Weather Words Fun

Overview

• Unit Title: German to English Fun
• Lesson: 10 of 15
• Subject: Languages (German)
• Year Level: Foundation (Prep)
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Class Size: 20 students
• Curriculum Link:
  Australian Curriculum – Languages: German – Foundation to Year 2
  • Strand: Communicating and Understanding
  • Sub-strands:
    • Communicating – Interact with the teacher and peers through action-related talk and play
    • Understanding – Recognise and respond to familiar German vocabulary

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Identify and say simple weather words in German
• Use weather vocabulary in short spoken sentences
• Listen to and understand weather-related vocabulary in context

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Success Criteria

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

✅ Recognise and correctly pronounce at least 4 German weather words
✅ Participate in a short 'weather report' drama activity
✅ Match German weather words with visuals or movements
✅ Respond when hearing weather vocabulary in a song or speech

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Vocabulary Focus

English	German	Pronunciation
Sunny	sonnig	[ZON-nig]
Rainy	regnerisch	[RAYG-neh-rish]
Windy	windig	[VIN-dig]
Cloudy	wolkig	[VOL-kig]
Snowy	schneit	[SHNITE]

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Resources & Materials

• Picture cards (weather symbols)
• Laminated flashcards with German and English words
• Audio track of German weather song
• Scarves, umbrellas, hats, sun visors (weather props)
• Large weather chart (visual display)
• Mini whiteboards and markers for drawing

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Warm-Up (5 Minutes)

Activity: “Weather Charades Warm-Up”

• Teacher acts out a type of weather (e.g. shivering and brushing off snow)
• Students guess in English first, then teacher introduces the matching German word with a picture
• Game framed as a ‘magic language’ discovery

2. Direct Instruction (10 Minutes)

Activity: “Weather Words with Visuals”

• Introduce the 5 key weather words in German
• Use large laminated cards showing picture + word
• Pronounce chorally three times with actions (TPR – Total Physical Response)
• Use movement for each word (e.g. spin for windy, mime rain for regnerisch)
• Link to Australian weather – discuss what's typical in their hometown using simple English + German vocab

Differentiation Strategy:

• Supportive learners: Provide a visual chart to refer to throughout lesson
• ELL students: Pair with peer buddy for echo-repetition during choral practice

3. Guided Practice (15 Minutes)

Activity: “German Weather Song”

• Play a song (pre-selected and age-appropriate) featuring the weather words
• Students act out each weather as it appears
• Repeat song twice – once for listening, second time for singing with gestures
• Afterwards, display cards and ask for student volunteers to come put them in order of appearance

Differentiation Strategy:

• Emerging learners: Focus on gesture rather than words
• Advanced learners: Sing along using key vocabulary

4. Application Activity (10 Minutes)

Activity: “Kinder Wetterbericht – Kids’ Weather Report”

• Students are paired (or in groups of 3)
• Each child selects a weather prop (e.g. umbrella for rain)
• One student acts as the “weather presenter”, saying “Heute ist es [weather word]” (Today it is [weather])
• Teacher models 2 examples
• Students take turns presenting
• Class claps for each group/pair

Differentiation Strategy:

• Supportive learners: Use sentence strip on whiteboard with fill-in-the-blank support
• Advanced learners: Add location word ("in Berlin", "in Sydney") with visual support

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5. Reflection & Recap (5 Minutes)

Activity: “Which was your favourite?”

• Sit in circle
• Students take turns pointing to the weather card they liked best and try saying the word in German
• Teacher notes vocabulary strength and areas needing reinforcement for next lesson

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Extension Options (if time allows or for fast finishers)

• Weather Drawing Worksheet: Match German word to drawn weather icon
• Weather Pairs Game: Turn cards over – find German word + matching picture
• "Weatherman Says" Game: Like ‘Simon Says’ incorporating weather vocab & actions

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Assessment (Informal / Formative)

• Observation of pronunciation and willingness to participate
• Peer feedback during group activity
• Individual student verbal output during closing circle

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Teacher Reflection Notes (To Complete Post-Lesson)

• Which vocabulary items were most confidently recalled?
• Were gestures effective in supporting memorisation?
• Which learners required more support and how did they respond to differentiation?

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This dynamic, engaging lesson highlights students’ playful capacity to understand and use new languages through movement, music, and imagination—a perfect fit for the Australian Foundation Year Languages curriculum.