Les poèmes biographiques

Bio poems are a fun way to learn more about the new students in your classroom and introduce the topic of poetry at the same time. They are 11-line poems that highlight important qualities about an individual, such as beliefs, hopes and accomplishments. At the Madame Giraffe TPT Store you can find a bio poem template that will make your bio poem lesson a breeze. It includes the formula for creating an 11-line bio poem, and example and a creative space for students to write their own bio poem in French. Students will enjoy reflecting on who they really are and teachers will enjoy reading all about their students. You can make them into shape poems for a bright and colourful bulletin board idea. Here is a shining star example:

La Pizza

Have you heard Charlotte Diamond's song "Je suis une pizza"? If you haven't I'm sure you will have this catchy song stuck in your head until the end of the school day. Here is a fun video featuring her song:

A fun lesson that I like to do with students in kindergarten through to grade two is centred around the theme of making pizza. The students learn the song in French, and then I put up a poster with all the pizza ingredients and we look at the vocabulary and which words are masculine and feminine. Then they are ready to draw and create their very own pizza! Here is a link to the Madame Giraffe store where you can find a free la pizza drawing activity.

I had the students draw what their pizza would look like and then write out the ingredients on their pizza.

Then everyone made their own pizza out of play doh! So much fun!

This student's pizza really illustrates the song "Je suis une pizza"! Magnifique!

Les Crêpes françaises

One of my very favourite lessons of the year is a lesson on les crêpes françaises, where the students learn about the language rules around reading and writing recipes in French, play charades to learn the steps to make crêpes and finally have tons of fun in the classroom or kitchen making their very own crêpes. First I would introduce the class to a recipe for crêpes, like this one provided by Recettes du Québec. The students would learn the vocabulary words for cooking measurements, such as tasse and cuire a thé or cuire a soupe as well as the names of the ingredients. Next, I will have prepared index cards with each the instructions and a picture illustrating the action. The students would play charades to act out the steps to consolidate their learning. This would be a good time to introduce a project where students write out their own recipe for their favourite food. Finally, the students are ready to make their own crêpes! In the past, I have assigned ingredients as well as toppings (ice cream, jam, nutella, fruits etc.) and plates, napkins and cutlery to each student in the class. I brought a few extras of the main ingredients in case anyone forgot. The cooking lesson worked the best when I had the students work in the staffroom's kitchen, but if a stove is not available for you to use in the school you could take a hot plate to the classroom and make your crêpes there. It would be a good idea to prepare colouring sheets or a writing activity for students to compete as not everyone can make their own crêpe at the same time and there is some waiting time. Here are some links to activities you could have going on at the table or students' desks while making crêpes:

Crêpe Suzette colouring sheet provided by Frenchteacher.com

Crêpe Suzette cd to listen to some fun French music while cooking

A video on making crêpes provided by Crêpes de France

Quizzes on French culture found at Livebinders.com

Hope you get a chance to try making les crêpes françaises in your classroom this school year!

Bon appétit!

Joyeuse St-Valentin!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I would add a few activities in French for that special day on February 14th. Here is a lovely video for a song called "Joyeux St. Valentin" by Toto Cutugno:

 

For older students, here is a list of the top 20 French love songs and you can download the whole collection from iTunes.

1. La vie en rose - Edith Piaf

2. C'est si bon - Yves Montaud 

3. Quand on a que l'amour - Jacques Brel

4. J'en déduis que je t'aime - Charles Aznavour

5. Parlez-moi d'amour - Lucienne Boyer

6. Les amoureux des bancs - Georges Brassens

7. T'aimer follement - Johnny Hallyday

8. Hymne à l'amour - Edith Piaf
9. Plus bleu que tes yeux- Charles Aznavour
10. Fleur bleue - Charles Trenet
11. C'est si facîle de vous aimer - Joséphine Baker
12. J'me suis fait tout petit - Georges Brassans
13. Je t'aime bien - André Bourvil & Bourvil

14. Comme un p'tit coquelicot - Marcel Mouloudji

15. J'aime les femmes c'est ma folie - Tino Rossi

16. Maladie d'amour - Henri Salvador

17. Le parapluie - Georges Brassens

18. Mon manège à moi - Edith Piaf

19. Oui j'ai - Johnny Hallyday

20. Ma main a besoin de ta main - Charles Aznavour

Another fun activity for your students would be to take a virtual tour of St-Valentin, Quebec. It is a small village in Quebec which has its sites set on becoming the capital of love. They would of course have Paris and St-Valentin, France to compete with!. The Globe and Mail provides pictures as well as an article about this unique, lovely village and its Valentine's traditions. Enjoy and Joyeuse St-Valentin!