Zeit für Deutsch A
Session Context
This is the first Zeit für Deutsch session. You will be able to run this session after the first eight lessons covering introductions, colours, the body and clothes. Please don't feel like you
should follow every topic and activity every time. Please pick and choose. Different activities work better for different classes. What I do suggest is putting the body activity first and playing
Simon says (Hans sagt) near the start of the session as I have found that the children are very enthusiastic about this activity, especially when you make it competitive. At the end of this
session you will introduce the children to the plenary activity - the King or Queen of knowledge. This can be used in all future Zeit für Deutsch sessions.
Slides 1 - 5 - Introduction of Zeit für Deutsch
Start the session with slide 1 on the board so the children know what's coming.
Slides 2 - 4 - Cognates
Say 'ist es Zeit für der* Astronaut?' The children shout back 'nein'
Say 'ist es Zeit für der* Akrobat?' The children shout back 'nein'
Say 'ist es Zeit für Afrika?' The children shout back 'nein'
*The accusative case follows 'der' so it should be 'den'. As this is the first time I taught these words, I decided to give the children the nouns in the nominative case. I follow this policy in future 'Zeit für Deutsch' sessions.
Slide 5 - Zeit für Deutsch Song
Say 'ist es Zeit für Deutsch?' The children shout back 'Ja'
The children then sing the Zeit für Deutsch song
Note - I have made up the following:
To the tune of 'Gangnam Syle the children sing 'Hey, Zeit für Deutsch, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, es ist Zeit für Deutsch'
Please feel free to make up your own song. I find the 'Gangnam Style' song works really well as the children can also do the Gangnam Style actions.
The Body
Slide 6 - Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes Song
Get the children to 'Stehe auf' (stand up) and sing the song on the slide. After singing it through once say 'noch mal' (again) and the children sing it through once more.
*Note - In German it goes 'Nase, Mund und Kinn' instead of 'Mouth and nose'.
Slide 7 - Hans sagt (Simon says)
- Do as a full class first as the children are stood up. Say 'Hans sagt berüht ...' and the children touch the relevant part of their body.
- Use lollipop sticks to choose 2 children to compete against eachother. The first child to touch that part of the body wins a reward.
- Ask individual children 'was ist das?'
- Ask children 'Ist das ...?' This is effective when saying the incorrect part of the body. For example, when pointing at you nose you could ask, 'ist das die 'Augen?' The children the have to say 'nein, das ist die Nase'. They could even extend by saying, 'nein, das ist nicht die Augen, das ist die Nase'.
Slide 8 - Was ist das?
Individual body parts will pop up on the screen. Randomly choose children (using lollipop sticks) and ask them 'was ist das?' The child should reply with 'das ist ...'
Clothes
Slide 9 - Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken Song
Get the children to sing the song on the slide with the actions they did in their clothes lesson. After singing it through once say 'noch mal' (again) and the children sing it through once more.
Slides 10 - 19 - Clothes Revision/Is that...?/What is that?
Use 'sag mir nach' (repeat after me) and go through the slides to familiarise the children with the vocabulary needed in the clothes activities. For some clothes, ask 'ist das ....?' For others, ask 'was ist das?' Encourage the children to answer in full sentences.
Slides 20 - 26 - Was fehlt?
Revise 'was fehlt' and '... fehlt' on slide 19. Let the children study slide 19 for around 20 seconds and then remove an item (by going to a slide from 20-25). Ask 'was fehlt?' and then choose a child randomly using a lollipop stick. The child responds with '... fehlt'. Repeat for other clothes.
Slide 27 - Ich packe in meinen Koffer (2 activities to choose from)
- The class target is 8 items of clothing. Holding Felix the Frog, say 'Ich packe in meinen Koffer die Hose' (or any item of clothing). Then throw Felix at another child and that child has to repeat what you said and add an item of clothing of their own. This child then throws Felix at another child and the activity then repeats until the class gets to 8 items of clothing. When the class reaches 8, why not use a celebration such as 'das war gut', 'Lieblingsantwort', or 'das was fantastisch'.
- Tell the class that 3 children will compete against each other and the winner will receive a prize. Whoever can say the most items of clothing will win. Using lollipop sticks to ensure a random choice, choose the first child. Ask the child 'Was packst du in deinen Koffer?' This child has to say 'Ich packe in meinen Koffer ...' and then say as many items of clothing as they can. Record the child's score and repeat for child 2 and 3. *Note - before the competition begins, let the children have a 1 minute practise with a partner on their tables. I also find that the children remember more when they start from clothes at the top of their body and work their way down.
Colours
Slide 28 - 'Welche Farbe ist das' Song
The children to sing the song on the slide as they did in their clothes lesson. Then a choice of 3 activities.
- Throw coloured bean bags (or teddies/wool) at the children and ask questions such as 'welche Farbe ist das', 'ist das ... oder ...' or simply 'ist das blau' (when the colour is not blue).
- Ask someone what their favourite colour is - 'was ist deine Lieblingsfarbe?' Extend by asking children what other children's favourite colour is e.g. Was ist Alice's Lieblingsfarbe?
- Play 'show me something that is'. Use lollipop sticks to randomly select 2 children to compete against each other. Say 'zeigt mir etwas das ... (a colour) ist'. The first child to touch something in the classroom that is the correct colour wins a reward.
Slides 29 - 40 - Colours and Flags
Use 'sag mir nach' (repeat after me) and go through the slides to familiarise the children with names of countries in German. Ask children questions such as 'welche Flagge ist das', 'Welche Farbe ist die Flagge von ...' and 'ist das ... oder ...'. Mix with colour questions such as 'welche Farbe ist das'.
Slide 41 - 'Wie siehst du aus' Song
The children sing the song on the slide with the actions they did in their introduction lesson.
Slide 42 - Secret Signal
Using the vocabulary on the slide, ask one child to leave the room and agree with the rest of the class on a secret signal, such as touching your nose. Choose a child to perform this signal at any given moment. Bring the first child back into the room and ask the class to say 'Guten Tag' (the first item on the list) in a chant. Every time the class sees the designated person do the agreed secret signal, they move onto the next phrase in the list - 'Wie heißt du?' The child has to guess who is doing the signal before the class gets to the bottom of the list. If the child who went outside guesses correctly, they earn a reward. If the class get to the bottom, the 'signaller' and somebody else from the class, earn a reward
Slide 43 - Drei Fragen (3 questions)
Choose children randomly to answer the 3 questions. If the child answers the 3 questions correctly using full sentences s/he wins a reward.
Extend by taking away the slide for more able children.
Slide 44 - Who is speaking?
Ask a child to come to the front of the class and stand with his/her back to the other children. Someone from the class then says something in German (in a funny voice if they wish) and the person at the front has to guess who said the sentence. If the person at the front guesses correctly then they stay where they are, if not the 'speaker' gets to go to the front. The person at the front has the chance of earning a bonus reward if they are also able to correctly translate the sentence into English
Slide 45 - King or Queen of Knowledge Song
Teach the children the song on the slide. It is sung to the tune of the 'Europahymne' from Beethoven's 9th Symphony. The 3 Zeit für Deutsch celebrations are in the song so get the children to perform the actions as they sing. If you use your own celebrations or don't use Felix and Franzi feel free to change the lyrics.
*Please let me know if you use different celebrations of have changed the lyrics so I can mention you on the website.
King or Queen of Knowledge Activity (Plenary and Translating)
- The best singer starts off as the King/Queen of Knowledge. S/he sits on a 'throne' at the front of the class and wears a crown.
- The other children are given 1 minute to think of a sentence in English that they know the German to. If you have done a lesson before 'Zeit für Deutsch', encourage the children to think of a sentence relating to that topic.
- Choose a child randomly to say their sentence in English. The King/Queen must then translate that sentence into German. If they are able to they remain on the throne and choose another child. If they are unable to translate then the challenger becomes the King/Queen (as long as they can translate their own sentence).
- Continue until the time limit or amount of questions is reached.
- The child who is on the throne at the end receives a celebration and wins a reward.
