Topic title: School

Year group: 9

When taught: September –  November

What are we learning?

• Key skills for GCSE language learning 
• School life:
  • Subjects & the timetable
  • Rules & school uniform
  • School events & trips
  • School activities & clubs
• Grammar:
  • Verb formation consolidation 
  • Tense revision
  • Modal & stem-changing verbs 
  • Word order
  • Adverbs revision 
  • More on intensifiers & quantifiers 

Why is this important to know? 

• It makes pupils aware of the key differences between the German & British education systems, which helps with certain exam questions and also prepares them for our exchange visit to our partner school 
• It gives pupils more confidence when meeting & getting to know German native speakers – a skill they may need if involved in the exchange in Year 10 
• It develops the giving of opinions and justifying with reasons – a key GCSE skill 

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

• This topic builds on vocabulary learnt when this topic came up in Year 7 and follows on from the grammar studied in Year 8. This makes for an excellent bridging topic as we begin the GCSE course.  

How will we be assessed on this topic?

• The first assessment will involve writing in the foreign language 

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?  

• Attention to detail in spelling and grammar 
• An ability to self-assess independent writing 
• Greater confidence when reading aloud & doing dictation tasks  
• At the highest level, pupils will be able to write independently with flair, being creative within the linguistic parameters set 

What key words are there in this topic?

• See vocab in file in school section 
• You could use the wordwall activities linked on Satchel to revise actively 

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

• languages online – grammar practice
• Have a look at the Stretch & Challenge Lotto grid in your file