CLIL Math in English for German Primary Schools (Klasse 1–4)
CLIL Math in English for German Primary Schools (Klasse 1–4)
Math is a good CLIL subject because so much of it can be shown. Ten counters on a ten-frame need no translation, and an array of 4 rows and 6 columns looks the same in either language. The hard part is the talk around it: explaining why, comparing two methods, saying "fewer" instead of "less". These units were written for US classrooms in native English, and each one asks children to explain their thinking every lesson. That makes them a good source of real classroom math language, as long as you know where US methods and German expectations part ways.
Browse the math resources →Resources that fit
Four math units for bilingual classes
Each unit includes a teacher guide with answers for every lesson and notes on observation and responsive support. Pick by the math your class is doing in German at the time, so the English lesson repeats and deepens rather than introducing a topic for the first time.
Number Sense to 20 | 15 Hands-On Math Centers | Kindergarten
Fifteen centers to 20 with ten-frames and number cards; ideal for Klasse 1.
Measurement and US Money | Length, Coins, Bills & Making Change | Grade 2
Length in inches and centimeters plus US coins and bills; the money is all dollars.
Multiplication Fact Fluency | Strategies, Fact Families & Array Labs | Grade 3
Facts through equal groups, arrays and fact families; fits the kleines Einmaleins.
Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division | Area Model, Partial Products & Partial Quotients | Grade 4
Area model and partial products leading to the standard algorithm.
Grade levels
Which unit for which Klasse
| Unit (US grade) | Rough Klasse | Topic | CLIL note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number Sense to 20 (K) | Klasse 1 | Counting, ten-frames, teen numbers, partners for ten | Very low language load; objects do the explaining |
| Measurement and US Money (2) | Klasse 2–3 | Length with units and rulers; coins, bills, change | Length lessons travel well; money is US only |
| Multiplication Fact Fluency (3) | Klasse 2–3 | Equal groups, arrays, anchor facts, fact families | Strategy names give children words for their thinking |
| Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division (4) | Klasse 4 | Place value, area model, partial products, partial quotients | Different written method from German school |
The kleines Einmaleins usually comes earlier in German schools than multiplication facts do in the US, so the Grade 3 pack often fits Klasse 2 or early Klasse 3. Check your school's math plan; the table is a rough guide only.
Language
The math English these units give children
The centers in Number Sense to 20 run on one routine: Count, Build, Explain. Children say how many, build it with counters and then tell a partner what they did. That gives you a short, repeatable sentence pattern from the first week, such as "I have seven. Five and two more." The centers also bring in comparison words that learners often mix up in English, more, fewer and equal, and one more, one less.
The fact fluency pack names its strategies: equal groups, arrays, doubles, fives, tens, commutativity, distributivity. In English those names become tools children can use to explain a fact. A child who says "I know 10 × 6, so 9 × 6 is six less" is doing the reasoning the nines lesson builds, in English. The ten fact family studio pages connect products and quotients, which prepares division in both languages.
Watch out
Where US and German math differ
Notation. The units write 3 × 4 and 12 ÷ 3. German classrooms often use 3 · 4 and 12 : 3. Put both on the board in the first lesson and say they mean the same.
Written methods. The Grade 4 unit moves from the area model and partial products to the standard US algorithm, and divides with partial quotients, which means taking away friendly multiples of the divisor. German schools usually teach a different layout for written multiplication and division. One workable approach is to use partial products and partial quotients to build understanding and keep the German written form for tests. Agree on this with your math colleagues.
Money and units. The money lessons use US dollars and cents. Measurement uses inches next to centimeters. The decimal point, as in $1.25, is another difference from the German comma.
In practice
A CLIL routine that works
- Teach the topic in German first, or in parallelChildren handle new math more easily when the language is familiar. The English unit then repeats the idea with new words.
- Collect the key phrasesPut the five or six phrases the lesson needs on the board before you start, for example "I split 24 into 20 and 4".
- Let objects carry the meaningUse counters, rulers and drawn arrays. The teacher guides list the materials each lesson needs.
- Ask for the explanationEvery unit asks children to explain. Accept short answers and model a longer one.
Questions teachers ask
Frequently asked questions
Is math in English harder for young children?
The math itself stays the same. The language around it is new, so start with hands-on units like Number Sense to 20 where objects carry much of the meaning, and pre-teach the phrases each lesson needs.
Do the units match German math standards?
They were written for US grades and their teacher guides refer to Common Core. Many topics overlap with German primary math, but we make no claim about Lehrplan fit. Use the table as a rough guide.
Should I teach partial quotients in a German school?
It depends on your school. Partial quotients are a good way to understand division, but German tests usually expect the German written method. One option is to use the US strategies for understanding and keep the German layout for written work.
Can I replace dollars with euros?
The DOCX text is editable, but the money lessons are built around US coins and bills from start to finish. It is simpler to teach them as a look at US money or to use only the length lessons.
Are timed tests included?
No. The fact fluency pack focuses on strategies and flexible practice and includes answers and tracking pages.
What do I need for the centers?
Counters or small classroom objects. The ten-frame mat, number cards 0–20, a number path and a two-part work mat are included as printables.
Math you can show, words they can use
Hands-on centers and strategy lessons in native English, with answers for every lesson.
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