1 - Whose Birthday Is Next? ~5 mins
Whose birthday is coming up next in this class? Say the month in English.
Today you will name ten months in German (January to October) and write a full date, including your own birthday.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Name ten months in German (January to October)
- Give a simple full date, including your birthday
- Spot that German months always start with a capital letter
Take three or four birthday months in English only. Do not teach the German yet; the flashcards in the next step carry the new words. Note which months come up most, so you can call on those pupils when you model a full date later. This lesson covers January to October only; if a pupil’s birthday is in November or December, note it now and use the fallback in the copy step.
2 - Ten German Months ~10 mins
Here are today's months, one card at a time. See the English, try the German aloud, then flip to check. Watch the capital letter on every month: German nouns always start with one.
A full date sounds like this:
Mein Geburtstag ist am 5. März. (My birthday is on the 5th of March.)
English shows first on each card. Volunteers say the German before the class flips. Insist on the capital letter and the article der when the word stands alone: der März (dair MAIRTS), not bare März.
Model the full date twice with two different pupils: Mein Geburtstag ist am 5. März (mine Guh-BOORTS-tahk ist am FOONF-ten MAIRTS). Point out that the day number takes a full stop in German writing (5.) and that the month keeps its capital. Confirm any cognates from the hook here (for example April and August sound close to English).
3 - Month Bingo ~10 mins
Listen for each month and mark it on your card. First full line calls out. Say the German quietly to yourself as you mark it.
How to Play Bingo:
Option 1: Students on Devices (Digital Version)
- Use the digital version where your teacher view of the lesson displays the cards that are being called out.
- Play the pronunciation sound of each word and the children mark it off their unique digital bingo card.
- Each student has a randomised bingo card so winners will vary!
Option 2: Print Out the Bingo Cards
- Print out the Bingo Cards from the attachment above, cut out the cards, and give one to each student.
- You call out the vocabulary words and students mark off their sheets.
- First student to complete a line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) calls "Bingo!" and wins.
4 - Into Your Copy ~3 mins
Open your copy and write your own birthday as a full date, then the date of a holiday you like. Keep every month capitalised, just as you saw on the cards.
Pause the board. Leave a model date visible, for example Mein Geburtstag ist am 12. Juni. (mine Guh-BOORTS-tahk ist am TSVOHLF-ten YOO-nee). Everyone writes both lines: their birthday and one holiday date. Walk the room and check capital letters on the months and the full stop after the day number. Do not collect these.
November or December birthdays: those two months are not in today’s set. Write the German day number and full stop for them, supply der November (dair no-VEM-ber) or der Dezember (dair de-TSEM-ber) on the board for those pupils only, and let them copy the supplied month. They still practise the full-date pattern.
5 - Match the Months ~10 mins
Flip two cards at a time and find each German month with its English name. Say the German quietly as you turn each card.
Whole class on the IWB with volunteers taking turns, or pairs if devices are in use. If the same pair is missed twice, stop and say both sides together before moving on. Listen for capitalisation when pupils read the German aloud.
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