ALEX Classroom Resource

  

Donnerwetter: The Germans and Their Weather

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

 Donnerwetter: The Germans and Their Weather

URL:

 https://coerll.utexas.edu/dib/wq.php?k=6&q=3

Content Source:

 Other
COERLL University of Texas at Austin
Type: Learning Activity

Overview:

This novice-mid to novice-high German activity gives students an opportunity to see German weather phrases used in context. Students start by exploring an authentic website to gather information about current weather in Germany. An activity page created in the target language is provided to guide students through the activity. After exploring the weather in Germany, they are asked to create a German forecast for their own hometown. 

Content Standard(s):
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level I
3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the present time frame.

a. Present basic information orally and in writing.

b. Give simple instructions.

c. Tell about familiar objects, experiences, and daily routines.

d. Recite short memorized phrases, poems, and/or rhymes.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Communication
Modes Of Communication:
Presentational Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Novice Mid Level
Students:
  • list information and fill out forms about themselves and others using words and phrases.
  • express his/her likes and dislikes using words, phrases, and memorized expressions (in writing and orally).
  • list information about familiar items in his/her immediate environment.
  • describe and list his/her daily activities using words, phrases, and memorized expressions.
  • present simple information about something learned using words, phrases, and memorized expressions (in writing an orally).

Novice High Level
Students:
  • recite and write information about his/her daily life using phrases and simple sentences.
  • describe a familiar experience or event and write short notes using phrases and simple sentences.
  • list basic information about a familiar person, place, or thing using phrases and simple sentences.
  • list information about others using phrases and simple sentences.
  • repeat basic instructions on how to make or do something using phrases and simple sentences.
  • retell basic information about things he/she has learned using simple sentences.
  • ask for information in writing.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • how to appropriately describe themselves using correct noun/adjective agreements.
  • how to organize thoughts into simple sentences.
  • how to differentiate between describing themselve and others.
    • (first person and third person).
  • how to gather information using various traditional and electronic research tools.
Skills:
Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • recall vocabulary from themes taught.
  • correctly pronounce vowels and key phonetic sounds when presenting orally.
  • correctly write sentences using correct punctuation and diacrytical markings.
  • correctly type special characters, accent marks, or other markings necessary to the target language.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • recall vocabulary from themes taught.
  • correctly pronounce vowels and key phonetic sounds when presenting orally.
  • correctly write sentences using correct punctuation and diacrytical markings.
  • correctly type special characters, accent marks, or other markings necessary to the target language.
  • differentiate between questions and statements.
  • gather basic information from graphs, charts and pictures.
  • rely on background knowledge to aid in comprehension of difficult or new words.
  • recognize characters and punctuation marks that are unique to the target language.
  • sing songs in the target language.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
Novice Mid Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Students understand that:
Novice High Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level I
6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language.

a. Use math skills to convert English measurements to metric system and to convert currencies.

b. Locate cities, states, and countries where the target language is spoken.

c. Describe weather in different locations around the world.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Modes Of Communication:
Interpretive Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • identify the target language speaking countries and capitals on a map.
    • use exchange rates to calculate prices within the target language culture.
  • identify geographical influences on weather patterns in the target language countries.
  • use the metric system to identify measurements within tht the target language culture.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • the importance the metric system plays in measurements throughout the world.
  • that weather patterns are dependant on geographical locations.
  • currency changes from country to country and exchange rates are variable
  • where the target language is spoken.
Skills:
Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • use map skills to identify countries and geographical features around the world.
  • identify resources needed to calculate exchange rates and measurments.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • use map skills to identify countries and geographical features around the world.
  • identify resources needed to calculate exchange rates and measurments.
  • investigate other disciplines using the target language language.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level I
7) Interpret information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Explore authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Modes Of Communication:
Interpretive Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • identify their own perspective from which topics are viewed.
  • recognize the differences between formal and informal perspectives when interpreting information.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • that a person's culture, background, and previous experiences affect the way they view and interpret information.
Skills:
Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • access and evaluate information available through the target language and its culture.
  • identify personal perspectives on various topics related to school.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • access and evaluate information available through the target language and its culture.
  • identify personal perspectives on various topics related to school.
  • investigate other disciplines using the target language language.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level II
3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Present basic information about people and activities.

b. Recite songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Communication
Modes Of Communication:
Presentational Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Novice High Level
Students:
  • recite and write information about his/her daily life using phrases and simple sentences.
  • describe a familiar experience or event and write short notes using phrases and simple sentences.
  • list basic information about a familiar person, place, or thing using phrases and simple sentences.
  • list information about others using phrases and simple sentences.
  • repeat basic instructions on how to make or do something using phrases and simple sentences.
  • retell basic information about things he/she has learned using simple sentences.
  • ask for information in writing.

Intermediate Low Level
Students:
  • talk and write about people, activities, events, and experiences.
  • express their needs and wants.
  • present information on plans, instructions, and directions prepare and present songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.
  • express their preferences on topics of interest and ask questions of others.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • how to describe their needs for school or work.
  • how to express thoughts on topics of interest or current events.
  • how to retell or present a short skit, poem, or song.
  • how to describe common activities.
Skills:
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • recall vocabulary from themes taught.
  • correctly pronounce vowels and key phonetic sounds when presenting orally.
  • correctly write sentences using correct punctuation and diacrytical markings.
  • correctly type special characters, accent marks, or other markings necessary to the target language.
  • differentiate between questions and statements.
  • gather basic information from graphs, charts and pictures.
  • rely on background knowledge to aid in comprehension of difficult or new words.
  • recognize characters and punctuation marks that are unique to the target language.
  • sing songs in the target language.
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • create command forms of verbs to give directions.
  • identify patterns in past tense verb formations.
  • form simple sentences using common idomatic expressions and/or vocabulary focusing on proper word order.
  • recite short songs, skits, or readings from memory.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level II
6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language, utilizing the past time frame.

a. Exchange information on patterns of behavior typical of their peer group in the target culture.

b. Examine authentic materials containing current events, social announcements, and classified ads.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • identify and describe daily life activities of their peer group in the target language culture.
  • identify and interpret basic information from authentic materials.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • how their peers in the target language culture typically spend their freetime.
  • what a typical school day in the target language culture is like.
  • what kinds of media are popular among their peers in the target language culture.
Skills:
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • use map skills to identify countries and geographical features around the world.
  • identify resources needed to calculate exchange rates and measurments.
  • investigate other disciplines using the target language language.
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • interpret simple statistics on daily life activities of their peers in the target language culture, such as schooling, freetime activities, and social media usage.
  • identify and interpret basic information from authentic sources, such as news articles, event flyers, invitations, and advertisements.
  • identify a few target language news sources and stores.
  • use the target language to learn about other disciplines.
  • use information learned in the target language in other disciplines.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level II
7) Describe information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Identify the main idea of information from authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Evidence Of Student Attainment:

Students:
  • ask and answer simple questions about audio and visual documents.
  • identify the main idea and topic of online audio and visual texts.
  • identify diverse perspectives in authentic materials.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • how to ask simple questions about and describe audio and visual texts.
  • how to find and describe the main idea, theme, and topic of a text.
  • that a person's culture, background, and previous experiences affect the way they view and interpret information.
  • that media sources from the target language culture may show issues from a diverse perspective or mindset.
Skills:
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • access and evaluate information available through the target language and its culture.
  • identify personal perspectives on various topics related to school.
  • investigate other disciplines using the target language language.
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • describe photos, artwork, images, charts, and videos.
  • ask simple questions about photos, artwork, images, charts, and videos.
  • identify the main idea and topic of online articles, videos, advertisements, announcements, and social media posts.
  • recognize target language perspectives on basic cultural topics such as families, holidays, food.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
Tags: Authentic Resource, Communication, Connections, Culture, German, Interpretive Reading, Novice High, Novice Mid, Presentational Writing, Science and Technology, Weather
License Type: Attribution
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses
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  This resource provided by:  
Author: Chrissy Roe
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