E7 E - My virtual USA project

aiMOOC

E7 E - My virtual USA project

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E7 E - My virtual USA project

My virtual USA project is a small virtual journey through the USA. You create a short regions presentation with a map, pictures, audio and short English texts. Your goal is clear communication, not perfect accent or perfect grammar.

Mini-description: Develop a small virtual USA journey or regions presentation with a map, image, audio and short English texts. Target group: Grade 7, E-level, English as a first foreign language, Baden-Württemberg.

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

Media start – notice first: Look at the map and watch about 60–90 seconds of the video. Do not try to understand every word.

1. Notice: Find three state names you already know.
2. Listen: Catch two place names or region words.
3. Try: Say: “I would like to visit … because …”

Hint: Use the map, pictures and key words first. German help comes only when you really need it.

I can …

After this aiMOOC, you can say:

1. I can use a map to locate places in the USA.
2. I can understand key information in a short video or audio clip.
3. I can read short travel texts and pick useful facts.
4. I can speak about a place, compare two stops and give a reason.
5. I can write a short travel stop text in my own words.
6. I can use media responsibly and name my sources.
7. I can present a small virtual USA trip clearly.

What you already know

You can already use simple language for places, weather, activities and opinions. Helpful structures are there is / there are, the present simple, the past simple, comparatives and because / but / so.

Quick try: “New York is bigger than my town.” – “The Grand Canyon looks amazing because …” – “In San Francisco, I want to …”

German help if needed: Du musst nicht jedes Wort kennen. Nutze Bild, Karte, Überschrift und bekannte Wörter als Kontext.

Your virtual route

Choose three or four stops from different parts of the USA. One possible route is:

Stop	What you can focus on	Useful language
New York City	city, skyline, people, transport	busy, tall, crowded, exciting
New Orleans	streets, music culture, food, history	lively, local, colourful, different
Grand Canyon	landscape, rocks, scale, national park	deep, wide, dry, impressive
San Francisco	coast, hills, bridge, city life	windy, hilly, famous, near the Pacific

You may replace stops. Avoid stereotypes: one picture never represents a whole city, state, region or group of people.

Stop 1: New York City

Read: New York City is in New York State on the East Coast. It is known for its large skyline and many neighbourhoods. Your project does not need a long list of sights. Choose one image and two or three useful facts.

Try: “This is New York City. It is on the East Coast. I chose it because …”

Pronunciation focus: Listen once, then say the place name naturally. Clear speech is more important than copying one accent.

Check: Can a partner find your stop on the map after your explanation?

Stop 2: New Orleans

Read: New Orleans is in Louisiana in the South of the USA. The city has a strong music history and many different cultural influences. For your presentation, describe what you can really see or what a reliable source confirms.

Try: “The street looks … . I would like to learn more about … .”

Perspective change: Imagine you are a visitor who loves music, architecture or food. Which detail would you choose, and why?

Stop 3: Grand Canyon

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

Viewing task: Watch a short section. Note three key words, one fact and one question. Then compare notes with a partner.

Read: The Grand Canyon is in Arizona. The Colorado River has shaped the canyon over a very long time. It is part of a protected national park landscape.

Try: “The Grand Canyon is more dramatic than … because …”

Feedback: If your sentence is too long, split it into two short sentences.

Stop 4: San Francisco

Read: San Francisco is in California on the Pacific coast. The Golden Gate Bridge connects the city area with Marin County. In your project, one strong image plus a short explanation is enough.

Try: “San Francisco is on the West Coast. The bridge is … . I would like to … .”

Mini-speaking challenge: Compare San Francisco with one other stop in two sentences.

Optional nature stop: Yellowstone

Video laden

YouTube

YouTube sammelt möglicherweise persönliche Daten. Datenschutzrichtlinie

Fortfahren Ausblenden

Viewing task: Watch without subtitles first. What can you identify from the images? Watch a short part again with subtitles if available. Add only facts you understand and can explain.

Try: “Yellowstone is different from my other stops because …”

Optional Southwest image: Monument Valley

Look closely: Describe only what the image shows first. Then research the place. Monument Valley lies on the Arizona–Utah state line and is within the Navajo Nation. Treat the place as a real cultural landscape, not as a “Wild West” cliché.

Try: “In the picture, I can see … . The place is important because … .”

Listening and viewing

Use the video and audio media actively.

Step	Task	Feedback
Notice	Catch place names, direction words and visual clues.	You do not need every word.
Understand	Write three key words and one main idea.	If you have a main idea, you are on track.
Try	Say one sentence from memory.	Keep it short and clear.
Use	Add one useful detail to your route.	Check that the detail matches your source.

Listening strategy: first listen for the topic, then for details. Do not translate sentence by sentence.

German hint: Erst grob verstehen, dann gezielt nach Einzelinformationen hören.

Reading

Read short source texts, captions and map labels. Use this order:

1. Notice: title, picture, place name.
2. Understand: What is the main idea?
3. Find: Which two facts help your project?
4. Use: Write the facts in your own simple English.

Direct feedback: If you copied a whole sentence, stop and rewrite it with fewer words.

Vocabulary in context

Context	Useful words	Your sentence
location	coast, state, region, north, south, east, west	“It is on the … coast.”
landscape	canyon, river, desert, mountain, coast	“The landscape is …”
city	skyline, neighbourhood, bridge, street	“The city has …”
opinion	exciting, impressive, peaceful, lively	“I think it is … because …”
compare	bigger, smaller, warmer, colder, busier	“It is … than …”

Word choice rule: Use words you can explain. A simple correct word is better than an impressive word you do not understand.

Pronunciation

Your goal is intelligibility. Speak clearly, stress important words and pause between ideas.

Try: “My first stop is New York City. Next, we travel south. My favourite stop is … because …”

Partner feedback: Could you understand the place, the main fact and the reason? If yes, the message works.

Speaking

Prepare a 45–60 second mini-presentation. Speak from key words, not from a full script.

Use this simple structure:

1. Open: “Welcome to my virtual USA trip.”
2. Route: “My first / next / final stop is …”
3. Reason: “I chose it because …”
4. Compare: “It is more … than …”
5. Close: “My favourite stop is …”

Informal discussion: Your partner may ask: “Why this place?”, “What can you do there?”, “Which stop is better for you?” Give a short reason. There is no single correct travel choice.

Writing

Write about 50–70 words for each selected stop. Keep sentences short and connected.

Useful pattern: place → location → one or two facts → personal reason → source.

Example: “My next stop is the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The landscape is huge and dry. I chose this place because I like nature and hiking. The photo helps me understand the size of the canyon. Next, I want to find out more about the Colorado River.”

Improve it: Add one comparison or one precise detail, but do not make the paragraph longer just to sound difficult.

Mediation

Your German-speaking partner asks what a short English source says. Do not translate every sentence.

Task: Give the two most useful points in simple German, then return to English for your project.

Rule: Mediation means selecting and explaining information for a purpose.

Functional grammar

Use grammar to communicate.

Function	Useful structure	Example
give a reason	because	“I chose it because the landscape is unusual.”
contrast	but	“It is busy, but I like the energy.”
result	so	“The video was fast, so I watched the key part again.”
compare	comparative + than	“New York is busier than my town.”
plan	going to	“I’m going to add one more stop.”

E-level outlook only: “By the time we reached San Francisco, we had already visited three places.” Use the past perfect only as an optional preview. You do not need it for the project.

Build your project

Your final product can be one wiki page, one slide, one digital poster or another format your teacher allows. It should include a map, three or four stops, at least three images, one audio or video element, short English texts and a short source list.

Media rule: Use freely licensed media when possible. Link to the source page. Do not copy random web images.

Privacy rule: Use fictional travel profiles. Do not publish private names, accounts, locations or social-media data. Voice recordings are optional and should stay private unless you and your teacher deliberately choose another safe setting.

AI rule: AI may give feedback on a draft, but check the language and facts yourself. Do not let AI replace your own text. Do not upload private recordings or personal data to external AI services.

Mini-transfer

Add one new stop that is not shown above. Find it on the map, choose one legal media item and explain in three to five English sentences why it fits your route.

Less scaffold: No model text this time. Use what you learned.

Feedback and improve

Ask a partner to check four things:

Check	Yes / not yet
I can follow the route on the map.	□ / □
The English is short and understandable.	□ / □
Each media item has a purpose and a source.	□ / □
The speaker gives reasons, not only facts.	□ / □

Then improve one part and use it again in your final presentation.

Self-Check: Can do

1. I can locate my stops on a USA map.
2. I can get the main idea from a short video.
3. I can choose useful facts from a short text.
4. I can speak for about one minute with key words.
5. I can give a simple reason and compare two places.
6. I can write short original travel texts.
7. I can name media sources and respect rights.
8. I can use feedback to improve my work.

If “not yet”: choose one skill and repeat one small task. Do not restart the whole project.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should your virtual USA project include? (A map, media and short English texts) (!Only a long German text) (!Only a list of state names) (!Only copied pictures)

What is a good first listening strategy? (Listen for the topic and key words) (!Translate every word immediately) (!Stop after every sentence) (!Write down every sound)

Which sentence gives a reason? (I chose New Orleans because I am interested in music.) (!New Orleans.) (!Music and streets.) (!In Louisiana.)

Which form is useful for a comparison? (San Francisco is hillier than my town.) (!San Francisco hilly my town.) (!San Francisco is hilly as my town than.) (!San Francisco hillier my town is.)

What should you do with a source text? (Choose useful facts and rewrite them in your own words) (!Copy the full paragraph) (!Translate every line) (!Use it without naming the source)

What is the main pronunciation goal in this course? (Be understandable) (!Sound exactly like one native speaker) (!Speak as fast as possible) (!Avoid all pauses)

Which media use is safest for the project? (Use a freely licensed image and link to its source page) (!Copy a random image without checking) (!Use a private social-media photo) (!Remove the creator information)

What should you do after partner feedback? (Improve one part and use it again) (!Delete the whole project) (!Ignore every comment) (!Make every sentence longer)

Which sentence is a travel plan? (I’m going to add Yellowstone as my final stop.) (!I adding Yellowstone yesterday.) (!Yellowstone going my stop.) (!I am add Yellowstone.)

How should AI be used in this project? (As checked feedback on your own work) (!To replace all your own writing) (!To upload private recordings automatically) (!To invent facts without sources)

Memory

East Coast	New York City
Louisiana	New Orleans
Arizona	Grand Canyon
California	San Francisco
Wyoming	Yellowstone
comparison	bigger than

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Notice	Look at the map, title and image first.
Understand	Find the main idea and key information.
Try	Say or write a first short version.
Feedback	Ask what is clear and what is missing.
Improve	Change one part and use it again.

...

Kreuzworträtsel

Arizona	In which state is the Grand Canyon?
canyon	Which landscape word describes a deep valley with steep sides?
bridge	What type of structure is the Golden Gate?
coast	What word can follow East or West when talking about the USA?
route	What do you plan when you connect several travel stops?
source	What should you name when you use facts or media?

Lückentext

Complete the project guide.

Start with a so your audience can follow the route. Use short English instead of long copied paragraphs. Give a reason with when you explain a choice. Use a comparative such as when you compare two places. For listening, first focus on the main before you search for details. A media item needs a clear . Your final goal is understandable , not a perfect accent.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. USA-Karte: Markiere drei mögliche Stopps und sage zu jedem einen englischen Satz.
2. Bildbeschreibung: Wähle ein Commons-Bild aus dem Kurs und beschreibe fünf sichtbare Dinge auf Englisch.
3. Aussprache: Höre die New-York-Audiodatei und sprich den Ortsnamen sowie einen eigenen kurzen Reisesatz nach.
4. Mini-Route: Verbinde New York City, New Orleans und San Francisco zu einer virtuellen Route und begründe einen Stopp mit because.

Standard

1. Listening Log: Sieh einen kurzen Abschnitt eines eingebetteten Videos und notiere drei Schlüsselwörter, eine Information und eine Frage.
2. Regionenvergleich: Vergleiche zwei Stopps in vier bis sechs englischen Sätzen; nutze mindestens zwei comparatives.
3. Travel Card: Gestalte für einen Stopp eine kleine Karte mit Bild, Ortsangabe, zwei Fakten und einem persönlichen Grund.
4. Partnerinterview: Führt ein kurzes Gespräch: Eine Person empfiehlt einen Stopp, die andere fragt nach Gründen und Alternativen.

Schwer

1. Virtuelle USA-Reise: Erstelle eine vollständige Präsentation mit drei oder vier Stopps, Karte, Bildern, Audio oder Video, kurzen englischen Texten und Quellen.
2. Perspektivwechsel: Präsentiere dieselbe Route einmal für eine naturinteressierte und einmal für eine stadtinteressierte fiktive Person. Zeige, wie sich deine Auswahl ändert.
3. Mediation: Erkläre einem deutschsprachigen Partner die zwei wichtigsten Informationen aus einer kurzen englischen Quelle, ohne Satz für Satz zu übersetzen.
4. Medienkritik: Vergleiche zwei Medien zu demselben Ort. Erkläre auf Englisch, was jedes Medium zeigt, was es nicht zeigt und welches du für dein Projekt nutzt.

Lernkontrolle

1. Routenentscheidung: Wähle drei Stopps für eine fiktive siebentägige virtuelle Reise und begründe deine Auswahl. Zeige dabei mindestens einen sinnvollen Vergleich.
2. Medienauswahl: Du hast eine Karte, ein Landschaftsfoto, ein 20-minütiges Video und einen kurzen Audioclip. Entscheide, welche Medien du an welcher Stelle einsetzt und warum.
3. Quellenprüfung: Erkläre, wie du vorgehst, wenn ein starkes Bild keine klaren Lizenz- oder Urheberangaben zeigt.
4. Kommunikationsproblem: Ein Mitschüler versteht deine Präsentation trotz richtiger Fakten nicht gut. Nenne drei konkrete Änderungen, die die Verständlichkeit verbessern.
5. Transfer: Ergänze einen neuen USA-Stopp, der zu deiner Route passt. Begründe die Wahl mit Lage, Medium und Interesse der Zielgruppe.
6. Überarbeitung: Vergleiche einen ersten und einen verbesserten Textentwurf. Erkläre, welche Änderung den größten Kommunikationsgewinn bringt.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis sind wichtig:

1. Produkt: eine übersichtliche virtuelle USA-Reise oder Regionenpräsentation mit drei oder vier Stopps.
2. Englisch: kurze, weitgehend selbst formulierte Texte und verständliches Sprechen.
3. Medien: sinnvolle Nutzung von Karte, Bildern sowie Audio oder Video.
4. Interaktion: mindestens eine kurze Frage-Antwort- oder Feedbackphase.
5. Transfer: ein zusätzlicher, selbst gewählter Stopp oder eine begründete Perspektivänderung.
6. Quellen: nachvollziehbare Quellen- und Rechteangaben.
7. Reflexion: kurzer Can-do-Check und eine sichtbar überarbeitete Stelle.

Der Lernnachweis selbst enthält keine notwendigen externen Embeds: Er kann mit deinen eigenen Notizen, einer Quellenliste und freigegebenen Mediennachweisen dokumentiert werden.

Medien und Rechte

Die eingebundenen Bilder und die Audiodatei stammen von Wikimedia Commons. Prüfe vor einer Weiterverwendung immer die jeweilige Dateiseite mit Urheber- und Lizenzangaben. YouTube-Videos werden hier nur eingebettet, nicht kopiert oder neu hochgeladen.

1. Map of USA with state names.svg: Karte der US-Bundesstaaten; freie Lizenzangaben auf Wikimedia Commons.
2. New York City skyline.jpg: Skyline-Foto; Lizenz- und Urheberangaben auf Wikimedia Commons.
3. FrenchQuarterNewOrleans.jpg: Foto aus dem French Quarter; Lizenz- und Urheberangaben auf Wikimedia Commons.
4. 1 grand canyon panorama.jpg: Grand-Canyon-Panorama; freie Lizenzangaben auf Wikimedia Commons.
5. GoldenGateBridge.jpg: Foto der Golden Gate Bridge; als Public Domain gekennzeichnet.
6. Old Faithful in Yellowstone.jpg: Yellowstone-Foto; Lizenz- und Urheberangaben auf Wikimedia Commons.
7. Monumentvalley.jpg: Monument-Valley-Panorama; freie Lizenzangaben auf Wikimedia Commons.
8. En-us-New York.ogg: US-englische Aussprache von “New York”; Public Domain.

YouTube sources: Kids Academy – “5 Regions of the United States”; National Geographic – “A Brief History of Grand Canyon National Park”; National Geographic – “The Best of Yellowstone”. Nutze nur die eingebetteten Originalvideos und beachte die Plattform- und Rechteangaben.

OERs zum Thema

Weitere freie Einstiege: Vereinigte Staaten, Geographie der Vereinigten Staaten, New York City, New Orleans, Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Yellowstone-Nationalpark.

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Englisch Klasse 7 Hörverstehen Leseverstehen Sprechen Schreiben Mediation Wortschatz Aussprache Medienkompetenz USA

Folgekurs

Next step: turn your route into a short live travel pitch. Use fewer notes, answer one spontaneous question and add one new source. Keep the cycle: notice → understand → try → use → communicate → feedback → improve → use again.