1 - Wild Animals We Know ~5 mins
Which wild animals do you already know in English? Take a moment: can you name four before we meet their German names?
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Name eight wild animals in German
- Label animals on a wildlife-park picture
- Spot the German words when you hear them called out
Collect four or five English guesses quickly. Do not confirm yet; the word-table in the next step reveals the German list. Celebrate lively answers (even if they name a pet or a farm animal) and steer gently toward wild animals such as lions, tigers, elephants and foxes.
2 - Eight German Wild Animals ~10 mins
Watch each animal on the board, listen, then say it back together as a class.
We will meet them in two groups of four. Five take der. Only die Giraffe takes die. Two take das — das Krokodil and das Zebra — listen for those.
Run the word-table as a whole-class IWB step (you drive the board; pupils do not tap). Introduce in two sets of four with a quick check between sets.
Set 1 (hear–say–check): der Fuchs (dair FOOKS), der Bär (dair BAIR), der Löwe (dair LUR-vuh), der Tiger (dair TEE-guh). Tap each word; class repeats twice (once together, once by table). After the four, point at random pictures and ask the class to chorus the full phrase with the article (about 30 seconds).
Set 2: der Elefant (dair ay-leh-FAHNT), die Giraffe (dee gi-RAH-fuh), das Krokodil (das kro-ko-DEEL), das Zebra (das TSAY-brah). Same pattern, then a second 30-second point-and-chorus check across all eight with the full table still visible.
Article spotlight: Say on the board path: five take der; only die Giraffe takes die; das Krokodil and das Zebra take das.
Bär umlaut: For Bär, model it as a wide open “eh” — tell them to pretend they are surprised: Bääär. Class copies the surprised face once for fun, then the word cleanly twice.
Warm beat: Cheer the first table that lands das Krokodil with the article — it is one of the longest words today and worth a mini celebration. Keep the full table on screen afterwards so later steps can refer back.
3 - Label the Wildlife Park ~10 mins
These animals are hiding in a wildlife-park scene — can you name them all?
A volunteer clicks the correct German label on the board. Everyone else points at the animal and whispers the full phrase (der / die / das + name) before the label is revealed.
Lock this to whole-class IWB only. Two or three volunteers take turns clicking; the seated class always points and whispers the full phrase with the article before the answer appears. Fuchs alone is not enough. If a label is missed twice, stop and say it together before moving on.
Warm beat: When a volunteer gets die Giraffe or das Krokodil right, have the class give a quiet “tall-neck stretch” or a soft snap-clap — keep it playful, not loud.
4 - Into Your Copy ~3 mins
Open your copy and write four wild animals with their articles. Star your favourite two.
Pause the board. Everyone writes; this is the only three minutes where every pupil's pen is moving. Keep the word-table on screen while they copy. Walk the room and check the article is going in front of every word. Favourites need no “right” answer — the star is just a personal choice. Do not collect these.
5 - Wild Animal Bingo ~10 mins
You will get a bingo card (on paper, or on screen if you are using devices). When you hear a German animal with its article, mark it. First full line shouts Bingo!
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.
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