"Migrations in the 20 th century and their consequences – ways forward for history lessons within a European context"

Film/video project
The search for historical traces in the surrounding area or oral history interviews can also be 
documented on film
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. The technical costs are justified in that, firstly, an ever reusable 
document is produced and, secondly, pupils pick up important skills. They learn about the 
possibilities and limits of the film medium in presenting history and must consider questions as 
to the choice of sequences, the picture/sound combination etc that will ensure that their work is 
as objective as possible.
Exhibition/newspaper/photo collection project
Such projects may ultimately differ greatly in terms of content and time spent. It is of key 
importance that pupils look for, evaluate and present at least part of the material on their own.
Forms of presentation include wall newspapers, an exhibition at the school, a newspaper 
describing the project results or a photo collection. One example put forward at the seminar 
merits more detailed description: pupils at the Paul-Klee-Gymnasium in Gersthofen (near 
Augsburg)
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examined the consequences of migrations in the 20th century on the area around 
their school. They gathered information, documents and items, took photographs, made a film, 
interviewed local people and experts. The traces left behind locally by the different migratory 
movements were presented in an exhibition.
Themes of the project "Migratory movements - problems and opportunities", Paul-Klee-
Gymnasium, Gersthofen (extract)
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The fate of forced labourers and prisoners of war after the end of the Second World War
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Flight, expulsion, a new life in Gersthofen
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Work-related migration ("guest workers")
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Settlers from eastern Europe
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Refugees and asylum seekers
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Right of residence for immigrants and refugees
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Demographic development in Germany and Bavaria
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The European Union - borders disappearing in Europe
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Multicultural harmony in Gersthofen
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Foreigners in associations
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"Between two worlds" - everyday life in a multicultural society
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Myself and others - an investigation of dealings with foreigners
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Was Paul Klee "Swiss" or "German"? Emigration among artists
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The film "Brettheim" was mentioned as a particularly striking example of the documenting of 
contemporary history on film. It was made by pupils under the guidance of Thilo Pohle. It forms part of a 
series looking at the history of the small village of Brettheim near Rothenburg ob der Tauber at the end of 
the Second World War. English, French and Russian versions are available.
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The Paul-Klee-Gymnasium project was presented by the project leader, Dr Bernhard Lehmann

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In addition, their findings were summarised in a newspaper. The activity formed part of a 
Comenius project, in which pupils in different European countries worked on the same theme 
and exchanged their results.
Joint project within the framework of a school twinning arrrangement or pupil exchange
Activities involving schools in two or more countries are a particular means of attaining a 
European dimension. It is not always necessary to cover the full breadth of the theme in such 
cases.
3.4. Other ideas
Other possibilities, in no particular order of priority, are:
- Telephone directory tour:
Using a telephone directory, the pupils try to determine the origin of subscribers; to be used as a 
means of approaching the theme.
- "Foreigners we would not do without":
Collecting examples can help to highlight inconsistencies in perceptions of foreigners.
However, assignments should be well thought out since in certain circumstances they may have 
the adverse effect of identifying groups then considered as undesirable.
- Comparison of national anthems:
National anthems are examined in terms of the concept of nation to be found within them.
- Computer games:
Commercially available computer games can be examined, for example, to see what image of 
foreigners or immigrants they convey. There are popular games focusing on migration 
problems, eg the "Settler" game.
- Feature films:
The life of migrants and encounters with a foreign culture are also depicted in feature films
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.
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Examples: 
Angst essen Seele auf
(Germany, 1973; Rainer Werner Fassbinder: depicting the 
relationship between a widow and a young 20 year-old Moroccan "guest worker"); 
Elise ou la vraie vie
(France/Algeria, 1970; Michel Drach: story of the romance between a French woman and an Algerian in 
Paris); 
My beautiful launderette
(Great Britain, 1985. Stephen Frears: a young Pakistani in England works 
his way up to become the owner of a launderette).

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- Folk and pop songs
Folk and pop songs are an attractive topic for young people and can be used in teaching
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. A 
great many highly problematic, eg extremist, songs have been produced by musical groups 
lying to the far right of the political spectrum. It must be decided in each individual case to what 
extent such examples should become topics of discussion.
- Organising a multicultural festival, eg at the end of a teaching module dealing with the theme 
of migration.