GERMAN I CURRICULUM: GCISD 2009

I.

FIRST SIX WEEKS

1. COMMUNICATION
A. Basic Introductions, Greetings and Farewells
B. Basic numbers 1-20
C. German alphabet
D. Introduce personal pronouns and sein (to be), including all forms
E. Basic present tense verb structure
F. Employ A through E in order to engage in basic written and spoken communication
G. Learn and use family-related vocabulary
H. Formation of questions for dialogue purposes
I. German word order introduction
J. Numbers from 21-1,000
K. Telling time
L. Days of the week
M. Definite Articles
2. CULTURES
A. Basic dialectical differences
B. German names for boys and girls
C. Du, ihr and Sie
D. German Telephone etiquette
E. German family structure
3. CONNECTIONS
A. Mathematical connections with counting and basic operations
B. Use digital language lab to drill verb conjugations and conversational practice

C. Use of German/American music both as reinforcement, background and understanding

of basic language components
4. COMPARISONS
A. Comparison of German verb sein to the English verb to be and its forms
B. Comparison of one single German present tense form to the three English present tense
forms
C. Learning about cognates and false cognates
D. Learning English definite articles to transition into German equivalents
E. Understanding English word order and verb placement as it compares to German
5. COMMUNITIES
A. Opportunities to attend Oktoberfest celebration at German Deli
B. City Project on Munich to explore its history, culture and celebrations (due second six
weeks)
II.

SECOND SIX WEEKS

1. COMMUNICATION
A. Introduce the present tense forms of haben which means to have
B. Delve deeper into German word order
C. Detailed exploration of telling time
D. Difference between zu Hause and nach Hause
E. Increasingly complex dialogues, for the purposes of speaking, reading and listening
F. School and Classroom Vocabulary
G. Accusative Case: Definite Article
H. Additional Question Words
I. Review of sein
J. Basic cardinal directions
2. CULTURES

A. Youth Activities in Germany

B. German television basics
C. Discussion of German punctuality
D. German school system and its tiers
E. German grading system
3. CONNECTIONS
A. Show appropriate portions of the film Goodbye Lenin to spark exploration of the fall
of the Berlin Wall
B. Learning about basic German geography
C. Describing other subjects in German
D. Use digital language lab to drill verb conjugations and conversational practice
4. COMPARISONS
A. Review present tense forms of the English verb to have
B. Review English word order
C. Review difference between house and home
D. Students will draft their own school schedules in German
E. Learning about direct objects to segue into accusative case
5. COMMUNITIES
A. Students will devise a schedule for a day, using German time expressions
B. Group Powerpoint presentation on the fall of the Berlin Wall, including a day in the
library to conduct any necessary research

III.

THIRD SIX WEEKS

1. COMMUNICATION
A. Review Weather, months and season words

B. Indefinite articles
C. Plurals and Wie viel verses Wie viele
D. Countries and languages
E. Food vocabulary
F. Modal verbs
2. Cultures
A. Berlin today
B. Countries and language recognition
C. School holidays
D. Restaurant etiquette
3. Connections
A. Comparison of Celsius and Fahrenheit
B. Go onto Weather.com to see what the weather is like in Germany
C. Use accompanying DVD to hear German food vocabulary words
D. Use digital language lab to drill verb conjugations and conversational practice
4. Comparisons
A. Teach English plurals
B. Comparison of seasons between the U.S. and Germany
C. Indefinite Articles and review direct objects
D. Comparing the German and English modal verbs
E. Compare German and American etiquette
5. Communities
A. German Christmas celebrations at the German Deli in Colleyville
B. Roll-playing exercise for the Berlin Wall

IV. FOURTH SIX WEEKS

1. COMMUNICATION
A. Future Tense
B. Negation
C. Clothing vocabulary
D. Stem Vowel Changing verbs
E. Colors, Wissen versus Kennen, Flavoring Particles
F. Stating birthdays
G. Possessive Adjectives
H. Personal Pronouns
I. Accusative Prepositions and Around-the-House Vocabulary
2. CULTURE
A. Shopping in Germany
B. Monetary System
C. Birthdays in Germany
D. German visitation (what it is like when company comes over)
3. CONNECTIONS
A. Use accompanying DVD to hear German clothing/fashion vocabulary words
B. Use digital language lab to drill verb conjugations and conversational practice
4. COMPARISONS
A. English future tense construction as it compares to German
B. English negation as compared to German negation
C. English verb to know as it relates to wissen and kennen
D. English flavoring particles

E. American monetary system

F. Shopping in the United States
5. COMMUNITIES
A. German T.V. Commercials, in German, to practice shopping vocabulary
B. Students will compose a letter in German to their new host family in Krems, Austria
V. FIFTH SIX WEEKS
1. COMMUNICATION
A. Separable Prefix Verbs
B. Compound Nouns
C. Introduction to German literature with beginning-level book Arme Anna vocabulary for
the entire book
D. Read Chapter 1 of Arme Anna
E. Dative Case: Definite and indefinite articles
F. Chapter 2 of Arme Anna
G. Dative Prepositions and Body Parts
H. Chapter 3 of Arme Anna
I. Dative Personal Pronouns
2. CULTURE
A. Family relationships (Arme Anna)
B. Experiences as a foreign exchange student (Arme Anna)
C. Sports in Germany
3. CONNECTIONS
A. Students will compose visual representations of one or more chapters in Arme Anna
B. Video: Train Ride through Switzerland to give a historical setting for Arme Anna
C. Use digital language lab to drill verb conjugations and conversational practice
4. COMPARISONS

A. Students will learn phrasal verbs in English as they relate to separable prefix verbs in
German
B. English indirect objects and their function
C. English prepositions and prepositional phrases
D. American sports as compared to German sports
5. COMMUNITIES
A. Compare and Contrast the American and Swiss families in Arme Anna
B. Students will compose an essay in German, detailing their favorite sports and hobbies
VI. FINAL SIX WEEKS
1. COMMUNICATION
A. Finish Arme Anna Chapters 1-6
B. Present Perfect Tense
2. CULTURE
A. Train Travel
B. General European Travel Tips (Arme Anna)
3. CONNECTIONS
A. German travel video (in English, hosted Rick Steves) exploring German
timeliness
B. Students will book a trip within Germany to multiple cities (including
transportation, food, lodging and itinerary); will incorporate basic math,
geography and technology)
C. Use digital language lab to drill verb conjugations and conversational practice
4. COMPARISON
A. English past tenses versus German present perfect tense
B. Transportation within the United States as compared to the German/European
system
5. COMMUNITIES

Students will spend a class period exploring the offerings at the German
Deli