Bringing German to Life

Creative activities for 5-11

Catherine Watts, Hilary Phillips

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781138797697
• eBook ISBN: 9781317631682
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

Bringing German to Life provides an innovative and refreshing cross-curricular approach to teaching languages in primary schools, combining art, design and foreign languages with various aspects of the National Primary Curriculum such as Literacy, Numeracy and PE.

This unique practical resource comprises an engaging storyline about a day in the life of two German children and gives an opportunity for learners to re-enact their day, using finger puppets, handmade crafts and exciting games to practise new language. Each of the 14 sections begins with a short accessible dialogue in German and is followed by suggestions for using the new vocabulary in pairs, small groups or as a whole class.

The main story is accompanied by fun craft activities linked to the story (one for each section, ie 14 in total) for children to create in class using the templates and instructions provided. A wide range of further activities follows, consisting of lively games, songs and opportunities to communicate simple ideas. Language extensions are suggested, focussing on imaginative writing and reading ideas linked to the theme of each section.

Written to support the new foreign languages programme of study, the book also includes:

* Cross-curricular links to numerous subjects including Literacy, Numeracy, PE and ICT

* Classroom games and activities

* Photocopiable resources and templates for fun classroom activities and projects

* Language extension activities.

Bringing German to Life can be read on three levels to suit a variety of classroom situations. First, the story can be told 'straight' with the whole class participating in the dialogues. Second, the story can be combined with the craft activities after each main section. 14 doing and making activities match the storyline and provide a colourful, eye-catching display and learning focus in the classroom or for Open Days or Assemblies. Teachers can use as many or as few as they wish. The resultant crafts can be used for very effective classroom displays/open days/assemblies etc. Finally, the language extension activities can be used alongside the art/craft/design activities as desired. The aim of these activities is to extend the target language in a relevant context through a variety of methods such as songs, playlets, simple communicative exchanges, games with numbers etc.

Chapter 1 at a glance

Dialogue:	this introduces the two main characters, Anna and Alex Bauer, and their dog Max, to you the readers. English translations of all the dialogues are included at the back of the book.
Language focus:	simple greetings and responses
Creative art:	make a paper bunting
Language activities
Activity one:	practising questions and answers the fun way
Activity two:	practising questions and answers with finger puppets
Activity three:	greetings in a moving circle
Activity four:	change your partner greetings
Activity five:	sing a family name song

1 Willkommen bei der Familie Bauer!

Welcome to the Bauer family!

Anna:	Hallo! Ich heiße Anna! Und wie heißt du?
Alex:	Hallo! Ich heiße Alex! Wie alt bist du? Ich bin acht Jahre alt.
Anna:	Ich bin neun Jahre alt. Ich wohne in Deutschland mit meiner Mutter, meinem Großvater und meinem Bruder.
Alex:	Das bin ich! Ich bin dein Bruder! Und meine Schwester, das bist du, Anna!
Anna:	Ja, das bin ich! Und unser Hund, Max!
Max:	Wuff! Wuff!
Anna:	Wie geht’s? Mir geht’s sehr gut. Es sind die Sommerferien.
Alex:	Und mir geht’s auch gut. Ich mag die Sommerferien sehr. Herzlich willkommen bei der Familie Bauer!

Creative art: make a paper bunting/ein Fähnchen machen

A string of bunting is always fun to make and makes a fantastic decoration in your room. Use one letter on each flag and encourage each child to create at least one flag to help form a word or phrase in the dialogue (or indeed any other word), which they then contribute to the whole bunting. In a classroom, each table could make their own favourite new word to hang from the ceiling. Here are some examples from the first dialogue: Hallo!; Willkommen!; Ich heiße ...; die Schwester ...; die Sommerferien. A completed bunting is in the colour-plate section.

Resources: coloured paper; scissors; glue; colouring pens/pencils; letter templates (optional as children can draw their own letters); bunting template; line of string; staples.

Figure 1.1 Letter template

Figure 1.2 Bunting template

Steps

1 Photocopy the bunting template onto coloured paper and cut out the shape.

2 Do the same with the letters, making sure that each child has a selection to colour in and create a relevant word. Children can draw their own letters too instead of using the templates.

3 When the letters are decorated, glue one onto each flag until you have the complete word.

4 Glue (or tape) the flags together, keeping the top line as straight as possible.

5 Fold the top of the bunting over along the dotted line to make a cover for the string. Thread the line of string through the top of the bunting, secure with staples and display prominently! A photograph of a finished string of bunting is in the colour-plate section.

Wie macht man das?

Here are the instructions again, this time in simple German. Use these if you are working with children in the target language.

1 Die Dreiecke ausschneiden.

2 Die Buchstaben kopieren.

3 Die Buchstaben einfärben.

4 Die Buchstaben kleben.

5 Die Schnur befestigen.

Language activities

Here are some key phrases based around the first dialogue that are used to greet other people and have a short conversation. They are very useful phrases and will help children get to know other children through German.

Child A	Child B
Hallo!	Hallo!
W...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction: getting started
• 1 Willkommen bei der Familie Bauer! Welcome to the Bauer family!
• 2 Wie spät ist es? What time is it?
• 3 Ich stehe auf I get up
• 4 Das Frühstück Breakfast
• 5 Das Picknick The picnic
• 6 Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag! Happy birthday!
• 7 Die Tiere Animals
• 8 Im Wald In the wood
• 9 Der Schuppen The shed
• 10 Die Insekten Insects
• 11 Der Sport Sport
• 12 Wie ist das Wetter? What’s the weather like?
• 13 Das verlorene Eigentum Lost property
• 14 Guten Appetit! Enjoy your meal!
• Curriculum links
• Mini-puppet theatre
• Translation of dialogues
• Plates