Unit 8 — Inequality and Voice

Track G+M · Klasse 9 · Niveau G/M

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

Learning objectives Link to heading

  • I can read a short text on a social issue and identify the writer’s perspective.
  • I can use despite / in spite of / because of + noun.
  • I can write a 150-word reflection that takes a clear position.

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

Eli’s class read a short text about food inequality in their own town. The school cafeteria is free for students who qualify. The qualification is invisible — the cards look the same. Mr. Yilmaz pointed out that the cards were redesigned three years ago precisely so they would all look the same. “That’s a small thing,” Naima said. Mr. Yilmaz nodded. “Small things do most of the work.”

1. Activate Link to heading

Quick noticing. Write down 3 places in your daily life where access is unequal. (Public transport, school clubs, holidays …) No judgement — just notice.

2. Input Link to heading

Vocabulary — inequality Link to heading

inequality, fairness, access, opportunity, privilege, disadvantage, support, scholarship, subsidy, free school meals, social mobility, discrimination, exclusion, inclusion, voice, representation.

Grammar — despite / in spite of / because of Link to heading

All three take a noun or -ing verb, not a full clause:

  • Despite the rain, we played football.
  • In spite of the noise, she focused.
  • Because of the new rule, prices changed.

For full clauses, use although or because.

3. Practise Link to heading

Niveau G Link to heading

  1. Choose: despite / in spite of / because of: __________ the rain, we played. __________ the new policy, prices fell.
  2. Build a sentence with despite + noun: (rain / we / played) → ___ .

Niveau M Link to heading

  1. Build 4 sentences using despite, in spite of, because of, although about a fairness topic.
Answer key

G. 1. Despite (or In spite of) / Because of. 2. Despite the rain, we played.

M. 3. Open.

4. Produce Link to heading

Reflection, 150 words. Take a clear position on a small fairness issue. Use 2 despite/because of + 1 although + 1 strong claim sentence.

Sample Link to heading

The school redesigned its lunch cards three years ago, so that the cards of students who qualify for free meals look exactly the same as everyone else’s. It’s a small thing. Despite the small surface, the effect is real: no student has to walk past a different-coloured card on the way to the trays. Although adults sometimes call this kind of detail cosmetic, I disagree. Because of one design choice, the cafeteria queue stops being a place where income is visible. In my view, a school is most fair when its smallest details have been thought through this carefully. Posters on the wall are easy. Cards in pockets are not.

5. Reflect Link to heading

  • I can read a fairness text and find the writer’s perspective.
  • I can use despite / in spite of / because of with nouns.
  • I can write a 150-word reflection with a clear position.

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

Exam example Link to heading

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

Task 1 — Listening (10 BE) Link to heading

Listen twice.

“Despite a small budget, the school redesigned the lunch cards three years ago. Because of that change, no student now walks past a different-coloured card. Although the change looks cosmetic, the effect is real.”

  1. Despite + noun: ___ . 2. Action: ___ . 3. Effect: ___ . 4. Although clause: ___ .

Task 2 — Reading (12 BE) Link to heading

Read.

“Free school meals exist for students whose families qualify. The cards used to look different, and the difference was visible in the queue. Now the cards look the same. Some adults call this cosmetic. Most students don’t.”

  1. Why free meals: ___ . 2. Old cards: ___ . 3. New cards: ___ . 4. Adults vs. students: ___ .

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

Fill in despite / in spite of / because of / although.

  1. ___ the rain, we played football.
  2. ___ the new policy, prices changed.
  3. ___ I was tired, I finished the test.
  4. ___ the small budget, the school redesigned the cards.

Task 4 — Writing (13 BE) Link to heading

Write 150 words: take a position on a small fairness issue. Use 3 of: despite, in spite of, because of, although.

Answer key
T1. small budget; redesigned the lunch cards; no student walks past a different-coloured card; the change looks cosmetic. T2. for students whose families qualify; visible in queue; now look the same; some adults call cosmetic, most students don’t. T3. Despite (or In spite of) / Because of / Although / Despite (or In spite of). T4. Open.
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. Niveau G: scaffold card with the key structure. Above Niveau M: extension prompt linking to Klasse 10.

Common pitfalls Link to heading

  • Despite I was tired → ✗ — despite takes a noun, not a full clause.
  • Because of + clause → ✗ — because + clause is right.
  • Avoid the poor / the rich — prefer students who qualify for support or similar.

Further reading / listening Link to heading

  • BBC News — Education social-issue articles.
  • JRF (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK) — accessible reports.

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