Wissen ist Macht! 'Wissen', 'kennen', 'können'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use 'wissen', 'kennen' and 'können' to talk about knowledge.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The SSCs [-ss-] and [-ß-] sound the same.
- 'Wissen' means to know with facts.
- 'Kennen' means to know someone or be familiar with something.
- 'Können' means to be able to, to know how to do something.
Keywords
[-ss-] - pronounced as in 'lassen'
[-ß-] - pronounced as in 'Spaß'
Wissen - to know with facts
Können - to be able to, to know how to do something.
Common misconception
[ß] is a capital B and sounds like [b].
[ß] sounds the same as [ss]. [ß] is used after long vowels, [ss] after short vowels. In words with 's' as the final sound, the spelling [-s] or [ß] needs to be learnt; for example, 'Glas' or 'Spaß'.
Teacher tip
To distinguish between the use of the different verbs of 'to know', encourage pupils to learn a stock example for each verb to refer to when recalling how to use each verb correctly.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the German vocabulary below to the correct English meanings.
fantastic
terrible
useful
Austrian
poor
English
Q2.The verb 'kennen' (to know) is a weak (regular) verb. How would you say 'she knows'?
Q3.Match the German words below to their English equivalents.
a German (female)
a Swiss person (male)
German (the language)
the Germans
Switzerland
Q4.Which sentences below need 'kein' to negate them?
Q5.Match the forms of the verb 'können' to the correct English meanings.
I can, am able to
you (singular) can, are able to
he can, is able to
we can, are able to
you (plural, informal) can, are able to
you/they can, are able to
Q6.Put the forms of 'können' in the correct order to complete the following sentence: 'Ich __________ Deutsch sprechen, wir __________ Englisch sprechen aber aber ihr __________ auch Polnisch sprechen!'
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the verbs below to the correct explanation of their uses.
to know facts
to know a person, to be familiar with something
to be able to, to know how to do something
Q2.[-ss-] and [-ß-] sound the __________. Use [-ss-] after __________vowels and [-ß-] after __________ vowels. An [-s] at the __________ of a word sounds like [-s].
Q3.Which of these words require [-ß-]?
Q4.When does [-s] sound the same as -[-ss-] and [-ß-]?
Q5.Capital letters in German have several important functions. Match the examples to the correct explanations.
Use capital letters to start sentences.
Capital letters can turn verbs into nouns.
Capital letters can turn adjectives into nouns to represent languages.
Capital letters can create adjectival nouns to describe nationality.
Q6.Put the words below in the correct order to complete this sentence: 'Er __________ London, aber er __________, dass die Stadt zu teuer ist! Er __________ Deutsch, also wohnt er lieber in Bremen.'
To help you plan your 10 German lesson on: Wissen ist Macht! 'Wissen', 'kennen', 'können', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 German lesson on: Wissen ist Macht! 'Wissen', 'kennen', 'können', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 German lessons from the Studying and my future: Sprichst du Deutsch? unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.