G2.08 months v11

Early Start German Pack 2

8. Die Monate The months of the year

In this section, children learn the months of the year, and how to talk in German about the weather in different months.

They will also associate months with festivities - especially Easter and the autumn celebrations of Hallowe'en and the traditional St. Martin's Day. The next chapter (Ch.2.9) will look at birthdays.

It brings pupils closer towards being able to say the date in German, which could become a regular daily classroom routine.

1

HOW GERMAN WORKS: capital letters

When the months are written in German they begin with an upper case letter as in English.

NEW WORDS AND PHRASES

Januar - January Februar - February März - March April - April Mai - May Juni - June Juli - July August - August September - September Oktober - October November - November Dezember - December im (short for in dem) - in (the) im November regnet es it rains in November 1

DVD: film 8

Introducing the months The film shows some typical German events for each month of the year (fuller details in this chapter's "talking points"). The month is named at the start and end of each sequence.

Januar Februar März April Mai Juni 1 Juli August September Oktober November Dezember April's sequence shows a traditional German Easter. Emily and her family paint some hardboiled eggs, then have an Easter Egg Hunt: Marie: Oh! Emily: Ah! Da ist es, ja! Ooh!

(Yes, there it is!)

Fanny: Emily, hast du deins?

(Do you have yours?)

Emily: Ja, ich habe meins auch gefunden.

(Yes, I've found mine too.)

For November, we see the St Martin's Day lantern parade and hear "Laterne", a traditional German song. Words, music and translation can be found at the end of this chapter.

Once we have seen all the months, the names are repeated by Daniel and Jasmin.

Flashcards CD 8

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2

Film 8: Snow-boarding in the Alps - "Januar"

Film 8: Easter egg hunt -"April"

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PAUSE - in #2, you can sing along with the Months Song.

2.8

Die Monate You could also talk with pupils about the months of the year in their own country. ● What is the weather like then? ● What festivals do they celebrate?

This will help prepare them for the images they will see on the film.

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Months song To help you sing along, words and music can be found later in this chapter.

PAUSE - next, the weather in different months.

Weather

2. Watch film 8, parts 1 and 2

❑ Watch film 8: “Die Monate” to introduce the months and a round-the-year "calendar"; stop after the song.

3. Get used to the sounds

❑ Echoing: Show the months on the Flashcards CD; pupils echo each month as they hear it.

"Im Juni ist es warm."

Scenes of different weather at different times of year (see "How German works 2"):

Im November regnet es.

Im Dezember ist es kalt.

2

Im Juni ist es warm.

Im Januar schneit es.

Im März ist es windig.

M

Show initially in order, with text switched off.

KEY SOUNDS

Listen and enjoy copying these typical sounds: where have you heard them before?

DVD MARKERS

1. Months - introducing new words 2. Song - reinforcement 3. Weather in different months 4. Written words Use the skip key on your remote control

as in... Januar,

Juni, Juli [an example in English is yes] as in... März Heard before in spät

[an example in English is let]

Planning your lessons

as in... August

First introduce pupils to saying the German words for months - getting used to some more typical sounds.

Explore what people do at different times of the year, and talk about festivals and seasonal events and weather.

Haus, Musikraum [an example in English is now]

heard before in

September heard before in Solar [an example in English is zoo] as in...

Activities 1. Warm up

as in... Dezember,

Anticipation: write some German months so the class can see ("Januar, März, Juni, Juli, August, September, Dezember"); see if children can work out how they should be pronounced.

heard before in zwei,

zehn

(Listen to the native speakers - try to copy their typically German sounds. ) Flashcards CD 8 95

Early Start German Pack 2 birthdays in that month try to be first to jump up and echo the month.

Alternatively, replay the first film sequence and ask pupils to echo the months.

Then switch off the sound and ask pupils to say the appropriate month. Then jumble the months.

5. Recognising the written word

When pupils are familiar with the sounds of the words, you could show film 8 again especially the end section - to help them associate written words with the sounds.

❑ Play “listen to the sounds” again You call out a series of words; children make agreed gestures when they hear a “key sound” (see Chapter 2.1). ❑ Everyone stands in a circle with you in the centre. Throw a soft ball to different pupils.

Each time you throw the ball, say a month.

The pupil echoes the month as s/he throws the ball back to you.

To begin with, it is best to say the months in order. This will help establish the pattern and rhythm of the twelve month sequence.

Use the 12 Months flashcards in various activities.

Cultural awareness ❑ You may find that pupils wish to talk immediately about some of the images they have been watching. If this is the case, it is worth taking a little time to do this before moving on to the language activities outlined below.

The “talking points” have been designed to help you respond to questions that the children might raise after watching this video section.

❑ Flashcards: Make flashcards for the months using enlargements of the activity sheet, (or use the OHP). Attach the cards to the board in the correct order. Pupils say the months.

Then turn over one of the flashcards. Pupils say the month again, including the one that is hidden. Gradually increase the number of blank cards until there are no visible prompts left. ❑ Working in pairs: play “snap” Pupils use the months activity sheet to make “snap” cards. If you plan to play this regularly, use fairly thick card as a backing.

❑ Divide the class into groups of four or five pupils. The first group begins the sequence “Januar, Februar, März”, the next group follows with “April, Mai, Juni” and so on.

To make this into a game, encourage pupils to say the months quickly, then softly etc. ❑ Do a “Mexican wave” with the months.

Pupils form a circle with their chairs. Beginning with “Januar”, each pupil says the next month one after the other in rapid succession. As they speak, pupils stand up and promptly sit down again as soon as they have said the month.

If children normally sit in groups, the “wave” can take place round each of the class tables.

See which table reaches “Dezember” first.

Pupils play in pairs, combining their cards to make 2 sets of 12; shuffle, and deal them into two piles. Take turns to pick up a card and say the month. If two cards are the same, they shout “Ja!” The player who says “ja” first takes the cards which have been turned up. The winner

4. Respond with understanding

❑ Play “jump to the month” When you call out a month, pupils who have 96

2.8 2

Die Monate the cards; otherwise they are turned face down again. The game continues until all cards have been picked up. Player with most cards wins.

HOW GERMAN WORKS:Time phases In film 8,you hear the preposition 'in' again, this time used for when something happens: (...in November) “...im* November”

Watch the film again

❑ Watch film 8: “Die Monate” again for reinforcement. Encourage pupils to echo the months and to join in with the song.

* im is short for in dem , the DATIVE form of "in the".

To sound natural in German: (1) say the phrase with a preposition first; (2) invert the verb/subject, eg: (It rains in November) “Im November, regnet es” (In the November, rains it.)

CROSS CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

❑ Music: pupils can sing the two songs from the video: "The Months" and "Laterne"; both are on the Flashcards CD. ❑ Music: Pupils compose their own tunes or chants for singing the months of the year. ❑ Drama: Miming game Divide pupils into small groups or pairs.

Give each group one of the months flashcards.

The groups prepare a short mime or sketch to represent their month.

Any speech must be in German. They can use key words and phrases such as greetings to enhance the mime. The rest of the class has to guess which month is being represented. ❑ Art: Pupils design a frieze for the classroom wall showing the months of the year.

(There’s English at 11 o’clock) “Um elf Uhr, gibt es Englisch” (At 10 o’clock, is there English.) is the one with all the cards, or with most cards when time is up. ❑ Working in pairs: “remember the month” Pupils work in pairs with two sets of shuffled cards. They place all the cards face down on the table. A player turns over two cards; both pupils say the name of the months as they are revealed. If the two are the same, s/he keeps

SONG 1 (from film 8) : “Die Monate” D

Jan - uar,

D

A

D

Febr-uar,

A

G

März, Ap - ril,

Bm

A

Mai,

F#m

D

Ju- ni, Ju - li, Au - gust,

G

A

Sep - tem-ber, Ok -to - ber, No -vem-ber, De-zem - ber, das sind alle

D

Mo - na - te.

Januar, Februar, März, April, Mai, Juni, Juli, August, September, Oktober, November, Dezember das sind alle Monate. Das sind alle Monate.

Flashcards CD 8 97

Early Start German Pack 2 countries do ordinary things most of the time, but - like us - enjoy taking part in occasional special events that are also a good excuse for the community to enjoy doing things together.

In Ch. 2. 9, we look at celebrations which take place on particular dates, with more information in that chapter’s ‘talking points’.

Month-by-month in the film

Januar - January

In southern Germany, winters are much colder than in the UK because the land is higher.

Winter sports are very popular. Here we see snow-boarding and skiing in the Black Forest mountains.

■ What do children think the winters will be like in the North of Germany?

They could show their favourite activities in each month. You could exchange pictures with a German school, and ask pupils to compare what they like doing in different months. ❑ Art: at Easter, pupils could paint eggs and hang them on an egg tree in the classroom, or have an egg hunt. In the autumn, make Martinstag paper lanterns and have a procession.

Take photos of your celebrations to send to your partner school in Germany.

Februar - February

The Karneval or Fastnacht festival marks the aproach of Lent. People wear fancy dress and parades are held in many towns and cities throughout Germany. The film shows celebrations in Freiburg and and the nearby small town of Staufen.

Talking point

THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR

The film shows images of Germany throughout the calendar year.

It may be a good idea to talk with pupils first about what different times of year are like in your community.

In different months, there are occasions when people take part in traditional activities. August might be when your town has a summer carnival procession to raise money for good causes and to attract visitors.

October and November for British children may be when they take part in Hallowe’en and Guy Fawkes Night, against a backdrop of autumn leaves and darker evenings.

Children perhaps see December as a time when their town centre is decorated with illuminations, and they see men dressed up as Father Christmas in shopping centres.

Television has made sporting events like Wimbledon national occasions that are widely discussed; in July children may reflect this by playing tennis in the park.

Discussion will help children to see other people's festivals and celebrations in the context of their everyday lives. Most people in all

Film 8: Celebrating the carnival season: "Februar"

Karneval is celebrated mainly in the Catholic areas of Germany, e.g. Freiburg, Köln, and München; the carnival season begins in earnest on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday.

Though originally a pagan rite, it became part of the Catholic calendar of celebrations.

■ What do children do to celebrate Lent in the UK? Is there a carnival in your area?

März - March

Start of spring in the Rhine Valley. As the snow melts, people go walking in in the lower hills again. We see people enjoying the scenery in a nature reserve (Naturschutzgebiet ).

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2.8

Die Monate The scenes in the film are a riverside park on the banks of the river Dreisam , very close to the centre of Freiburg.

■ What do children think German people eat at picnics? (see Ch.2.13). What do they like to eat themselves? Are there any local areas especially popular for picnics?

■ What signs of spring do children see in your area? Are there any nature reserves in your area?

April - April

Here we see Emily and her family celebrating Ostern , Easter. In Germany, children brightly paint real eggs (hard-boiled or "blown") and decorate a tree. In the traditional Ostereiersuchen (Easter egg hunt), children look for painted or chocolate eggs hidden in the garden by the Osterhase , the "Easter Bunny". The website has more about German Easter customs.

Juli - July

Children having fun at an outdoor swimming pool. As in the UK, German children have a long summer holiday in July and August staggered so all areas don't start or finish their holidays on the same days.

■ Do you have an outdoor or indoor swimming pool in your area? Which do children prefer?

August - August

Many German families go hiking and camping in the summer holidays. The film shows a Black Forest camp site and an organised hike.

■ What do pupils do in their summer holidays?

■ Are there summer holiday activities organised for children in your area? Why do children think it is a good idea to have such activities available?

Film 8: Traditional Easter egg hunt - "April"

■ What do you do to celebrate Easter? Try painting eggs and have an Easter egg hunt in school!

September - September

Mai - May

As the weather improves, more people can enjoy the outdoor life in the countryside. We see German children taking a cable car (Schauinslandbahn - see Ch.2.3) to get views of the mountain scenery in the Black Forest.

■ What do children like to do in the warmer weather?

Do they like to visit the countryside?

Juni - June

Film 8: Starting school with a 'Schultüte' - "September"

Every September children go back to school.

Here we see children starting school for the first time. In Germany children start school when they are six. It is a German tradition to give children a bag of gifts - Schultüte - on their first day at school. The Schultüte is usually made by the parents, but can be bought in shops. Traditionally it is cone-shaped, and contains sweets and school supplies.

■ Would children like to have received a Schultüte when starting school? What presents do they think should be included?

Film 8: Summer by the River Dreisam: "Juni"

Winters in southern Germany are cold, but summers can be very hot - many people like to have picnics or sit outside.

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Early Start German Pack 2 Oktober - October

Tours in 397. He was a Roman cavalryman who converted to Christianity; there is a famous story that he cut his cloak in half to save a freezing beggar. St. Martin was later the Bishop of Tours in France.

German children celebrate St. Martin's Day by making paper lanterns and joining in a nighttime procession through the town. The procession is lead by a man on a horse dressed as a Roman cavalryman. Children sing songs about St. Martin, and sweets are distributed.

The words and music to the "Laterne" song can be found below. The website has more about Martinstag customs.

■ Which would children prefer to celebrate: Martinstag or Hallowe'en? Why do some Germans want to keep Martinstag instead of Hallowe'en?

Oktober is represented by Hallowe'en , which was not celebrated in Germany until quite recently. It has spread by globalisation and American media influence; it is so close to the traditional St. Martin's Day that some German people fear the older custom may die out. As in the UK, children enjoy dressing up and making pumpkin lanterns.

■ What is autumn like in your area? What do you do to celebrate Hallowe'en?

November - November

Dezember - December

Christmas markets are held in many German towns in the weeks running up to Christmas Eve. People can buy traditional Christmas food, decorations - and presents which are exchanged on the 24th, when the Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) calls. In southern Germany, it often snows at Christmas.

For more about German Christmas traditions, see website and Pack 1: ch. 1.15.

■ What happens in December in your community?

Film 8: St Martin's Day: "November"

St. Martin's Day (Martinstag ) is the traditional autumn festival, celebrated in Germany and many parts of Europe on 11th November.

It's the anniverary of the death of St. Martin of

SONG: “Laterne” B6

La - ter

B6

F6

-

ne,

Gm

auf mein Licht, bren-ne

B6

La

- ter

B6

F6

-

ne,

B6

F6

Son - ne, Mond und

Gm

Cm

auf mein Licht, a - ber nur

B6

Ster

F6

-

ne!

Bren - ne

B6

mei-ne lie- be La - ter - ne nicht!

Laterne, Laterne, Lantern, lantern,

Sonne, Mond und Sterne! Sun, moon and stars!

Brenne auf mein Licht, Shine out, my light,

Brenne auf mein Licht, Shine out my light,

Aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht! But not my lovely lantern!

Flashcards CD 8 100

F6

Ich heiĂ&#x;e....................................

This page may be photocopied for classroom use.

Š 2010 Early Start Languages

Ich heiĂ&#x;e....................................

This page may be photocopied for classroom use.

Š 2010 Early Start Languages