Two of our German au pairs, Clarissa Pfisterer and Maria Tarnopolskaia, recently visited Peconic Community School in Long Island, New York to share their culture with a classroom full of first graders.
Charlotte, Clarissa’s host child, was very excited that her au pair was teaching the class about Germany. Having already learned a lot about Germany and the language from Clarissa, Charlotte is now able to speak some German and even answered a lot of the questions the au pairs asked the students. The children learned about things invented in Germany, German foods, German words and how to count to 5 in Germany: 1 eins, 2 zwei, 3 drei, 4 vier, 5 funf!
The class also loved hearing that some of their favorite princess stories were from the Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
After the Powerpoint presentation and a question and answer session, the au pairs explained that pretzels are from Germany! The children then painted pretzels made of clay with one child painting her pretzel in the colors of the German flag.
Maria and Clarissa at Peconic Community School
The presentation by Clarissa and Maria is part of the Global Awareness program sponsored by Au Pair in America. Au pairs are encouraged to share their culture with American school children by preparing their own presentation and bringing their home country to life through such things as their native food, crafts and song. Supported with materials from Au Pair in America, each au pair works with the school teacher to prepare an age appropriate lesson. Each lesson is as unique as the au pair is herself.
