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E8 G - Everyday choices and the environment

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E8 G - Everyday choices and the environment

Mini-description: Understand simple English about energy, transport, waste, food and shopping. Give short everyday tips and reasons.

Level: English as a first foreign language, Grade 8, G level, Baden-Württemberg.

Learning route: English first → context → try → ask → hint → German help if needed. No full translation.

How to work: Try the English first. Use the picture, situation and key words. If one word blocks you, ask about that word. Use the hint next. Use the short German help only when you still need it.

Media start: What can you see?

Look at the picture. Say or write three words you know. Then finish one sentence: I think this picture is about ...

Viewing task: Watch once without stopping. Which topic words do you hear? Watch again and note two words. You do not need to understand every word.

Hint: Listen for words you already know. Pictures and key words can help.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Erst grob verstehen, dann beim zweiten Hören zwei Schlüsselwörter notieren. Keine Vollübersetzung.

I can ...

I can understand key words about energy, transport, waste, food and shopping.
I can find the main idea in a short text or video.
I can say what I do and give a simple reason with because.
I can give short tips with should, shouldn't and imperatives.
I can write a short connected text about an everyday choice.

Before you start

Quick check: Which words do you already know?

Energy	Transport	Waste	Food	Shopping
electricity, light, power	bike, bus, car	bin, recycle, rubbish	food, meal, vegetables	buy, shop, bag

Try: Choose one column. Make one simple sentence.

Example: I go to school by bus.

Energy

Context: We use energy every day: for lights, phones, computers, heating and cooking. Using less energy can reduce the need to produce electricity.

Useful words: energy = Energie · electricity = Strom · turn off = ausschalten · save = sparen · renewable = erneuerbar

Try: Which tip fits your day?

Turn off the light when you leave a room.
Unplug a charger when you do not need it.
Use a device for longer instead of replacing it quickly.

Language tool: You should turn off the light because it saves energy.

Transport

Context: For short trips, people may walk, cycle or use public transport. The best option depends on distance, safety, time and available transport.

Useful words: walk = zu Fuß gehen · cycle = Rad fahren · bus = Bus · train = Zug · trip = Weg/Fahrt

Speak: Choose one sentence and add a reason.

I usually go by ...
For a short trip, I can ...
I prefer ... because ...

Respect different situations: Not everyone has the same routes, money, time or mobility options.

Waste

Context: Waste is what we throw away. We can often reduce, reuse or recycle materials. Reducing waste comes before recycling when we can avoid an unnecessary item.

Useful words: waste = Abfall · reduce = vermeiden/verringern · reuse = wiederverwenden · recycle = recyceln · bin = Mülleimer

Listening/Viewing – first try: Listen to the opening part. What is the main topic: transport, recycling or food?

Second try: Listen again. Write one word you recognise. If the audio is too fast, use 0.75× speed and repeat the same short part.

Transcript rule: Use the transcript on the video page only after your first two listening attempts. Read only the part you need.

Hint: The words recycling, waste and plastic are useful signposts.

Food

Context: Food choices can affect the environment. A simple first step is to avoid food waste: plan, use what you have and save safe leftovers.

Useful words: leftovers = Essensreste · plan = planen · waste food = Essen wegwerfen · seasonal = saisonal · plant-based = pflanzlich

Try: Complete one idea: At home, I can waste less food by ...

Important: Food choices also depend on health, allergies, culture, access and family needs. Do not judge other people.

Shopping

Context: Before buying something, ask: Do I need it? Can I use what I have? Can I repair, borrow or buy second-hand? A reusable bag can replace many single-use bags when it is used again and again.

Useful words: reusable = wiederverwendbar · second-hand = gebraucht · repair = reparieren · borrow = ausleihen · need = brauchen

Mini challenge: Give one shopping tip with should. Model: You should use things for longer because this can reduce waste.

Reading: Five everyday choices

Read first without a dictionary.

Mia and Jay are fictional students. Mia walks to a nearby sports club. Jay takes the bus to school because the route is too far to walk. At home, Mia turns off lights in empty rooms. Jay keeps a reusable bottle in his school bag. They both try to use food before it goes bad. Last Saturday, Mia bought a second-hand hoodie. Before she bought it, she had looked at two new hoodies online. Jay says, “I use my old backpack because it still works.” In a recycling centre, some materials are sorted before they are processed.

Main idea: Small choices can be part of everyday routines, but people have different options.

Reading check:

Find one transport choice.
Find one energy choice.
Find one shopping choice.
Why does Jay use his old backpack?

Help 1: Look for the five topic words. Help 2: The answer to question 4 starts after because. Deutsch-Hilfe: Suche zuerst Schlüsselwörter. Du musst nicht jedes Wort übersetzen.

Grammar for meaning

Use actively:

should / shouldn't + base verb: We should reuse bags.
can + base verb: I can walk to the shop.
because + reason: I take the bus because the school is far away.
imperative: Turn off the light.

Understand when you meet it – no need to produce it:

Passive: Materials are sorted. → The focus is on the materials and the action.
Past perfect: She had looked online before she bought the hoodie. → Looking happened first.

Reported speech without backshift: Jay says, “I use my old backpack.” → Jay says he uses his old backpack.

G-level rule: You do not have to build passive or past perfect sentences yourself here. Your job is to understand what they mean.

Vocabulary in context

Word	Simple meaning	Example
save energy	use less energy	I save energy by turning off lights.
public transport	buses, trains and similar services	I use public transport.
reduce waste	make less rubbish	We can reduce waste.
leftovers	food from an earlier meal	We eat the leftovers later.
reusable	can be used many times	I have a reusable bag.
second-hand	used before by another person	This jacket is second-hand.

Word strategy: Learn a word with a short example, not alone.

Pronunciation

Focus on being clear, not on sounding like a native speaker.

energy: stress the first syllable.
recycle: stress the second syllable.
environment: say it slowly in parts first.
reusable: connect re- + usable.

Try: Read this sentence slowly, then at normal speed: We can reuse things and reduce waste.

Private option: You may record yourself only for your own practice. Recording is voluntary. Do not upload it unless your teacher has clearly asked for it and you have permission.

Speaking: One choice, one reason

Task: Speak for about 30–45 seconds.

Use this plan:

My topic is ...
I usually ...
I think this is good / difficult because ...
One tip is ...

Example: My topic is transport. I usually take the bus to school. I think the bus is useful because my school is far away. One tip is: walk short distances when it is safe.

Help: You can use your notes. A clear message is more important than a perfect accent.

Writing: A short tip text

Task: Write 70–90 words for a fictional school noticeboard: Three everyday ideas for the environment.

Use this structure:

Opening: Everyday choices can make a difference.
Tip 1 + reason.
Tip 2 + reason.
Tip 3 + reason.
Ending: Start with one idea that works for you.

Checklist: connected sentences · at least two reasons with because · correct should + base verb · clear topic words

Do not let AI replace your text. If you use an AI tool in a teacher-approved setting, check its language level, facts and feedback. Keep your own ideas and wording. Do not upload private data or class work to an external AI service unless the tool and task have been clearly approved.

Mediation: Help a visitor

A German-speaking exchange student asks what the school recycling signs mean. Explain the key idea in simple English.

Information: Papier → paper · Verpackungen → packaging · Restmüll → general waste

Task: Say or write 2–3 sentences. Do not translate every word. Give the useful information.

Model: Paper goes in the paper bin. Packaging goes in a different bin. Please check the signs before you throw something away.

Feedback and error analysis

Check your own work before asking for help.

If you wrote ...	Check ...	Better pattern
You should to cycle.	after should	You should cycle.
I go bus.	transport phrase	I go by bus.
I recycle because good.	full reason	I recycle because it reduces waste.
He say he uses it.	third person -s	He says he uses it.

Direct feedback rule: Fix one important error first. Then read the full sentence again. Do not rewrite everything if one small change is enough.

Transfer: My realistic change

Choose one idea that is possible for you this week. It can be about energy, transport, waste, food or shopping.

Write:

My choice: ...
Why it fits my life: ...
One possible problem: ...
My solution: ...

After a week, check: Did the idea work? Keep it, change it or choose a different idea.

Can-do check

Mark each statement: Yes / Almost / Not yet.

Can-do	Yes	Almost	Not yet
I understand key words about the five topics.	□	□	□
I find the main idea in a short text or video.	□	□	□
I give a short tip with should or an imperative.	□	□	□
I give a reason with because.	□	□	□
I write a short connected text.	□	□	□

If “Not yet”: Go back to one topic only. Use the word table, one model sentence and one short practice task.

Next course

Continue with E8 G - Climate and action to use the same language skills with a wider environmental context.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which sentence gives an energy-saving tip? (Turn off the light when you leave.) (!Buy a new lamp every week.) (!Leave every device on.) (!Open the fridge for a long time.)

Which is a form of public transport? (Bus) (!Sofa) (!Backpack) (!Bottle)

What does reduce waste mean? (Make less rubbish) (!Buy more packaging) (!Throw away more food) (!Use more single-use items)

Which word means wiederverwendbar? (Reusable) (!Broken) (!Empty) (!Expensive)

Which sentence is correct? (You should reuse the bag.) (!You should to reuse the bag.) (!You should reuses the bag.) (!You should reused the bag.)

Which sentence gives a reason? (I cycle because the shop is near.) (!I cycle and.) (!Because near.) (!Cycle the shop.)

What are leftovers? (Food from an earlier meal) (!A type of bus) (!A new phone) (!A recycling bin)

What is the main idea of second-hand? (An item was used before by another person) (!An item is always broken) (!An item is made of food) (!An item can only be bought online)

In Materials are sorted, what is the focus? (The materials and the action) (!The price of the materials) (!A future plan) (!A transport route)

What should you do before using a transcript in this course? (Listen twice first) (!Translate every word first) (!Skip the audio) (!Copy all subtitles)

Memory

save energy	turn off unused lights
public transport	bus or train
leftovers	food from an earlier meal
reusable bag	use it many times
second-hand	used before by another person
reduce waste	make less rubbish

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
turn off unused lights	energy
take the bus	transport
reuse a bottle	waste
eat safe leftovers	food
buy second-hand	shopping

Kreuzworträtsel

energy	What can you save by turning off unused lights?
recycle	What can you do with suitable materials after use?
transport	What topic includes buses, trains and bikes?
leftovers	What do we call food from an earlier meal?
reusable	What word describes an item you can use many times?
shopping	What activity means buying things in shops?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Energy tip card: Design a small card with one English energy tip and one picture.
Transport sentence: Write four sentences about ways to travel in your area. Add one reason with because.
Waste photo hunt: Find three waste or recycling signs in your school or town. Describe them in simple English. Do not photograph people.
Food plan: Make a simple one-day plan for using food you already have. Write five English key words.

Standard

Shopping checklist: Create a five-question checklist for a fictional shopper before buying a new item.
Mini interview: Ask a classmate three prepared questions about one everyday environmental choice. Use only answers they agree to share in class.
School route comparison: Compare two possible school routes with simple English sentences about time, safety and transport.
Waste explainer: Create a 45-second private audio or live explanation of reduce, reuse and recycle. Recording is optional and must not be uploaded without permission.

Schwer

Everyday choices report: Observe your own choices for three days and write a short English report with two realistic improvements.
Poster check: Design an English poster with five tips, then fact-check every tip with reliable sources.
Video storyboard: Plan a 60-second video with fictional characters showing one problem and one practical solution. No private social-media data.
Class action idea: Develop one realistic class idea, explain benefits and limits, and present it in English. Include what would make the idea difficult for some people.

Lernkontrolle

Choice and reason: Choose one everyday action from the course. Explain why it can help and name one situation where it may not be practical.
Text transfer: A fictional student buys bottled drinks every day. Suggest two realistic alternatives and explain the reasons in connected English.
Compare transport: Compare cycling and taking the bus for a short school trip. Include safety, distance and availability.
Food waste problem: A family often throws away vegetables. Give a three-step plan using simple English and explain how the steps connect.
Shopping decision: A fictional student wants a new backpack although the old one still works. Write a short decision text with at least two options and one reason for each.
Language reflection: Find one sentence with should, one with because and one receptive passive sentence. Explain what each form does in the message.

Lernnachweis

For a learning record, show that you can:

understand key vocabulary from energy, transport, waste, food and shopping;
get the main idea of a short listening, viewing or reading text;
give connected everyday tips and simple reasons;
write a short structured text with understandable language;
understand a simple passive or past perfect form when it appears in context;
reflect on an everyday choice without judging other people's situations;
check facts, language level and feedback when digital or AI tools are used.

OERs zum Thema

Wikipedia overview:

Media used in this course: The images are from Wikimedia Commons. Click an image to see its source and licence information. The embedded BBC Learning English videos are used for listening/viewing practice.