TROUT CREEK - Tuesday evening, the Trout Creek School after school program learned about a European Country approximately the size of Montana. 

Gabriel Ohning, the after school program coordinator, introduced her students to Germany’s culture and history.

Germany’s total square miles is 137,903 mi square and Montana’s total square miles is 147,166 miles square.  

Ohning, who moved to the United States at the age of five, used her heritage to teach her students about Deutschland. 

As part of German Day, as it was called, Ohning had a variety of entertaining activities set up for the children. During the afternoon, Ohning played traditional German accordion music. For afternoon snack the students were treated to sauerkraut, apple sauce, pretzels, and tator tots. 

When the students finished their German snack, it was time to hear a special story from Ohning about moving to the United States from Germany and what makes Germany special. Ohning had her mother, Gerda McDaniel, visit the class and sit in as Ohning talked about how her mother taught herself English watching television and the process of becoming a citizen in 1973. Ohning, who was too young at the time, did not have to take the test and became a citizen when her mother did.

The students were then read interesting facts about Germany and its history. Ohning explained to her students how the Rhine River, one of the country’s major waterways, supports a strong industry. She talked about the country’s castles, the country’s large Turkish population, greetings, lederhosen, sausages, and how lunch is the biggest meal of the day. 

For the last portion of German Day, the students were taught how to make their own Schaussi’s Alpen Schatz style hat. And as a final touch, the students were given small cutouts of the nation’s flower, the edelweiss.