Unit 3 — The Environment, Locally

Track E · Klasse 9 · Niveau E

Template: Activate → Input → Practise → Produce → Reflect.
Niveau: E. class test (“Klassenarbeit”) at Niveau E (45 BE).

Learning objectives Link to heading

  • I can read a short environment text and identify cause and effect.
  • I can use if + present, will-future (first conditional) for predictions.
  • I can write a 120-word local environment proposal.

curriculum framework (“Bildungsplan”) alignment Link to heading

  • 3.2.1 Soziokulturelles Orientierungswissen / Themen
  • 3.2.2 Interkulturelle kommunikative Kompetenz
  • 3.2.3.2 Leseverstehen
  • 3.2.3.5 Schreiben
  • 3.2.4 Text- und Medienkompetenz

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

Lead-in story Link to heading

Naima’s class is mapping the litter on a 200-metre stretch of street outside the school. They are using a clipboard, a tally chart, and one rather reluctant volunteer who brought gloves. After three days they have 412 plastic items, 201 paper items, and one extremely confused fox who wants to know what they’re doing.

1. Activate Link to heading

Local-noticing scan. Spend 60 seconds listing 5 environment problems you notice within 200 metres of the school.

2. Input Link to heading

Vocabulary — environment Link to heading

pollution, litter, recycling, single-use plastic, compost, emissions, carbon footprint, biodiversity, habitat, extinction, sustainable, renewable, local authority, council, petition, campaign.

Grammar — first conditional Link to heading

Form: If + present simple, will + base verb.

  • If we keep the chart, we will see the trend.
  • If the council acts, the litter will decrease.
  • Won’t in the result: If we do nothing, things won’t change.

3. Practise Link to heading

Niveau E — controlled Link to heading

  1. Build first conditional: (if / we / map / litter) / (we / understand / problem) → ___ .
  2. Match: pollution → litter; compost → biodegradable waste; recycling → reuse.

Niveau E — productive Link to heading

  1. Build 4 first-conditional sentences about a local environment fix.
Answer key

Controlled. 1. If we map the litter, we will understand the problem. 2. all true.

Productive. 3. Open.

4. Produce Link to heading

Local proposal, 120 words. Write to the school or local council about a fixable environment issue near your school. Use 3 first conditionals + 2 advice structures.

Sample Link to heading

Dear Local Council, our class has counted 412 plastic items over 200 metres of street near our school. If you place two more bins along this stretch, the count will probably halve. If the bins are emptied weekly, they won’t overflow. We would also ask that the school be invited to do a yearly count, so we can track whether the change is real. If we measure twice a year, we will know whether small actions actually work, and the next class won’t have to start again.

5. Reflect Link to heading

  • I can identify cause-and-effect in an environment text.
  • I can use first conditionals correctly.
  • I can write a 120-word local proposal.

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. 45 points.

Task 1 — Listening (10 BE) Link to heading

Listen twice.

“If you place two more bins along this 200-metre stretch, the litter count will halve. If the bins are emptied weekly, they won’t overflow. We will measure twice a year so we know whether the change is real.”

  1. Action 1: ___ . 2. Effect 1: ___ . 3. Action 2: ___ . 4. Measurement frequency: ___ .

Task 2 — Reading (12 BE) Link to heading

Read.

“The street outside Klasse 9’s school had 412 plastic items in three days. After the council added two bins, the number fell to 198 in the next count. The class has decided to repeat the count every six months.”

  1. Initial: ___ . 2. Action: ___ . 3. New count: ___ . 4. Frequency: ___ .

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

First conditional.

  1. If we __________ (count) the litter, we __________ (see) the trend.
  2. If the council __________ (add) bins, the litter __________ (decrease).
  3. If we __________ (do / not) anything, things __________ (not / change).
  4. If they __________ (empty) the bins weekly, they __________ (not / overflow).

Task 4 — Writing (13 BE) Link to heading

Write 120 words: a proposal to the council on a local environment issue. Use 3 first conditionals.

Answer key
T1. add 2 bins; litter halves; empty weekly; twice a year. T2. 412 plastic items in 3 days; council added 2 bins; 198; every 6 months. T3. count / will see; add / will decrease; don’t do / won’t change; empty / won’t overflow. T4. Open.
grading scale (Notenschlüssel) (von 45)
| 42–45 | 1 | 36–41 | 2 | 30–35 | 3 | | 22–29 | 4 | 13–21 | 5 | 0–12 | 6 |

Downloads Link to heading

**Slide deck timing.** 45 minutes total. Lead-in 4 min · Activate 5 min · Input 14 min · Practise 8 min · Produce 11 min · Reflect 3 min.

Differentiation. Below Niveau E: scaffold card with the key structure. Above Niveau E: extension prompt linking to Klasse 10.

Common pitfalls Link to heading

  • If we will map → ✗ / If we map → ✓.
  • if + would → ✗ in the if-clause for first conditional.
  • pollution is uncountable: a pollution → ✗ / some pollution → ✓.

Further reading / listening Link to heading

  • BBC Newsround — local environment stories.
  • WWF UK Schools — accessible factsheets.

Downloads

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