Stage conversations or dialogue with students, in which you teach them common phrases such as "hello" (Guten tag) or "how are you" (Wie geht es Ihnen?) and the responses to those phrases. Students can practice saying these phrases and responding to one another. Once students have gotten the basic greetings down, teach them phrases that they are likely to use in a classroom or in a restaurant and stage opportunities for them to practice using the new phrases.
As students learn new vocabulary words, have them create flashcards that contain the word in English on one side and the word in German, along with a picture representing the word, on the other side. Students can create flashcards for German numbers and the letters of the alphabet, along with common household items, foods or school supplies. Have students quiz one another by showing the student the English word and asking them to produce the German word. Play a game to see who can get the most words correct.
Songs are often positive tools to use when it comes to learning a new language because they provide rhymes and rhythms that can help the words stick in a student's brain. Consider translating popular English songs such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" into German to help students make a connection, then move to teaching children traditional German songs. Many Christmas songs were originally written in German and can be introduced to children to help them learn the language.
There is a variety of online games children can play to help introduce them to German vocabulary and common phrases. Syvum (syvum.com), a website of brain training games, offers translation games in which children can translate common English words, such as numbers, animals and classroom objects, into German. Digital Dialects (digitaldialects.com) also includes numerous games to help children learn German. Many of the games require children to click on colors or objects to hear what those items are called in German.