Category Archives: Videos

SL: Die Schildkröte hat Geburtstag VIDEO

Posted in 1st - 4th Grade, Story Listening, Uncategorized, Videos by

I did a little experiment today! I recorded a Story Listening lesson based on Die Schildkröte hat Geburtstag (The Turtle has a Birthday) by Elizabeth Shaw. it is an original German story in a collection.

Schildkröte hat Geburtstag

I recorded it yesterday in a live version. And then I recorded it today in a drawing version. I wonder which one you prefer???

 

So which version do you prefer?? Take the poll and let me know!

Leave a comment below to tell me why you liked one over the other!

I am still getting used to using the Explain Everything app for drawing these stories. Sometimes it seems to stumble a little, but I don’t think you miss anything. I wish it were a bit more fluid. Hopefully as I get better using the app, it will be more fluid, too 🙂

SL: Goldlöckchen / Goldilocks VIDEO

Posted in 1st - 4th Grade, Story Listening, Uncategorized, Videos by

Today I told the classic, Goldilocks, for my remote Story Listening lesson. This is a nice beginner story, because it is so repetitive.

It is meant for my 1st and 2nd graders. However, if my 3rd or 4th graders decide to listen to it, here are the activities they could do after the story:

Instructions for TWS students (grade 3/4):

  1. Watch the video (below)
  2. Write the story into your German Story Listening Log (Get it HERE if you need it!)
  3. Choose ONE of the following exercises to complete. Take a picture of your completed work or take a video and email it back to me.
    • Retell the story to someone in English – take a video or make an audio recording.
    • Write a summary of the story in English – take a picture of it or record yourself reading it.
    • Draw your favorite scene from the story. Remember to put the story title on it! Take a picture.
    • Watch the video again and read along. (See the text below) Take a picture of your log, so we know you heard the story.

* If you feel frustrated while watching the story, because you do not understand, please stop and choose another story!

 

For some other accompanying materials, see this post.

And here is the text to go along with this story:

SL: Was trägt kleiner Bär? VIDEO

Posted in 1st - 4th Grade, Story Listening, Uncategorized, Videos by

Here is another video I posted as a German Story Listening lessons. It’s called Was trägt kleiner Bär? and is based on the story What Will Little Bear Wear? by Else Holmelund Minarik. I wrote abouttelling this story in class last year. But now you can see a video drawing of the story on my YouTube channel.

I am labeling my stories for my students’ grade levels. This story is for my 1st and 2nd graders. That may or may not be appropriate for all 1st & 2nd grade students.

A Story Listening lesson should be enjoyable. It should feel familiar, while bringing in some new words and phrases. If it feels frustrating, it is probably too difficult. Just stop and choose another story!

SL: Brautschau / Looking for a Bride VIDEO

Posted in 1st - 4th Grade, Story Listening, Uncategorized, Videos by

With the kids home from school for at least the next two weeks, I wanted to start uploading more videos to my YouTube channel. I am using two methods to tell German stories. First, I am drawing stories with the Explain Everything app. Second, I am taking live videos of me giving a Story Listening lesson to my own two boys (who happen to also be my students in school, in 1st & 4th grade).

Today I did a live video of a Grimm fairy tale called Brautschau (Looking for a Bride). It’s a short story. But it can be a bit tricky to understand. So I wanted to share a vocabulary list here, just in case. I also will share the text of the story below.

Instructions for TWS students:

  1. Watch the video (below)
  2. Write the story into your German Story Listening Log (Get it HERE if you need it!)
  3. Choose ONE of the following exercises to complete. Take a picture of your completed work or take a video and email it back to me.
    • Retell the story to someone in English – take a video or make an audio recording.
    • Write a summary of the story in English – take a picture of it or record yourself reading it.
    • Draw your favorite scene from the story. Remember to put the story title on it! Take a picture.
    • Watch the video again and read along. (See the text below) Take a picture of your log, so we know you heard the story.

* If you feel frustrated while watching the story, because you do not understand, please stop and choose another story!

 

Here is the vocabulary list:

  • die Braut              bride
  • der Hirte              shepherd
  • heiraten               to marry / get married
  • 3 Mädchen         3 girls
  • Schwestern        sisters
  • schön                    pretty
  • Welche?              which?
  • die Wahl              choice
  • wählen                 to choose
  • Wie?                      how
  • die Mutter          mother
  • fragte                    asked
  • Rat                         advice
  • lade ein                invite
  • der Käse              cheese
  • anschneiden      to cut
  • die Rinde             rind
  • eilig                        in a hurry
  • schnell                  fast
  • warf weg             threw away
  • ordentlich           orderly
  • Frau                       wife

And here is the text to accompany the story:

SL: Die drei kleinen Schweinchen / The Three Little Pigs VIDEO

Posted in 1st - 4th Grade, Story Listening, Uncategorized, Videos by

I originally posted this video when I created it earlier in March. At that time it was meant for a review or a sub lesson in a pinch. Now that students are learning from home, however, it will work nicely as a remote lesson.

This is a great beginner story. However, if my 3rd & 4th graders choose to watch it, here are the instructions for what to do after the story….

Instructions for TWS students (grade 3/4):

  1. Watch the video (below)
  2. Write the story into your German Story Listening Log (Get it HERE if you need it!)
  3. Choose ONE of the following exercises to complete. Take a picture of your completed work or take a video and email it back to me.
    • Retell the story to someone in English – take a video or make an audio recording.
    • Write a summary of the story in English – take a picture of it or record yourself reading it.
    • Draw your favorite scene from the story. Remember to put the story title on it! Take a picture.
    • Watch the video again and read along. (See the text below) Take a picture of your log, so we know you heard the story.

* If you feel frustrated while watching the story, because you do not understand, please stop and choose another story!

When I taught this familiar tale using Story Listening last year, I also created some worksheets to go with it. You can find them in this post.

Here is the text to go along with the story: