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E8 M - Read an infographic about the environment

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E8 M - Read an infographic about the environment

Mini description: Read a short English infographic about the environment. Find the key data and message. Then describe them in simple, complete English sentences.

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

Introduction

Infographics combine words, numbers and visuals. You do not need to understand every detail. Your goal is to find the topic, the source, the year and the most important data.

Today you work with data about plastic pollution. The main infographic uses global data for 2019 from the OECD, visualised by Our World in Data.

Learning routine: English first → context → try → ask → hint → short German help if needed.

I can ...

I can find the title, source and year of an infographic.
I can identify the largest and smallest shares.
I can describe important numbers in full English sentences.
I can use the passive voice to describe what happens to waste.
I can report a classmate's statement, question or instruction.
I can check whether my summary is clear and fact-based.

Before you start

Look at the picture for 20 seconds.

Try first:

Name three things you can see.
Say one environmental problem that may result.
Predict three words that may appear in an infographic about plastic waste.

Ask: Compare your ideas with a partner.

Hint: Think of rubbish, water, recycling and waste sites.

Deutsch-Hilfe nur wenn nötig: waste = Abfall, pollution = Verschmutzung.

Reading an environmental infographic

Step 1: Read the frame first

Before you read the numbers, find these four things:

Question	Short answer
What is the topic?	Global plastic waste
What year does the data describe?	2019
What does the chart compare?	Ways plastic waste was treated
Who provides the data?	OECD, visualised by Our World in Data

Source check: Our World in Data and OECD Global Plastics Outlook.

Step 2: Focus on four key numbers

In 2019, the world generated about 353 million tonnes of plastic waste. About 9% was recycled, 19% was incinerated, almost 50% was landfilled and 22% was mismanaged. The percentages describe different ways in which global plastic waste was treated.

Key data	Simple English sentence
9% recycled	About 9% of global plastic waste was recycled.
19% incinerated	About 19% was burned in controlled facilities.
almost 50% landfilled	Almost half of the waste was sent to sanitary landfills.
22% mismanaged	About 22% was not safely managed.

Do not copy every number. Choose the data that help you explain the main message.

Step 3: Find the main message

Try: Complete this idea in your own words:

“Most plastic waste was not recycled. The largest share was ...”

Ask: Read your sentence to a partner.

Hint: Look for the biggest part of the chart.

Deutsch-Hilfe nur wenn nötig: landfill = kontrollierte Deponie; mismanaged = nicht sicher bewirtschaftet.

A second environmental visual

This map shows estimated plastic waste emitted to the ocean in 2019. Use it to practise careful reading.

Read the title before looking at colours.
Check what the legend means.
Do not say that a dark colour means a country “cares less”. The map shows data, not motives.
Use phrases such as The map shows ..., According to the map ... and The data suggest ....

Compare different kinds of visuals

Question: What is easier to see in a bar chart than in a map?

Possible answer: A bar chart can make exact comparisons between categories easier.

Listening and Viewing

Viewing 1: Plastic in the ocean

Context: The National Geographic video explains plastic pollution in the ocean and possible ways to reduce it.

First viewing – try without stopping:

What is the main problem?
Name one place where plastic can end up.
Name one solution mentioned or shown.

Second viewing – ask and check: Compare answers with a partner.

Hint: Focus on repeated words and visuals. You do not need every sentence.

German help if needed: Turn on English captions first. Use a German explanation only for single difficult ideas, not as a full translation.

Viewing 2: Environmental vocabulary

BBC Learning English introduces useful environmental expressions. Listen for net zero, circular economy and 1.5 degrees.

Mini-task: Choose one expression and explain it in one simple English sentence.

Listening 3: Moderate natural English

This BBC Learning English episode includes more than one speaker and natural but supported speech about climate and extreme weather.

Listening path:

First listen: identify the topic and the speakers' main question.
Second listen: write down three key words.
Third listen only if needed: use English captions and check one difficult section.
Compare your notes with a partner before asking for German help.

Goal: Understand the main ideas, not every word.

Context vocabulary

English	Meaning in simple English	Short German help
infographic	information shown with text, numbers and visuals	Infografik
waste	material people throw away	Abfall
share	one part of a total	Anteil
percentage	a part out of one hundred	Prozentanteil
recycle	use material again	recyceln
landfill	a controlled place for waste	Deponie
incinerate	burn waste in a facility	verbrennen
mismanaged waste	waste that is not safely controlled	schlecht bewirtschafteter Abfall
source	where information or data come from	Quelle
trend	a general direction of change	Entwicklung

Pronunciation focus

Say the words slowly, then in a full sentence.

en-VI-ron-ment
re-CY-cle
per-CENT-age
PLAS-tic

Important: Verständlichkeit ist wichtiger als Akzentfreiheit. Speak clearly and stress the key word.

Speaking

One-minute infographic talk

Use the main infographic again.

Speak for about one minute.

Structure:

Topic: “The infographic is about ...”
Source and year: “It shows global data from ...”
Key data: “The largest share ...”
Comparison: “Only ... , but ...”
Main message: “Overall, the infographic shows that ...”

M-level challenge: Give one reason why checking the source matters.

Informal discussion

Discuss this statement:

“Recycling alone can solve the plastic problem.”

Give a short opinion, one reason and one reference to the infographic.

Useful phrases:

“I agree partly because ...”
“The infographic shows that ...”
“One important point is ...”
“I see your point, but ...”

Writing

Write a short data description

Write 5–7 complete sentences about the main infographic.

Use this model only as support:

“According to the infographic, global plastic waste was treated in different ways in 2019. Almost half was landfilled. About one fifth was incinerated. Only a small share was recycled. Another part was mismanaged. Overall, the data show that recycling was not the main treatment method.”

Do not copy the model sentence by sentence. Choose your own order and wording.

Writing checklist

Did I name the topic?
Did I mention the year or source?
Did I use only important data?
Did I write full sentences?
Did I use at least one comparison?
Did I check numbers and units?
Did I avoid claims that the infographic does not show?

Functional grammar

Passive voice: describe data and processes

At M level, use the passive actively when it makes the process more important than the actor.

Active idea	Useful passive sentence
People recycle some plastic.	Some plastic is recycled.
Waste facilities incinerated part of the waste.	Part of the waste was incinerated.
Waste sites store a large share.	A large share is landfilled.

Pattern: form of be + past participle.

Try: Write two new passive sentences about the infographic.

Reported speech: report what someone said

All profiles below are fictional.

Mia said: “The largest share is landfilled.” Reported: Mia said that the largest share was landfilled.

Noah asked: “How much plastic is recycled?” Reported: Noah asked how much plastic was recycled.

The teacher said: “Check the source.” Reported command: The teacher told us to check the source.

M-level focus: Statements, questions and commands can change when you report them. Use backshift when it fits the reporting situation.

Mediation

Your German-speaking school eco team asks what the English infographic shows. Give them the main message in German in 2–3 sentences. Do not translate every line.

Then return to English and explain which two data points you chose and why.

Feedback and error analysis

Check these common problems.

Problem	Better version
“The infographic says 2019.”	“The infographic shows data for 2019.”
“50 percent are landfill.”	“Almost 50% was landfilled.”
“Plastic recycled 9%.”	“About 9% of plastic waste was recycled.”
“This country is bad.”	“The map shows a higher value for this country.”
“I copied every number.”	“I selected the numbers that support the main message.”

Direct feedback routine: Mark one sentence as clear, one as needs evidence and one as needs language work. Improve only those parts.

Transfer: another environmental infographic

Use the same strategy with this climate visual:

Read the title or labels.
Identify the topic.
Find three visual clues.
Write three simple sentences.
Separate what the visual shows from what you think about it.

Transfer question: Which information is shown by colour, and which information is shown by numbers?

Media and source check

The Wikimedia Commons files used in this course are openly licensed or released for reuse under the licence stated on each file page. The main data visual is based on OECD data and an Our World in Data visualisation.

YouTube material is embedded for learning and should not be copied or re-uploaded.

Safe and responsible learning

Use fictional names and profiles in classroom tasks.
Do not add private social-media data.
Audio or video recordings are voluntary and should stay private unless you clearly agree otherwise.
Do not upload classmates' work, images or voices without permission.
External AI tools should not receive personal data or student work without a clear school-approved process.
If you use AI for language support, check the English level, facts and feedback yourself.
AI may help you revise, but it should not replace your own text.

Interactive tasks

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the main purpose of an infographic? (To present information with text numbers and visuals) (!To replace every source) (!To hide the main message) (!To give only personal opinions)

Which year does the main plastic-waste infographic describe? (2019) (!2000) (!2024) (!2060)

Which treatment had the largest global share in the infographic? (Landfilling) (!Recycling) (!Incineration) (!Composting)

About how much global plastic waste was recycled in 2019? (9 percent) (!19 percent) (!22 percent) (!50 percent)

About how much plastic waste was mismanaged in 2019? (22 percent) (!9 percent) (!19 percent) (!50 percent)

Which sentence uses the passive correctly? (Some plastic waste was recycled) (!Some plastic waste recycled was) (!Some plastic waste did recycled) (!Some plastic waste was recycle)

Which phrase is useful when you mention data from a visual? (According to the infographic) (!I guess without evidence) (!Everybody knows) (!The colours prove everything)

Which reported sentence is correct? (Mia said that the largest share was landfilled) (!Mia said that the largest share landfilled) (!Mia said the largest share were landfill) (!Mia said that largest share is landfill yesterday)

Which reported question is correct? (Noah asked how much plastic was recycled) (!Noah asked how much was plastic recycled) (!Noah asked how much plastic did recycle) (!Noah asked how much plastic recycle)

What makes a good short infographic summary? (It gives the source context and the most important data) (!It copies every label) (!It adds facts that are not shown) (!It ignores the year)

Memory

landfill	controlled place for waste
recycle	use material again
source	place where data come from
percentage	part out of one hundred
infographic	information shown visually
incinerate	burn waste in a facility

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
recycled	material used again
landfilled	waste stored at a controlled site
incinerated	waste burned in a facility
mismanaged	waste not safely controlled
source	origin of the information

...

Kreuzworträtsel

landfill	What is a controlled place where waste is stored?
recycle	What verb means to use material again?
source	What tells you where the information comes from?
waste	What word describes material people throw away?
percent	What word is used for a share out of one hundred?
caption	What short text can explain an image?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Spot the structure: Mark the title, year, source, legend and two key numbers in the main infographic.
Vocabulary card: Create a small illustrated card for five useful words from this course.
Three-sentence summary: Write exactly three English sentences about the main infographic.
Clear speaking: Practise a 30-second description with a partner. Focus on understandable key words, not accent imitation.

Standard

Passive makeover: Turn five active process sentences about waste into passive sentences.
Video notes: Watch one embedded video and create a five-box note sheet with topic, three facts and one question.
Interview report: Ask a fictional classmate profile three questions about the infographic and report the answers using reported speech.
Eco-team mediation: Explain the central message of the English infographic to a German-speaking eco team in a short German note, then name the English evidence you selected.

Schwer

Compare two visuals: Compare the waste-treatment chart and the ocean-plastic map. Explain what each visual can and cannot show.
Two-minute presentation: Give a short presentation with one visual, three data points, one comparison and one source check.
Create an infographic: Design a small English infographic from teacher-provided environmental data. Add a source line and a clear legend.
Peer review: Review a partner's description for factual accuracy, clarity, passive voice and unsupported claims. Give two specific revisions.

Lernkontrolle

Select evidence: You receive a new environmental infographic. Choose the three details that best support its main message and explain why you ignored two less important details.
Source check: Compare two visuals on the same topic. Decide which source information you would need before using either visual in a school presentation.
Mediation: Explain an English environmental visual to a German-speaking audience without translating it line by line. Justify your selection of information.
Functional grammar: Write a short process description using at least three correct passive forms and explain why the passive fits the task.
Report a discussion: Turn one statement, one question and one classroom instruction into reported speech.
New context: Apply the same reading strategy to a climate or energy infographic and write a five-sentence summary that clearly separates data from opinion.

Lernnachweis

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

identify topic, year, source and legend of an English infographic;
select central data instead of copying everything;
describe data in simple complete English sentences;
use comparisons and productive passive forms;
report a statement, question and command appropriately;
explain the main message in a short oral presentation;
mediate the key information without full translation;
check facts, source information and your own language;
give useful feedback and improve a first draft;
transfer the strategy to a new environmental visual.

Can-do check

I can ...	Yes	Almost	Not yet
find title source and year	□	□	□
select three key data points	□	□	□
write a clear five-sentence summary	□	□	□
use the passive in a data description	□	□	□
report what another person said or asked	□	□	□
explain a new infographic with less help	□	□	□

Next course: E8 M - Describe environmental data in a short presentation

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