14 juillet

[Victoria Cooke]

Anyone got any ideas or plans for 14th July?

[Lorraine]

Salut Victoria. My you are ambitious.
Here are some ideas cut 'n' pasted from a variety of sites.


As it's very typical for the French to have a picnic to celebrate Bastille Day; you could make different food items with the theme of France's Independence Day colours and symbols.

Let them use Lego (or blocks?) to build a three-dimensional version of the famous Bastille prison fort.

Listen to "La Marseillaise." [Personally I think it may be a bit heavy-going for youngsters!]


So get your kids involved in your celebration of Bastille Day, and start teaching them from a young age about the importance of being a citizen of the world.
Reenactment of the storming of the Bastille. Get some washable paints and a few old cardboard boxes. Cut and shape the cardboard into a mock-up of the facade of the Bastille, and paint it with appropriate colours. The kids can play in and around the cardboard facade, and when it's all over, have them "storm the Bastille" by knocking everything down while crying out "Viva la France!" or "Liberty, equality, and fraternity!" Again, make sure to give them the appropriate history so that they can understand the significance of this event.
[facts from www.helium.com]

As it was the French Revolution that inaugurated the tricolor flag you might do something on the flag.

Make a Flag to Wave
Create this French flag craft while playing a game. Give each child a 3 x 5 inch index card and a straw. Hold the card horizontally, and fold the edge around the straw and secure it with a piece of tape. Voilà . . . it's a flag.
Fill a bag with several small pieces of colored paper and label it "The French Flag Grab Bag." As the bag is passed around, each child closes his eyes, reaches inside, and pulls out a slip of paper. If the color belongs on the French flag (blue, white or red), that child may color that portion of their index card. Return the slip of paper to the bag and pass it to the next child. See who can be the first to find all the colors to complete the flag. Read more:http://kids-holiday-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/bastille_day_celebration#ixzz0KaA4YeCL&C

[Lorraine]

looking on TES new resources and cae across this.
A simple presentation to inform children about the celebrations and origins of Bastille Day. Suitable for ICT time or assemblies. Includes the words of the French national anthem (also heard on the jukebox) and a quiz.
at http://www.euroclubschools.co.uk/page76.htm

[Victoria Cooke]

Ooooh, thanks, Lorraine.

That last link looks really good for year 6.

And I love the French Flag Grab Bag idea - think I'll def use that.

I found this. There's a nice idea for making tricolore rosettes in the bricolage link.

I've also found loads of clips of the fireworks in Paris on YouTube, so no doubt we'll watch one of those.

If I get round to putting together a power point with a few picutres and some basic facts then I'll post it on here.

I'm keen to hear other ideas too.

[Victoria Cooke]

I have done a quick Power Point - but it's all photos stolen from the internet so not so sure about posting it?

However, Figaro have got a great slideshow. I'm hoping that tomorrow morning (before I actually teach) I'll be able to find an official video of the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower to show them.

Year 6 loved the reading and quiz from Euroclub (link in Lorraine's post above).

With reception, years 1, 2 and 4 (who I teach tomorrow) we're going to look at the slideshow from Figaro; listen to the National Anthem a bit (don't think I'll translate it...); learn some vocab connected to the parade (le défilé, les soldats, les chevaux, les avions, etc) and add some actions, then play some games with them - probably something a bit like 'Captain's Coming' - get them to parade about a bit and then when I call out different things from the parade they have to do the actions they've chosen to match the vocab. More confident children can have a go at being the caller either from memory or reading as appropriate.

Then if we've got time we're going to play the French Flag Grab Bag game (year 3 played last Friday and loved it - we did it as a pass the parcel with la Marseillaise as the music), or maybe make those rosettes if I can gather up the materials in time!! Or if no time then I'll give them one of the colouring in pics (from the link in my previous post) to do.