Activities to help your little ones learn German one afternoon at a time * Tales from my German classroom * Plus a sprinkle of travel adventures thrown in!
For my 1st & 2nd graders this week, I told the story about the girl who selflessly gives away all her possessions and is rewarded in the end when the stars fall from the sky and turn into gold coins. It is a story they have heard before. And it is a simplified version of the fairy tale. But I added back some more details for them this time around.
I had some technical difficulties with the app while telling the story. So a couple of times, whole sections of the drawing move! I left it, as I figured the children would get a kick out of it 😉
Sleeping Beauty has always been one of my favorite fairy tales – at least of the Disney fairy tales! It’s the first movie I ever saw. Even though it frightened me when Maleficent turned into the dragon, I still loved it.
Today I am telling the version of the story that is closer to the one collected by the Brothers Grimm. Here we do find a vengeful fairy, however she is not called Maleficent. She is simply the 13th fairy – yes, there were 13 fairies in total!
The title Dornröschen does not translate to “Sleeping Beauty.” It literally means “little thorn – or briar – rose.” Listen to the story to find out why the young princess is called Dornröschen.
Today’s story comes again from the collection of Grimm’s fairy tales. It’s a shorter story today.
This story is not as well-known here in the US. It’s about a girl who is given a magic pot that cooks sweet porridge. My students have heard it before, so I hope they enjoy it again.
I don’t love the ending. I think it is a bit confusing. Basically it says that whoever goes into the city had to eat their way through the sweet porridge. But that is not the easiest thing to understand. Maybe one day I’ll come up with a different ending….
Today I’m telling the well-known story of Cinderella. In German she is called Aschenputtel. Asche means “ashes” – or “cinders”.
But listen carefully! This version is closer to the original that we find in the collection of the Brothers Grimm! Can you find the differences in this version?
Choose ONE of the following exercises to complete. Take a picture of your completed work or take a video and email it 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 to post.
Watch the video again and read along. (See the text below) You could answer the questions below or 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!
Did you hear the differences in this version? Ask yourself the following questions:
Does her father die?
What does she have to do before she is allowed to go to the ball?
I’m SO excited! The 3rd & 4th graders have just started a unit on traditional literature, and they are beginning with fairy tales! This is perfect for Story Listening! So I am planning to tell a fairy tale every day for the rest of the week.
Today’s lesson is Rotkäppchen (Little Red Riding Hood). I recently told the story to the 3rd graders, so it would be more of a review for them.
The next story for my 1st & 2nd graders is called Pflaster. I got it from one of my own 1st-grader’s early readers. In English it’s called Bandages, but I translated “Pflaster” as band-aids when I told the story.
My 3rd & 4th-graders usually have German on Fridays. So I wanted to post a video for them of a story that they had never heard before. I found this cute story in a picture book at the library. The original title is Arthur’s Traktor, and the book is by Pippa Goodhart.
I hope my students enjoy the story. It is a silly one!! It is kind of a modern day fairy tale. Arthur is plowing his field and has no idea that a princess is being chased by a dragon, and that a knight on horseback is following them! The ending may be even more unbelievable, however, as the princess stays with Arthur, and the prince flies off with the dragon!
While recording the live videos, my two boys are my audience. You will hear them chiming in, figuring out what some of the words mean. That is how Story Listening works! It is best when it is interactive. But while the kids are home from school, these videos will have to do.
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.
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 🙂
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:
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!
German in the Afternoon Activities 