Unit 1 — A New Year at School
Track E · Klasse 6 · Niveau E
Learning objectives Link to heading
- I can describe my Klasse-6 timetable in 6 sentences with frequency adverbs.
- I can use always / often / sometimes / rarely / never / hardly ever.
- I can ask and answer about a typical school week in 90 seconds.
Bildungsplan alignment Link to heading
- 3.1.1 Soziokulturelles Orientierungswissen / Themen
- 3.1.3.3 Sprechen – an Gesprächen teilnehmen
- 3.1.3.5 Schreiben
- 3.1.3.8 Verfügen über sprachliche Mittel – Grammatik
(Source: https://www.bildungsplaene-bw.de/,Lde/LS/BP2016BW/ALLG/SEK1/E1)
Lead-in story Link to heading
Sam stands in the corridor of the new building. Klasse 6 has a different floor. The lockers click shut. The chemistry lab smells faintly of vinegar. Lina finds Sam staring at a noticeboard. “Same class, different planet,” she says. Mr. Flint walks past with a tray of test tubes, says, “Welcome back,” and disappears into the lab without slowing down. Klasse 6 has begun, and the building has agreed to it.
1. Activate Link to heading
Two-truth check. Tell your partner two true things and one slightly invented thing about your summer. Partner guesses which is invented. Then swap.
2. Input Link to heading
Vocabulary — secondary school Link to heading
lockers, the chemistry lab, the staff room, the headteacher’s office, period (= Stunde), break time, free period (= Hohlstunde), homework diary, blazer (BrE), uniform, prefect, head pupil, the bell, first period, last period.
Grammar — frequency adverbs (full set) Link to heading
Adverbs of frequency by approximate %: always 100%, usually 90%, often 70%, sometimes 50%, occasionally 30%, rarely / hardly ever 5%, never 0%.
Position rule:
- Before the main verb: I always have maths on Monday.
- After to be: She is sometimes late.
- Between modal/aux and main: I have never been to Paris.
3. Practise Link to heading
Niveau E — controlled Link to heading
- Place the adverb. (always) I __________ have English on Tuesday. (rarely) Lina __________ is late. (never) They __________ play chess.
- Sort by % (low → high): occasionally, never, always, often, hardly ever, sometimes, usually.
Niveau E — productive Link to heading
- Build 5 true sentences about your week using 5 different frequency adverbs and one to be sentence.
4. Produce Link to heading
Pair speaking — My Week (Niveau E). 90 seconds each direction. Cover: a typical Monday, a Friday afternoon, something I never do at school, something I always do at home before school.
Sample Link to heading
— On Mondays I usually have biology first thing, which I love. I sometimes have a free period after lunch — those are the best minutes of the week.
5. Reflect Link to heading
- I can place frequency adverbs correctly with main verbs and to be.
- I can sort 7 frequency adverbs by approximate %.
- I can hold a 90-second school-week conversation.
One thing in your notebook: Write one sentence using something you learned in this Unit.
Exam example Link to heading
Task 1 — Listening (8 BE) Link to heading
Listen twice.
“In Klasse 6 we have biology twice a week, music once a week, and PE on Friday afternoon. We hardly ever have homework on Wednesday. Lunch is always at 12:30.”
- Biology: ___ . 2. PE: ___ . 3. Homework on Wed: ___ . 4. Lunch: ___ .
Task 2 — Reading (8 BE) Link to heading
Read.
“Sam usually walks to school. Sometimes he takes the bus when it rains heavily. He hardly ever gets a lift from his parents. He often arrives ten minutes early to talk to Lina at her locker.”
T or F: 1. Sam usually walks. 2. He always takes the bus. 3. He hardly ever gets a lift. 4. He often arrives early.
Task 3 — Use of English (8 BE) Link to heading
Place the adverb.
- (always) I ___ have music on Monday.
- (usually) She ___ is on time.
- (hardly ever) They ___ play tennis.
- (occasionally) We ___ have a free period.
Task 4 — Writing (6 BE) Link to heading
Write 6 sentences about your school week using 4 different frequency adverbs and at least one to be sentence.
Downloads Link to heading
Differentiation — support (below Niveau E).
Use these starters to speak for 90 seconds about your week. Change the adverb each time.
- On Mondays I usually __________, and after the bell I often __________.
- On Friday afternoons I sometimes __________, but I rarely __________.
- One thing I never do at school is __________.
- Before school I always __________, because __________.
Extension (above Niveau E / Oberstufe).
Interview your partner about their week, then report back to the class in the third person — but end with an argument: which one habit should your school change, and why? Use at least three different frequency adverbs and one contrast word (although, whereas, however) to compare an ideal school week with the real one.
Common pitfalls Link to heading
- I have always maths → ✗ / I always have maths → ✓.
- She always is late → ✗ / She is always late → ✓ (after to be).
- L1 trap: German immer often follows the verb; English keeps it before main verbs.
Further reading / listening Link to heading
- BBC Learning English — Adverbs of frequency.
- British Council — School routines topic.
Downloads
Listen
The vocabulary, dialogues and reading texts of this unit as audio, spoken by a native voice. The spoken text is shown beneath each clip.
Show text
"In Klasse 6 we have biology twice a week, music once a week, and PE on Friday afternoon. We never have homework on Wednesday. Lunch is always at 12:30."
Show text
"Sam usually walks to school. Sometimes he takes the bus when it rains. He never gets a lift from his parents. He often arrives ten minutes early to talk to Lina."