Free Learning Material for Children in German School – Klasse 1

Welcome to our free learning zone for children in German school Klasse 1! Whether you’re a parent preparing your child for their first school year or a teacher looking for easy-to-use resources, you’re in the right place. We offer simple, engaging content to help young learners succeed and all for free.

Table of Contents

1. German Alphabet for Beginners
2. Essential School Supplies for Klasse 1
3. Reading Practice: Simple Words & Sentences
4. Basic Numbers & Counting in German
5. Colors in German
6. Fun Songs & Videos
7. Tips for Parents

German Alphabet for Beginners and children starting Klasse 1

Learning the alphabet is the first step! Below is a video introduction followed by a full breakdown of every letter, its pronunciation (IPA), an English sound hint, and an example word:

A – für Apfel

(“ah” – like the “a” in “father”)

B – für Ball

(“beh”)

C – für Cafe

(“tsay” – like “ts” + “ay”)

D – für Dino

(“deh”)

E – für Elefant

(“eh” – like the “e” in “bed” but longer)

F – für Fisch

(“eff”)

G – für Giraffe

(“Geh”)

H – für Haus

(“hah” – like “ha” in “hard”)

I – für Igel

(“ee” – like “ee” in “see”)

J – für Junge

(“yot”)

K – für Katze

(“kah” – like “ca” in “car”)

L – für Lampe

(“ell”)

M – für Maus

(“em”)

N – für Nase

(“en”)

O – für Obst

(like “o” in “off”)

P – für Puppe

(“peh”)

Q – für Qualle

(“koo” – like “coo” in “cool”)

R – für Rose

(“err” – guttural “r” as in Scottish “loch”)

S – für Sonne

(“ess”)

T – für Tisch

(“Teh”)

U – für Uhr

(“oo” – like “oo” in “moon”)

V – für Vogel

(“fow” – like “vow”)

W – für Wasser

(“vey”)

X – für Xylofon

(“iks”)

Y – für Yoga

(“uep-see-lon”)

Z – für Zebra

(“tset” – like “ts” + “et”)

Then… What Are Umlauts?

The two dots ( ¨ ) signal a shift in how you shape your mouth and vocal tract.

Ä / ä,

Ö / ö,

Ü / ü

They’re not separate letters, but modified forms of A, O and U.

Why Do We Use Them?

• Distinguish words:
  • schon (already) vs. schön (beautiful)
  • Mutter (mother) vs. Mütter (mothers) plural

Ä – für Äpfel

(As in the “e” in “bed”)

Ö – für Öl

(Say “eh” → tighten and round lips → you should hear [ø])

Ü – für Über

(Like the “u” in the French ‘tu’)

Essential School Supplies

Here are the typical items children in German school Klasse 1 need to start the year.

Our introduction to the German school system was, shall we say, an enlightening experience. I vividly recall those early days, often exiting stores in a daze of confusion. With three children now navigating German schools, I’ve encountered my fair share of material lists resembling ancient, coded scrolls. These meticulously detailed documents were a world away from what we were used to. And if you think Google Translate will be your savior, prepare for ‘Wasserfarbkasten’ to become the rather unhelpful ‘water box of paint confusion.’ Eventually, we discovered the local Schreibwarenladen (stationery shop), our haven, where deciphering these lists transformed into a surprisingly adventurous treasure hunt.

We created this guide based on real material lists to help other parents avoid the same headaches. Your school’s list might differ, but this visual breakdown should help you make sense of it all. And if you figure out one of those mystery items we didn’t cover, please do us a favor and drop a comment so we can help the next overwhelmed parent too!

Schulranzen

Schulranzen (School Bag): Durable, ergonomic backpack designed for young kids. Most of the kids have this style of bag. Also good to look for one that has a rain cover or you can buy a separate one.

Federmäppchen

Federmäppchen (Pencil Case): Holds pencils, erasers, sharpeners, rulers.

Bleistifte & Buntstifte

Bleistifte & Buntstifte (Pencils & Colored Pencils): For writing and art.

Hefte (Notebooks)

Lined, squared, and drawing books for each subject. (this is a lined Hefte) go HERE for the squared hefte

Schere (Scissors)

Blunt-ended for safety

Klebestift (Glue Stick)

Kid-friendly adhesive for crafts

Turnbeutel (Gym Bag)

For PE clothes and shoes

Brotdose & Trinkflasche (Lunchbox & Water Bottle)

For snacks and drinks

Schultüte (School Cone)

Filled with small gifts and sweets on Day 1 (you can make your own and decorate it with your child favorite theme)

A4 Schnellhefter (folder)

These are plastic folders with brackets for A4 Worksheets with 2 holes punched in them. might have different colours for different subject

Reading Practice: Simple Words & Sentences for Klasse 1

Start reading with easy words and build up to sentences.

• Mutter (mom)
• Haus (house)
• Ball (ball)
• Ich bin Tim. (I am Tim.)
• Das ist ein Hund. (That is a dog.)

Basic Numbers & Counting

Learn to count from 1 to 20 with number cards

• 1 – eins
• 2 – zwei
• 3 – drei
• 4 – vier
• 5 – fünf
• 6 – sechs
• 7 – sieben
• 8 – acht
• 9 – neun
• 10 – zehn
• 11 – elf
• 12 – zwölf
• 13 – dreizehn
• 14 – vierzehn
• 15 – fünfzehn
• 16 – sechzehn
• 17 – siebzehn
• 18 – achtzehn
• 19 – neunzehn
• 20 – zwanzig

Use printable flashcards and counting songs to reinforce learning.

Colors in German

Introduce colors with visuals and real-life examples:

• Rot (red) – apple
• Blau (blue) – sky
• Grün (green) – grass
• Gelb (yellow) – sun
• Schwarz (black) – shoes

The dad wore red shoes, blue socks, green pants, yellow t-shirt and a black hat.

• Der Vater trug rote Schuhe, blaue Socken, eine grüne Hose, ein gelbes T-Shirt und einen schwarzen Hut.

Fun Songs & Videos

Children in Klasse 1 learn best with music and movement.

• ABC Song (German version)

• Numbers Song

• Days of the Week Song

Colors Song

Tips for Parents

• Label everything with your child’s name
• Practice school routines at home
• Make learning playful and don’t stress!
• Encourage speaking German daily in small ways (e.g., saying “Guten Morgen!”) and dont worry too much, they children are like sponges and really learn the langauge way quicker than us adults : )
• Read Lots and Lots of books!

Baumhausgeschichten – Leserabe ab 1. Klasse

Learn to read in no time!
What should Basti do with all the boards he received as a birthday present? Build a tree house with his guests, of course! Mara and Mick already have a tree house, but it urgently needs painting. Unfortunately, the siblings don’t have any money for this. They have to come up with something. They are determined to prevent their favorite tree from being cut down.

All resources are made to support children in German school Klasse 1. Keep checking back for new worksheets, videos, and printables!

Boost Your German Skills with These Recommended Resources!

Enhance your learning journey with carefully selected German language tools and books. These resources are perfect companions to the Der vs. Die vs. Das game, ensuring you master German articles quickly and confidently!

• German Grammar Drills
  Improve your grammar effortlessly with clear explanations and practice exercises.
• Pimsleur Conversational German
  Develop fluency and perfect pronunciation through interactive audio lessons.
• 501 German Verbs (Barron’s)
  Conquer German verb conjugations and gain confidence in speaking and writing.

Clicking and purchasing through these links supports our site and helps us continue creating fun, effective learning experiences without any cost to you—Danke schön!

Try Our Other German Learning Games

Now that you’ve had a blast with our crosswords, why not try our other games to boost your German skills even more? Explore additional challenges, expand your vocabulary, and enjoy every step of your language journey!

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FAQ – Free Learning Material for Children in German School (Klasse 1)