Gifts for classroom students

Anything with a moose? Maybe your part of Canada isn’t moosey, but kids in Dresden probably don’t see many! And there apparently isn’t a moose emoji, or I’d add one here, so that shows what a unique thing they are.

Hi.

Hmm.

In addition to the pins, how about souvenir (glossy type) postcards depicting or highlighting picturesque scenery, important architecture or structures that are unique to your city/province; animals specific to your area; picture postcards of the city skyline or countryside farms -- maybe you could look up the histories and write a paragraph about what is on the postcard and attach it with a fun, unique giant "paper clip."

If time allows, you can give a little
presentation about the picturesque postcards as you hand them out or if the kids are open to discussion or interest.

[Piggy backing what cyn said about moose]

I know it doesn't help you, lol, but here in New England, they have every trinket imaginable (as well as postcards) with lighthouses, moose, eagles, and black bears.

They also sell moose shaped maple lollipops.

Orr:

How about a small pewter ornament?

They would be unbreakable of course but will contribute to the weight of your luggage.

I don't see when you are traveling, so I don't know if you could get 30 of them before your trip.

As an example, starting around Thanksgiving, Hallmark always has some little pewter ornaments - usually with an enameled Cardinal or Holly berries. But you get the idea.

Probably Amazon would have something pewter you could order in quantity.

Maple candy?
A pen or pencil that has something uniquely Canadian on it?
Key chain?
Stickers?

All the fifth grade kids I have ever known like to eat. Is there a treat specific to your region that might have some sociological interest? Is maple sugar (so: maple sugar candy) common in your area? If so: you could give a bit of a talk about tapping the sap of maple trees, how the sap runs in the winter, boiling X liters of sap to get a few grams of sugar .... and then they get to eat a piece of that candy in your goodie bags! Many of the Dresden kids may be involved in some kind of athletic activity, so some talk about what kids in your province like to do - hockey? cross country or downhill skiiing? - with a keychain or other tchotche (sp) that represents that sport might pique their interest. Finally: if you know any elementary school teachers, or parents of elementary ages kids in your area, you might check in with them to see what their kids are "into" and see if they have ideas about how you might present your "teaching moment" in a way that the Dresden kids feel some sort of connection with kids their age in your city/province.

Give them each a loonie and a lesson on how money works!

Candy. It doesn’t need to be maple themed, just something they may not have there. Like flavored tootsie rolls, or tootsie pops. I wouldn’t suggest chocolate, because chocolate in Europe is so much better. Maybe ring pops?

How about erasers in cool shapes, or pencils with the Canadian flag. Oriental Trading Company has cute “adventure” erasers with trees, mountains & tents.
https://www.orientaltrading.com/bulk-mini-adventure-eraser-assortment-300-pc--a2-13806046.fltr?categoryId=551452&rd=Erasers

Hockey stick pencils https://www.orientaltrading.com/hockey-stick-pencils-with-eraser-12-pc--a2-5_781.fltr?sku=5%2F781&BP=PS544&ms=search&source=google&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-1398795105-_-58038649587-_-5%2F781&cm_mmca1=OTC%2BPLAs&cm_mmca2=GooglePLAs&cm_mmca3=PS544&cm_mmca4=FS39&cm_mmca5=Shopping&cm_mmca6=PLAs&cm_mmc10=Shopping&cm_mmca11=5%2F781&cm_mmca12=12ct-Hockey-Stick-Pencils-with-Eraser&gclid=Cj0KCQjw--GFBhDeARIsACH_kdZJL4wdYYkpECGn16mvTgcqIwtwASBZT6bnkS73UE9nvZjZlPtWwtAaAptjEALw_wcB

Or slap bracelets. Bookmarks. Keychains.

I would bring something small and light. If you could find some unique bookmarks, that would be about perfect. I am going against the crowd on the candy. Times have changed. First, there may be health needs among the students that would preclude them participating leaving some children out. Secondly, many schools have regulations about what outside sourced foodstuffs can be given to students. Usually, nothing homemade, must be store bought and individually wrapped. It is just much easier for all if you avoid candy/food.

Having had my kids in German schools, the kids can be really weird about trying something new. They turned up their nose at choc. chip cookies back in the 90s before anyone knew what they were. Otherwise, I would say the maple candy. The schools here do not care if it is homemade, etc. like the schools in the US. Fewer allergies?
Pins, stickers, hockey stuff, or something from the Canadian national soccer team?

Moose are a common decorative object in Germany (no idea why--it's not like there are real moose here), so keep that in mind.

That’s surprising. But maybe a CANADIAN moose would be extra-special?

Lots of places in the mountains here in Colorado seem to be decorated with moose and bears, although both are present here. It’s becoming trite to see them on everything from salt and pepper shakers to blankets and window shades and lampshades. On the other hand, “moose jams” are occurring now on highways, and on roads in our Rocky Mountain National Park, when one’s spotted near the road, and dozens of cars and trucks stop to watch it. I wonder whether there’s something a German child might value, that’s not simply a decorative object?

What you may think are Moose depicted in Germany, are usually Elks, (Elch) like you find in Sweden, etc. They look fairly similar.

Elk in English is translated as Elch, and so is moose. But moose (the same as the Canadian ones) are found in Sweden, and look very different from elk, which are actually called Wapiti. The common decoration is the moose, not the elk. In fact, most Germans have no idea what I am talking about when I talk about the elk we had in Oregon, whether I use the term Elch or Wapiti. The latter are not found in Europe and look nothing like moose.

You will find moose Christmas ornaments (I have one), bumper stickers, and such here in Germany. I have no idea why.