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German for children

Kinder mit Buechern teaser © Colourbox

This page features free-of-charge materials for teaching young children. Learn how to teach CLIL, combine German and STEM or bring techniques of mindfulness into your German classroom. Brush up on the theory and methods of teaching this age group.

German with...

  • German with Karla and Kai

    Karla the Roach and Kai the Maybug take children on a journey. Materials include two books with six chapters each, videos, texts and lesson plans. 

    Karla und Kai © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • German with Felix and Franzi

    Felix the Frog and Franzi the Lady Duck are two handpupetts who live in a typical German mailbox and tell stories abour their new home, England. Materials include videos, texts and extensive lesson plans. 

    Felix Franzi © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

Digital learning tools

  • The Language Magician

    This project has now come to an end. We would like to sincerely thank all teachers who used and supported The Language Magician over the years. Your commitment and enthusiasm made it a valued resource for primary language teaching.

    The Language Magician © Goethe-Institut London © Goethe-Institut London

  • Das Bild ist weg!

    Das Bild ist weg! is an online game at language level A1.1 for children aged seven to ten. Help your friends to find the stolen painting and bring it back to the museum. At the end, you can also get a certificate.

    Pupils at the museum © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

Multimedia digital platforms

  • German and Stem: The Digital Kinderuniversity

    The Kinderuniversity is a free of charge online platform for children (age 8-12 years old), teachers, and parents. There are three topics -- humanities, natural sciences, and technology.

    Kinderuni ©Goethe-Institut / Kids Interactive ©Goethe-Institut / Kids Interactive

  • Deutsch für dich

    In the global “Deutsch für dich” community you will find plenty of exercises to help you learn German free of charge. Network and share experiences with 560.000 German learners around the world. 

    Deutsch für dich Foto: Shutterstock.com, Rawpixel.com Foto: Shutterstock.com, Rawpixel.com

  • voyage kids

    A website packed with interactive activities for primary pupils in Germany and the UK.

    Voyage Kids ©UK-German Connection ©UK-German Connection

Everyday life

  • Customs and Traditions

    Interactive presentations for the German lesson with comprehensive teacher’s notes. Basic language and introduction to highlights in the German festive calendar. Suitable for non-specialists in Primary schools.

    Kind mit Schultute Ronald Bonß © ZB - Fotoreport Ronald Bonß © ZB - Fotoreport

  • Das bin Ich Buch

    Are your pupils sometimes bored of textbooks and would they prefer to talk about themselves and what is going on in their world? Let them create their very own 'Ich-Buch' where they can experiment with the German language and discover new things.

    Das bin ICH - ein Buch von MIR über MICH @Deutsche Welle @Deutsche Welle

Film and Video

  • Fairy Tales on DVD

    The ARD produced adaptions of the brothers Grimm’s classic fairy tales. The films were shot at romantic castles and in enchanted forests all over Germany.

Music, Arts and Literature

The House by the Lake

We offer two teaching units on the book "The house by the lake" in which pupils can learn their first German vocabulary. Further teaching materials, videos and a creative competition introduce the pupils to the German language and history in a playful way. 
Target group: pupils with no or little knowledge of German aged 7-12 (Key Stage 2 + Year 7).

Illustration of Thomas Harding's book "The House by the lake" © Goethe-Institut London © Goethe-Institut London

  • Learn German with Songs

    The songbook of Martina Schwarz provides you with many ideas for the use of music in class.

    Song book © Goethe-Institut London © Goethe-Institut London

  • Learn More German with Songs

    The second volume of Martina Schwarz' songbook for German in primary schools is a great addition to your German lessons.

    Song book © Goethe-Institut London © Goethe-Institut London

  • Fairytales in the German Classroom

    Our fairytale website offers ideas, tips and guidelines for teaching fairytales in the German classroom. Here you will find exercises for learners of all language levels including primary.

    The musicians of Bremen © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • Primary and secondary pupils

    Training of German reading skills

    The aim of these materials is to motivate pupils to "venture" into German texts. Through targeted questions, students are asked to use their prior knowledge and German skills to develop content and reading strategies.

    Boy who reads © colourbox.de © colourbox.de

German for your classroom

  • Advertising Kits

    Order standardised advertising kits: infomational brochures, printed material to help grow your German programme, fun items to decorate your classroom or small prizes to motivate your students. 

    Advertising Kits © Goethe-Institut / Bettina Siegwart © Goethe-Institut / Bettina Siegwart

  • Poster exhibitions

    Do you want to bring topics to life in your German classroom? Then borrow a poster exhibition free of charge from your nearest Goethe-Institut! 
     

    Plakatausstellung teaser © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • German Classroom Calendar

    The word lifehack describes ideas that can be used to solve everyday challenges. The eco-lifehacks in the calendar show creative ideas for everyday life, with which you can protect the environment at the same time. Alongside, you can find ideas how to teach these lifehacks in your German lessons. 

    Glassblaeser BKD Kalender © ZB-FUNKREGIO OST; Fotograf: Matthias Bein (Ausschnitt) © ZB-FUNKREGIO OST; Fotograf: Matthias Bein (Ausschnitt)

  • German cinema for your classroom

    We have a number of great German movies available to rent from us in your German classroom. All movies are in German with English subtitles.

    The Lives of Others © Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion (München) © Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion (München)

Additional Materials

  • 'FUNology' for Primary Classes

    It’s time for fun and laughter: Here you can 'browse' through our game collection: Exercises for fun dialogues, activity games, ring games, vocabulary games etc.

  • German in the Nursery

    These Teaching Modules have been developed and piloted by the Goethe-Institut Glasgow in order to introduce German to very young learners.

  • German materials for primary schools (British Council Wales)

    The activities in this section are more in-depth, sustained activities that will help learners to become more confident in speaking and listening to languages. These include three original songs in German, Welsh and English, created especially for Cerdd Iaith. On each page, you will find a short description of the activity along with audio files, videos, lyrics and sheet music that will help you and your learners to sing along with the musicians. You will also find additional vocabulary where needed.

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