Thematic Units in the AP German Classroom

1
Thematic Units in the AP German Classroom

• Thematic instruction
• is supported by the ACTFL Performance Guidelines.
• incorporates National Standards.
• supplies context for relevant learning and real
  use.
• engages students in natural and integrated
  acquisition of skills.
• leads to use of complex thinking.

2
Choosing Topics

• Broad, overarching subject
• Interesting, age-appropriate topic
• Level-appropriate linguistic requirements
• Good variety of materials available

3
AP World Languages Themes

• Global Challenges
• Science and Technology
• Contemporary Life
• Personal and Public Identities
• Families and Communities
• Beauty and Aesthetics
• AP World Language and Culture Curriculum
  Alignment Guide

4
Building a Unit

• Students linguistic and cultural proficiency
  (students prior knowledge)
• Connections to other disciplines
• Method of delivery
• Authentic materials
• Modes of communication
• Language skills
• Assessment

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AP Vertical Teams for World Languages and
Cultures
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Learning Objectives

• Spoken Interpersonal Communication
• Written Interpersonal Communication
• Audio, Visual and Audiovisual Interpretive
  Communication
• Written and Print Interpretive Communication
• Spoken Presentational Communication
• Written Presentational Communication

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ACTFL Performance Guidelines/AP Curriculum
Alignment Guide Performance Levels
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Pre-Advanced Performance Levels

• asking questions and getting information
• communicating factual information
• engaging in extended conversations and
  discussions on general topics
• understanding main idea and some details of
  discussions and presentations
• presenting on a variety of topics
• summarizing from reading, hearing, seeing
• narrating and describing past, present, future
  events

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The Learning (and Teaching) ContinuumTheme
Global Challenges

• Topic Recycling Novice Level
• Students identify and say names of objects,
  identify kinds of materials, describe with colors
  and numbers of recycling bins, use short
  commands, learn rhymes and mottos.
• Assessment Students bring objects to recycle
  students sort objects into the correct bins.

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Materials and Methods

• http//www.tivi.de/fernsehen/purplus/index/21680/i
  ndex.html?a-1-/fernsehen/purplus/lexikon/17416/ind
  ex.html Recycling Bilder Gallerie for Vocabulary
• TPRS for commands
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vQk6YlXsbpyk Die
  Sendung mit der Maus Wir von der Müllabfuhr
  (Lied)
• http//lehrmittelboutique.net/index.php?optioncom
  _contenttaskviewid1Itemid34 pdf files on
  Abfall / Recycling (75 pages of activities!)

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Unit Checklist

• Standards
• Modes of communication
• Appropriate language and culture level
• Authentic materials
• Methods of delivery
• Assessment

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The Learning ContinuumTheme Global Challenges

• Topic Recycling Intermediate Level
• Students bring materials to be recycled and,
  working in pairs or small groups, they create
  something new, then present their objects to the
  class.
• Assessment Student produces a short song, rap,
  poster or video about recycling

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Materials

• http//www.umweltbundesamt.de/kinder/index1.html
  Aus Alt mach Neu (Müllmode)
• http//www.tivi.de/fernsehen/logo/artikel/28545/in
  dex.html Logo ZDF tivi Text mit Video
• http//www.greenpeace4kids.de/themen/muell/nachric
  hten/artikel/muelltrennung_ist_in/ Lesestück
  Mülltrennung ist in!
• http//www.slowgerman.com/2007/08/14/slow-german-0
  12-recycling/
• http//www.labbe.de/zzzebra/index.asp?themaid525
  titelid1115 Recycling Briefpapier

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The Learning ContinuumTheme Global Challenges

• Topic Recycling Pre-Advanced Level
• Strategy Research a country and report on its
  recycling programs.
• Assessment Debate should recycling be
  mandatory? Where does it work? Why?

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Materials

• http//www.wdr.de/tv/wissenmachtah/multimedia/mini
  ah.php5?id1260745500 Wissen macht Ah!
• http//www.wdr.de/tv/home/videopodcast/vodcast.jsp
  Alle Podcasts von WDR
• http//www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/hauptnavigation/sen
  dung-verpasst//hauptnavigation/themen/ Videos
  on a variety of topics.
• http//www1.ndr.de/flash/mediathek/index.html
• http//www.greenpeace4kids.de/themen/muell/nachric
  hten/artikel/weniger_muell_in_deutschland/
  Statistika
• http//www.gruene-jugend.de/
• http//www.deutschlern.net
• http//www.youtube.com/profile?userdeutschewelle
  p/search/3/tI-NV5JxNqQ Mülltrennung für Singapur

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Reflections

• Do the materials and activities progress through
  the performance levels?
• Do the materials and tasks call for an
  ever-increasing familiarity with culture and more
  complex thinking skills?
• Does the subject matter rely on an ever
  broadening scope of background knowledge?
• Do the tasks require more integration of skills?
• Where can textbook resources support instruction?