Unit 3 — Fairness at School

Learning objectives Link to heading

• I can argue a school-fairness point in 5 sentences.
• I can use the second conditional (if I were … I would …).
• I can use connectives of contrast (although, however, on the other hand).

Bildungsplan alignment Link to heading

• 3.2.1 Soziokulturelles Orientierungswissen / Themen
• 3.2.3.3 Sprechen – an Gesprächen teilnehmen
• 3.2.3.5 Schreiben
• 3.2.3.8 Verfügen über sprachliche Mittel – Grammatik

(Source: https://www.bildungsplaene-bw.de/,Lde/LS/BP2016BW/ALLG/SEK1/E1)

Lead-in story Link to heading

Jonas’s class is voting on a new rule: no phones at lunch. Half the class is for it. The other half thinks it is mostly aimed at one group of students who happen to be loud anyway. Hawa says, “If I were the headteacher, I would ask why we are voting on phones and not on actual fairness.”

1. Activate Link to heading

Two-minute scan. On the slide are five school rules. With your partner, mark each one as fair / unfair / depends.

2. Input Link to heading

Vocabulary — fairness Link to heading

rule, rights, equal, equality, privilege, discrimination, exception, vote, debate, agree, disagree, valid, biased, neutral, inclusive.

Grammar — second conditional Link to heading

Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb.

• If I were the headteacher, I would change the rule.
• If we voted, it would be close.
• I wouldn’t ban phones if I had to enforce the rule myself.

Were (not was) is preferred for I/he/she/it in formal writing: If I were you …

Connectives of contrast Link to heading

although, however, on the other hand, even though, still, but, yet.

• Although the rule is meant to help, it doesn’t.
• However, I see the point of the original idea.
• On the other hand, fairness has limits.

3. Practise Link to heading

Niveau E — controlled Link to heading

1. Fill in second conditional: If I __________ (be) the headteacher, I __________ (change) the rule.
2. Connective fill-in: ___ I agree with the rule, I think it is unfair to one group. (although)

Niveau E — productive Link to heading

3. Build 3 second-conditional sentences and 2 contrast sentences about a school rule you would change.

4. Produce Link to heading

Mini-debate. Two teams of 4. The motion: This class would replace the no-phones rule with a no-loud-phones rule. Each speaker uses one second conditional + one contrast connective. Two minutes per side.

Sample Link to heading

— If we replaced the rule, we would still have quiet lunch tables. However, some people just wouldn’t follow it. — On the other hand, the current rule punishes everyone for the loudness of a few.

5. Reflect Link to heading

• I can argue a school-fairness point in 5 sentences.
• I can use the second conditional in writing.
• I can use 3 connectives of contrast.

One thing in your notebook: Write one sentence using something you learned in this Unit.

Exam example Link to heading

Task 1 — Listening (10 BE) Link to heading

Listen twice.

“If I were the headteacher, I would replace the no-phones rule with a no-loud-phones rule. I think it would be fairer. Although some students would still break it, most wouldn’t. On the other hand, enforcing it would still be tricky.”

1. Speaker would replace: ___ . 2. With: ___ . 3. Most students would: ___ . 4. Tricky part: ___ .

Task 2 — Reading (12 BE) Link to heading

Read.

“In an interview, the head pupil said: ‘If we had more student representation on the rule committee, fewer rules would feel unfair. However, I understand that adults don’t always want students to vote on everything.’”

1. What would help: ___ . 2. Result: ___ . 3. Adults: ___ . 4. However introduces: ___ .

Task 3 — Use of English (10 BE) Link to heading

Build the second conditional.

1. If I __________ (be) headteacher, I __________ (change) the rule.
2. If we __________ (vote), the result __________ (be) close.
3. I __________ (not / ban) phones if I __________ (have) to enforce it.
4. Although the rule __________ (be) clear, it __________ (not / be) fair.

Task 4 — Writing (13 BE) Link to heading

Write 120 words: one school rule you would change. Use 2 second conditionals + 2 contrast connectives.

Downloads Link to heading

Common pitfalls Link to heading

• If I would be … → ✗ / If I were … → ✓.
• Although + but in one sentence → ✗ — pick one.
• on the another hand → ✗ / on the other hand → ✓.

Further reading / listening Link to heading

• BBC Newsround — short fairness debates for teens.
• Childline UK — Your rights at school page.

Downloads

Presentation

Download .pptx

Worksheet

Download .pdf