German lesson series key GCSE topics (ideal for end of KS3)

Booklet with accompanying powerpoints for use in the last term of Y9 German or as part of GCSE course (approximately 12-15 lessons). The lessons cover the topics environment, house & home and traditions. Grammar covered includes infinitive clauses, cases, adjective endings, comparisons and the future and conditional tenses. There is also a lesson looking at formal and informal language.

The lesson series is based on the short animated video series called Lifeswap that was created for the Goethe Institut Neuseeland. Each episode looks at various cultural differences and challenges in a new country - the videos are really funny and engaging for students so I wanted to create a SoW to accompany them.

My lessons focus on German culture and customs while also covering key vocabulary and grammar for the GCSE course. I use the booklet over around 6 weeks with Year 9 and follow this with a project, where students create their own video comparing two cultures/languages. I find this motivates and is useful for students who have chosen German and keeps students dropping the subject engaged.

Course outline:

Episode 1 (approx. 3 lessons)
Topic: Umwelt und Recycling
Grammar: Infinitive clauses

Episode 2 (approx. 2 lessons)
Topic: Mein Zuhause / Zimmer
Grammar: Cases

Episode 3 (approx. 3 lessons)
Topic: Mein Zuhause / Zimmer / Möbel
Grammar: Cases

Episode 4 (approx 2 lessons)
Topic: Traditionen / Feste
Grammar: Future tense

Episode 6 (approx. 1 lesson)
Topic: Formal and colloquial language
Grammar: present tense verb conjugations

Episode 7 (approx. 1 lesson)
Topic: Cultural differences
Grammar: Comparisons

Episode 8 (approx. 2 lessons)
Topic: A typical Sunday in Germany
Grammar: Comparisons and conditional tense