A school day in Germany


Do German kids wear uniform? What time does school start?
Find out here!

Children in Germany with Ben the bear Children in Germany
with Ben the bear!

Just like you, children in Germany have to go to school every day. One big difference, however, is the time they have to be at school. German school children have to be at their desks between 7:30-8.15am (depending on which part of Germany they live in).

There are usually five or six lessons each day. School subjects are pretty similar to those you might have (Maths, Science, Music, Art, P.E etc). There is normally a five to ten minute break between each lesson, with two big breaks that last for 20 minutes so that there is a chance to go and play outside in the playground.

There isn't a lunch break, though, because the school day finishes before lunch! Imagine that!

German school children get 15 weeks of holiday each year. The school holidays are quite similar to those in the UK and, of course, the long six week summer holiday is always the one that everyone looks forward to the most!

Did you know ...?

  • Children in Germany don't start school until they are six years old.
  • Most German schools don't have a school uniform.
  • German children go to primary school for four years.
  • Each lesson lasts for 45 minutes.
  • School finishes before lunch so German children have free afternoons - but they get lots of homework!

Words Ahoy! · Wörter Ahoi!

Deutsch English
die Schulwoche school week
die Pause playtime
die Mittagspause lunch time
die Grundschule primary school
das Lieblingsfach favourite subject
der Lehrer teacher
die Hausaufgaben homework
der Nachmittag afternoon
Mathe maths
Lesen und Schreiben Literacy
Deutsch German
Geschichte History
Rechnen Numeracy
Technik Technology
Rechtschreibung spelling
Erdkunde Geography
Sport Sport
Schwimmen Swimming
Lesen Reading
Kunst Art