Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Birthdays: recounting personal experiences

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can understand and write about birthday experiences in past and present tenses.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. Numbers 20 and above are formed as unit + 'und' + ten, e.g., 21 - 'einundzwanzig'.
      2. There are a number of rules for forming noun plurals which should be learnt and practised.
      3. Encountering previously taught language when listening and reading in German develops our comprehension.
      4. Awareness of register helps us choose words and structures suited to spoken or written language.

      Keywords

      • Noun - word for a person, place, or thing

      • Register - level of formality or style of language used, depending on the audience, purpose, and context

      Common misconception

      German numbers 21 and above work the same as in English: ten followed by unit.

      In German, numbers 21 and above are structured unit-und-ten, e.g., 'einundzwanzig' - twenty-one. It translates literally as 'one and twenty'.

      Teacher tip

      It would be useful for students to have a copy of the additional materials to allow them to add casual spoken vocabulary. Alternatively, these ideas can be written in an exercise book or on paper.

      Equipment

      A mini whiteboard and pen, together with pen and paper for making notes, would be useful, if available.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which phrase means 'at home'?

      bei Hause
      im Heim
      im Hause
      zu Heim
      Correct answer: zu Hause

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:essen,to eat, eating
      Correct Answer:fahren,to drive, travel
      Correct Answer:lesen,to read, reading
      Correct Answer:mitbringen,to bring with
      Correct Answer:backen,to bake, baking
      Correct Answer:feiern,to celebrate, celebrating

      Q3.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:Abend (m),evening
      Correct Answer:Geburtstag (m),birthday
      Correct Answer:Geschäft (nt),shop
      Correct Answer:Morgen (m),morning
      Correct Answer:Nachmittag (m),afternoon
      Correct Answer:Nacht (f),night

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'The singer sang five songs.'

      1 - der
      2 - Sänger
      3 - hat
      4 - fünf
      5 - Lieder
      6 - gesungen

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'das Essen war lecker'.

      Correct Answer: the food was tasty, the food was delicious, the meal was tasty, the meal was delicious

      Q6.
      Write in German: 'an expensive car'.

      Correct Answer: ein teueres Auto

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Register refers to the __________ we use when speaking or writing.

      tense
      Correct answer: level of formality
      connectives
      amount of words

      Q2.
      Match the nouns with the correct rules for forming plurals.

      Correct Answer:Geschenk (nt),add -e (sometimes with an umlaut)
      Correct Answer:Kuchen (m),no change
      Correct Answer:Kind (nt),add -er (with or without umlaut)
      Correct Answer:Tasche (f),add -n or -en
      Correct Answer:Party (f),add -s

      Q3.
      Order the numbers from smallest to largest.

      1 - einundzwanzig
      2 - achtunddreißig
      3 - siebenundvierzig
      4 - zweiundfünfzig
      5 - dreiundsechzig
      6 - neunundsiebzig
      7 - hundert

      Q4.
      Write in German: 'I ate a biscuit'.

      Correct Answer: ich habe einen Keks gegessen

      To help you plan your 9 German lesson on: Birthdays: recounting personal experiences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...