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E7 E - Create a sustainable shopping guide

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E7 E - Create a sustainable shopping guide

Mini-description: Create a short English media guide with simple, useful tips for more conscious shopping. Check sources and advertising claims before you trust them.

Level: English as a first foreign language, Grade 7, E-level, Baden-Württemberg.

Einleitung

Shopping is more than choosing a cool product. You can also ask: Do I need it? Can I borrow, repair, swap or buy it second-hand? Is the green claim trustworthy?

You will work mainly in English. Try first. Use context, pictures and media. Take a hint when you need one. German help comes only after that.

Safety and privacy: Use fictional profiles. Do not share private social-media data. Audio or video recordings are voluntary and should stay private unless your teacher has clearly agreed to another safe option. You do not need an external AI tool. If you use AI for feedback, check its suggestions and keep your own text.

Media start: Notice before you read

Look for 20 seconds. What do you notice? Write three English words. Then finish: A reusable bag can be useful because ...

Hint: use – reuse – carry – many times – waste

German help if needed: reusable = wiederverwendbar.

I-can goals

I can understand the main idea of short media about shopping and sustainability.
I can compare two shopping choices and give a reason.
I can question a green advertising claim.
I can use words such as reuse, repair, second-hand, durable, claim and evidence.
I can give a short recommendation in spoken and written English.

What do you already know?

Quick pair talk: Choose one object you bought or received recently. Do not name a private account, shop login or person.

What was the object?
Why was it useful?
Could you borrow, repair or buy something similar second-hand?
What information would you check before buying?

Notice → understand → try

Viewing 1: Could you give up fast fashion?

Watch only 0:00–06:10. The clip uses natural English with more than one speaker.

First viewing: Catch the topic. Do not stop for every unknown word.

Second viewing: Note three words or ideas connected with fashion and shopping.

Try: Complete one sentence: One idea I understood was ...

Hint: Listen for repeated words and examples.

Reading: Maya needs a hoodie

Fictional profile: Maya, 13, needs a warm hoodie. One advert says: “100% planet-friendly!” It gives no clear source or explanation. Maya does not buy it immediately. She checks the material, price and care information. She also looks at a second-hand shop and asks whether her cousin has a hoodie to swap. In the end, she chooses an option that fits her needs and budget.

Think: The advert sounds positive, but a positive word is not proof.

Media clue: Second-hand is another option

Media task: Find two details in the picture that show this is a clothing shop. Then say one possible advantage and one possible disadvantage of buying second-hand.

Useful language: It may be better because ... / A problem could be ...

Vocabulary in context

Word	Meaning in this course	Example
durable	made to last a long time	A durable bottle can be used for years.
second-hand	used before by another person	I found a second-hand jacket.
repair	fix something that is broken	We can repair the zip.
reuse	use something again	Reuse the bag.
claim	something a company says is true	The advert makes a green claim.
evidence	information that supports a claim	Where is the evidence?

Pronunciation: Make key words clear

Say the words slowly, then in a sentence.

sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ – stress stain
reusable /ˌriːˈjuːzəbəl/ – stress use
repair /rɪˈpeə/ – stress the second part

Goal: Be understandable. You do not need to copy one “perfect” accent.

Understand → check → compare

Green claims: Ask for evidence

The EU Ecolabel is an official voluntary EU label. Products must meet defined environmental criteria, and independent bodies check the award. A random green leaf on packaging is not automatically the same as an independently checked label.

Use this simple claim check:

Who says it?
What exactly is the claim?
Where is the evidence?
Can you check it in another reliable source?

Reliable background: European Commission: Green claims

Viewing 2: What is greenwashing?

Before viewing: Predict: What could greenwashing mean?

While viewing: Listen for one example of a misleading green message.

After viewing: Explain in one or two sentences: A green claim needs ...

Hint: source – proof – specific information

German help if needed: greenwashing bezeichnet irreführende Umweltwerbung oder ein grünes Image ohne ausreichende Grundlage.

Picture check: A symbol is not the whole story

A recycling symbol can give useful information, but it does not answer every question about a product. Check what the symbol refers to: the product, the packaging or the material.

Mini-transfer: A bottle has a recycling symbol and the words eco choice. What would you check next?

Source detective: fact, claim or opinion?

Read the three statements.

A: This is the greenest bottle ever! B: The product page lists the material and explains how the label is checked. C: I like this bottle because the design looks great.

Decide: Which one is mainly an advertising claim? Which one gives checkable information? Which one is a personal opinion?

Rule: A confident sentence can still be weak evidence.

Try → use → communicate

Smart choices: repair, swap, borrow, second-hand

Repairing an item can often avoid a new purchase and keep products in use for longer. For some items, repair is a practical environmental choice.

Reliable background: Umweltbundesamt: Repair

Swapping, borrowing and buying second-hand can reduce the need for new products.

Reliable background: Umweltbundesamt: Second-hand, sharing, swapping and borrowing

Speaking: Choose for a fictional student

Situation: Leo, 13, needs a sports bag for one school trip.

Partner A prefers buying a new bag. Partner B prefers borrowing one.

Talk for about two minutes. Then switch perspectives.

Use at least three starters:

I think ... because ...
A better point is ...
But what about ...?
This option is cheaper than ...
We should check ...
I agree partly, but ...

Feedback: Did your partner give a clear choice, one reason and one checkable point?

Functional grammar: Language that helps you decide

Use grammar for a purpose.

Advice: You should check the source. Option: You can borrow the bag. Comparison: This bottle is more durable than that one. Reason: I would choose it because I can repair it.

E-preview only – past perfect: Before Alex bought the bottle, he had checked the label. Use this sentence as a controlled preview. You do not need the past perfect for your guide.

Mediation: Explain, do not translate every word

A German notice in a fictional shop says: „Reparatur möglich. Ersatzteile auf Anfrage. Bitte Kassenbon mitbringen.“

Your English-speaking friend asks what matters.

Say the key message in simple English. Do not translate word by word.

Possible start: The shop says you can ...

Writing: Create your mini shopping guide

Write 80–120 words in English. Add a short title and four or five useful tips.

Your guide should include:

one tip before buying
one idea about reuse, repair, swapping, borrowing or second-hand
one tip for checking a green claim
one comparison
one clear final recommendation

Starter if needed: Before you buy something, ask yourself ...

Less help: Write without the starter and choose your own order.

Feedback → improve → use again

Give partner feedback with four checks:

Check	Yes / Not yet
The guide gives practical tips.
At least one reason is clear.
A green claim is checked critically.
The English is easy to understand.

Improve two sentences. Then use your guide again in a 45-second mini-presentation.

AI note: If an approved AI tool is used for language feedback, compare its suggestion with your own sentence. Keep your ideas, check the language level and do not paste personal data. AI feedback should support your writing, not replace it.

Mini-transfer: One product, three questions

Choose a school item such as a pencil case, bottle or backpack.

Ask:

Do I need a new one?
What evidence supports the product claims?
Which option fits my needs, budget and values?

You make the final decision yourself.

Circular thinking: use things longer

Watch the short overview. Catch only the main idea: products and materials can stay in use instead of becoming waste quickly.

One-sentence response: A circular idea for my school is ...

Self-check

I can ...	Not yet	Almost	Yes
understand the main idea of a short shopping video
compare two shopping choices
ask for evidence behind a green claim
use key vocabulary in context
present a short recommendation

Next step: E7 E - Discuss sustainable choices

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should you do before trusting a green advertising claim? (Check the source and evidence) (!Trust the colour green) (!Buy the product quickly) (!Count the words in the advert)

What does second-hand mean? (A product used before by another person) (!A product with two handles) (!A product bought twice on one day) (!A product made only for adults)

Which action can keep a broken item in use? (Repair it) (!Hide it) (!Advertise it as new) (!Throw it away immediately)

What is evidence? (Information that supports a claim) (!A bright colour on packaging) (!A catchy slogan) (!A personal password)

Which sentence gives advice? (You should check the label) (!The label is blue) (!I checked yesterday) (!The shop closes soon)

Which question helps you shop more consciously? (Do I really need a new one) (!Is the advert the loudest) (!Is the box the biggest) (!Is the slogan the shortest)

What is greenwashing? (Misleading environmental marketing) (!Washing green clothes) (!Recycling every product) (!Buying only green objects)

Which option can replace a new purchase for an item you need only once? (Borrow it) (!Break it) (!Advertise it) (!Rename it)

Which sentence compares two products? (This bag is more durable than that one) (!This bag is on the table) (!This bag was a gift) (!This bag has a zip)

What is the main goal of your mini shopping guide? (Give useful tips and reasons for conscious choices) (!Copy an advert) (!List private shopping accounts) (!Use the hardest English possible)

Memory

durable	long-lasting
claim	statement in an advert
evidence	supporting information
second-hand	used product
repair	fix
swap	exchange

Drag and Drop

Smart action	Situation
Borrow	Need an item only once
Repair	Zip is broken
Swap	Good shirt is no longer needed
Compare	Two products look useful
Verify	Advert makes a green claim

Kreuzworträtsel

Reuse	What verb means use something again?
Repair	What verb means fix something broken?
Label	What word can name a mark or information tag on a product?
Source	What should you check to know where information comes from?
Durable	What adjective means made to last a long time?
Evidence	What word means information that supports a claim?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Shopping vocabulary: Make a six-word picture dictionary with your own simple examples.
Claim check: Invent one fictional green slogan and write two questions you would ask before trusting it.
Second-hand choice: Choose one school item and write three sentences about buying it second-hand.
Repair idea: Draw a broken everyday object and add two English sentences about how it could stay in use.

Standard

Mini shopping guide: Create an 80–120 word guide with four or five tips and one source-check rule.
Media response: Choose one course image and record an optional private 45-second description, or present it live instead.
Swap interview: Ask a classmate three questions about swapping or borrowing. Use no private social-media information and report only the main ideas.
Ad comparison: Compare two fictional adverts. Explain which details are checkable and which are only persuasive language.

Schwer

Source triangle: Compare information from an advert, an official source and a neutral background source. Explain differences in purpose.
Perspective switch: Prepare a short discussion from the views of a buyer, a shop and a repair service. Use fictional roles.
School action: Design a small swap, repair or borrowing idea for your school and present benefits, limits and practical steps.
Critical media guide: Create a one-page English media guide with images, short captions, source checks and a final recommendation. Use only media you are allowed to reuse.

Lernkontrolle

Choice and reason: A student needs a calculator for one week. Compare buying, borrowing and second-hand options and justify a choice.
Green claim check: A fictional bottle advert says better for the planet. Write four questions that would help you test the claim.
Media transfer: Use one course image to explain how a product can stay in use for longer.
Source comparison: Explain why an official label page, an advert and a personal opinion have different purposes.
Guide revision: Improve a weak shopping tip such as Buy green things. Make it specific, useful and checkable.
Communication task: Give a one-minute recommendation for a fictional student and respond to one counterargument.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, you should show that you can:

understand the main idea of short authentic media
use shopping and sustainability vocabulary in context
compare options and give reasons
question advertising claims and ask for evidence
use should, can, comparisons and because functionally
mediate a short German message into useful English
create and improve a short English shopping guide
communicate clearly; understandable English matters more than accent-free English
handle media and personal data responsibly

OERs zum Thema

Useful background for source checking: Wikipedia: Greenwashing

Medien- und Quellenhinweise

The Wikimedia Commons images used in this course were selected from openly licensed or public-domain file pages. The embedded YouTube materials are used as learning media; no student upload is required.

Background sources checked for the course:

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