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“It’s All”: Influences of Pennsylvania German Culture

As a child did you leave a tooth under your pillow expecting to get a monetary gift in return?  Have you ever enjoyed the creamy sweetness of a delicious whoopee pie or reveled in fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood? Germans settling in Pennsylvania brought traditions which flavored and enriched the culture of their new home. Holiday celebrations, folk remedies, food, storytelling, arts and crafts, ornamentation, literacy, language, and superstitions were all profoundly shaped by the influx of Germanic immigrants. In this fun and informative program, you will learn of the profound influence of the “Pennsylvania Dutch.” 

 

 


Essential Questions:

What groups came to settle in Pennsylvania?
What similarities and differences existed among the groups?
 How did early European settlers shape the culture of Pennsylvania?
What is the impact of their contributions on life in Pennsylvania today?
How is history interpreted to relate the past to the present?
How do the concepts of family, education, leisure, government, economics, religion, and communication define a culture?

History Standards: 8.1 A, B,C, D  8.2.3 A,B,C,D  8.2.6 A, B,C,D 8.2.9 A,B,C,D
8.2.12 A, B, C, D  

Reading Standards: 1.1.5.A,G    1.2.A  1.3.A,F   1.6.A,B,D,E

“Thank you so much for coming in and giving me a better understanding of history. Your artifacts and knowledge has helped me succeed as a learner. I never thought school could be so fun. The days when you came in I would always look forward to because of how fun and funny the classes are! Everything that you brought in or said helped me grasp the concept better of what I was learning.”
         Megan V.