of six complete sentences which
include the following information: (25 Points)
The dates s/he was born and died
Where s/he was born
His/her occupation
One or two accomplishments
A quote or a comment by or about him/her that sums up the essence
of his/her life.
You must submit a question on a 3X5 card, which can be answered by reading the tombstone you prepared. The 3X5 Card must have a question in German on one side and your name on the other side. (5 points)
You must read your question and explain your answer orally in German. (5 Points)
You may get two points extra credit if you include a picture of your person as part of the tombstone.
My suggestions to use this activity
Have the students prepare the tombstones. Have the tombstones
due prior to "the day." Darken the room, perhaps an electric candle
or electric pumpkin. Put on some scary music like Bach's Toccata
and Fugue or other scary music. Tell students to bring a flashlight.
Set up all of the tombstones with their question lying in front of them
on the card. Write a number on each card. Students then number a paper
from 1 to the number of tombstones you have. In the dark in the scary
music, students take a walk thru the graveyard and read the tombstones,
answering the question at each tombstone on their numbered papers.
If you have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. My students love this and the French teacher also does it.
Betty T
I "borrowed" this activity and used it with my 3s last year. It
was a big hit. They really liked finding out about "famous" Germans
that they had never heard of. We had fun on the tombstone day too.
Because I had a small
class, we also gave eulogies--that was kind of hard, but I wanted them
to speak about their person too.
Okay, who says you can't do it with 1's. How about having them write their own epitaphs. Then have a funeral service for a "deceased" student. You might even be able to get the "guest of honor" to be appropriately dressed, as long as it wouldn't disrupt other classes.
MORE HALLOWEEN TIDBITS
HALLOWEEN SONGS AND SAYINGS
I bin a armes Mäschkerle
und hab an leeren Sack
und weil i no nix drinna hab
drum bitt i um a Gab.
translated to high German:
Ich bin ein armes Maskerle (someone wearing a costume)
und hab' einen leeren Sack
und weil ich noch nichts drinnen hab
drum bitte ich um eine Gabe.
Ps: I don't know if 'Maskerle' can be translated into high German. It is schwäbisch.
1, 2, 3, 4, Dracula
5, 6, 7, 8 Dracula
9, 10, 11, 12 Dracula
Dracula erwacht, erwacht um Mitternacht.
Die Uhr schlaegt zwoelf, ich hoer' es schon: Dracula am Telefon.
Es kappert sein Gebiss, es klappert sein Geruest.
Die Leichen tanzen Rock 'n Roll
Bei Nacht, bei Nacht, bei Nacht im Mondenschein.
| Wenn der Mond über dem Friedhof steht | When the moon stands over the cemetery, |
| Und der Wörter seine Runde geht | And the watchman makes his rounds, |
| Dann ist es endlich Mitternacht | Then is it finally midnight |
| Das ist die Zeit wenn der Vampir erwacht | That is the time when the vampire awakes. |
| Er liebt den Mondschein und die Gruft | He loves the moonshine and the tombs |
| Und auch die kalte Friedhofsluft | And also the cold air in the cemetery |
| Und immer nach dem letzten Gong | And on the last gong |
| Singt er seinen Friedhofs-Song | He sings his cemetery song. |
| Und wenn der Mond am Himmel steht | And when the moon stands high in the sky |
| Und wenn die Turmuhr zwölfmal schlägt | And the clock on the tower strikes 12 |
| Dann kommt die Zeit wo der Vampir erwacht | Then comes the time when the vampire awakes |
| Und dann fliegt er durch die schwarze Nacht | And then he flies through the black night. |
| Und kaum ein Mensch hat ihn gesehen | Hardly a person has seen him |
| Denn wenn die anderen schlafen gehen | And when the others go to sleep |
| Dann kommt die Zeit wo der Vampir erwacht | Then comes the time when the vampire awakes. |
| Ein Vampir braucht immer frisches Blut | A vampire always needs fresh blood |
| und fühlt sich dann erst wirklich gut | And only feels really good |
| Wenn er davon viel getrunken hat | When he has drunk of it |
| Erst nach 3, 4 Litern ist er richtig satt | Just 3 or 4 liters and he is really full. |
| Er liebt die Gröber und die Gruft | He loves the graves and the tombs |
| und auch die kalte Friedhofsluft | And also the cold air of the cemetery |
| Und er will nicht wie die Menschen sein | And he doesn't want to be likethe people |
| Denn er ist ein Vampir von Schlotterstein | Because he is a vampire fromSchlotterstein! |
| Ja er ist ein Vampir von Schlotterstein | Yes, he is a vampire from Schlotterstein. |
Subject: Halloween in Ost Berlin von Silly (East German band)
| Der Osten ist 'ne Reise wert | The East is worth a trip |
| Den sollten Sie besuchen | You should visit it |
| Hier gibt's noch 'n Stück | Here there is still a piece |
| Vom neuen deutschen Kuchen | Of the new German cake |
| Die Rosinen sind schon weg | The raisins are gone |
| Das macht ihn etwas trocken | Which makes it somewhat dry |
| Doch in mancher | But a big fat clump |
| Treu-hinter-hand | Sticks to |
| Klebt noch ein fetter Brocken | Some of the hands |
| Die Ossis, die sind lall und mall | The Ossis, they mumble and speak crazy things |
| Vom Plunder und vom Fusel | Of junk and booze |
| Wenn die mal aus dem Koma sind | If they come out of their coma |
| Kommt das kalte Gruseln | The cold gruesomeness comes |
| Sie schlagen sich die Schädel ein | And hits them in the brain |
| Mit ihren Stasi-akten | With their Stasi files |
| Derweil wir mitten auf dem Platz | Meanwhile, we slaughter the last pig |
| Die letzten Ferkel schlachten. | In the square. |
| Halloween in Ostberlin, | Halloween in East Berlin |
| Hier schwoofen die Gespenster | Here the ghosts are dancing the night away |
| Halloween in Ostberlin | Halloween in East Berlin |
| Hier füllt man sich die Wönster | Here one feels the fat bellies |
| Halloween in Ostberlin | Halloween in East Berlin |
| Die schaurigsten Gestalten | The most dreadful forms |
| Halloween in Ostberlin | Halloween in East Berlin |
| Gut d'rauf und wohlbehalten | All is safe and sound. |
| Die neuen und die alten | The new ones and the old ones |
| Dann röumen Sie von ganz allein | Then you roam completely alone |
| Die Buden und die Posten | From pillar to post |
| Und wir zieh'n weiter mit Geheul | And we go further with such howling |
| Zum nöchsten Fest ge'n Osten | To the next party against the East. |
| Da tobt auch schon die Klopperei | There are raging already scraps |
| Und wir, die guten Geister | And we, the good ghosts |
| Zieh'n denen auch | Pull from those others |
| Das Hemd vom Arsch | The shirt from their backs |
| Nur flinker noch, und dreister | With agility and cheekiness. |
| Der Osten ist 'ne Reise wert | The East is worth a trip |
| Den sollten Sie besuchen | You should visit it |
| Kein schöner Land | No finer Land |
| Hier weit und breit Lies | far and wide |
| Zum Zocken und zum Spuken. | For playing games of chance and spitting |
Subject: O-Rhesus Negativ--Lieder fuer Halloween von Udo Lindenberg
| Es war Mitternacht, ich ging spazieren, | It was midnight, and I went walking |
| da bemerkte ich, | and I noticed |
| ein Finstermann mit 'm grossen Hut | a scary man with a large hat |
| verfolgte mich | following me |
| und dann sprach er mich an, | and then he spoke to me |
| schmatzend und mit knirschenden Zähnen: | greedily munching with grinding teeth: |
| "Ach, würden Sie wohl so freundlich sein | "Oh, would you be so kind as |
| und Ihre Blutgruppe mal erwähnen?" | to share your blood group with me?" |
| Ich dachte mir, das ist 'n Vampir, | I thought to myself, that is a vampire; |
| da muss man vorsichtig sein, | one must be careful. |
| Ich sagte: "Moment, ich guck' mal eben in meinen Ausweis rein." | I said: "Just a minute, I'll look at my identification papers." |
| O-Rhesus-Negativ. Da verzog er sein Gesicht O-Rh-negative. | Then he screwed up his face |
| und meinte: | and thought: |
| "So 'n Mist, ausgerechnet diese Sorte vertrag' ich nicht!" | "Darn it! That is the kind that I cannot tolerate!" |
| Um ihn zu trösten, lud ich ihn ein | To console him, I invited him |
| auf ein Glas Bier, | for a glass of beer. |
| doch er meinte, das wär' für ihn kein Plaisier: | He thought that that wouldn't be any joy for him: |
| "Es muss schon dieser rote Spezialsaft sein. | "It must be this special red juice. |
| Es gibt nur ein Getränk, das find' ich gut, und das ist Blut!" | There is only one drink. that I find good, and that is blood!" |
| Wir unterhielten uns noch ganz prima | We conversed with one another very well |
| über Klima, Gott und die Welt, | about the weather, God, and the world, |
| und er erzählte mir von seinem Vampirleben | and he explained to me about his vampire life |
| und dass es ihm gut gefällt, | and that it pleased him a lot. |
| er sagt': "Ich brauch' nicht zu malochen, | He said: "I don't need to drudge |
| jeden Tag ins Büro zu laufen, | each day to the office. |
| am Tag schlaf' ich in meinem Sarg, | During the day, I sleep in my sarcophagus, |
| und nachts geh' ich mich besaufen!" | and at night I go to drink too much!" |
| Ja, wenn das so ist, möchte ich auch Vampir sein, | Well, if that is the case, then I would like to be a vampire, too. |
| da sagt' er: "Reichen Sie doch mal 'n Antrag | Then he said, "Get an application at |
| beim transsilvanischen Prüfamt ein, | the Transylvanian office |
| dazu brauchen Sie aber vom Zahnarzt 'n Tauglichkeitsschein, | and with that you will need a certificate from your dentist |
| denn wenn die Beisser zu kurz sind, | because if your teeth are too short |
| kommen Sie nie rein in unseren Verein!" | you will never get into our club!" |
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