Unit 1 — A New Year at School

Track E · Klasse 6 · Niveau E

Template: Activate → Input → Practise → Produce → Reflect.
Niveau: E. class test (“Klassenarbeit”) at Niveau E (30 BE).

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

  1. Place the adverb. (always) I __________ have English on Tuesday. (rarely) Lina __________ is late. (never) They __________ play chess.
  2. Sort by % (low → high): occasionally, never, always, often, hardly ever, sometimes, usually.

Niveau E — productive Link to heading

  1. Build 5 true sentences about your week using 5 different frequency adverbs and one to be sentence.
Answer key

Controlled. 1. always have / rarely is / never play. 2. never < hardly ever < occasionally < sometimes < often < usually < always.

Productive. 3. Open.

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

class test ("Klassenarbeit") — Niveau E (45 minutes)
Time. 45 minutes. Total. 30 points.

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.”

  1. 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.

  1. (always) I ___ have music on Monday.
  2. (usually) She ___ is on time.
  3. (hardly ever) They ___ play tennis.
  4. (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.

Answer key
T1. twice a week, Friday afternoon, hardly ever, 12:30. T2. T, F, T, T. T3. 1. always have, 2. is usually, 3. hardly ever play, 4. occasionally have. T4. Open.
Notenschlüssel (von 30)
| 28–30 | 1 | 24–27 | 2 | 20–23 | 3 | | 15–19 | 4 | 9–14 | 5 | 0–8 | 6 |

Downloads Link to heading

**Slide deck timing.** 45 minutes total. Lead-in 3 min · Activate 4 min · Input 12 min · Practise 8 min · Produce 13 min · Reflect 5 min.

Differentiation. Below Niveau E (mixed group): provide a support card. Above Niveau E: extension question linking to the next Unit.

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

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