French week

[Katell Tapé]

Last Year I organised a French day at my school. It was a great success so this year I was asked to prepare a French week... exciting but challenging if you don't have a budget for it!

I thought I'll share what happen with you:

I had decorated the school with the obvious flags and monuments but I had also made posters of French/francophone comic books. I had also made signs for the rooms (L'infirmerie, la salle d'informatique, etc.) The library had a bigger than usual French book selection and the entrance was covered in posters of Charles Perrault fairytales book covers.

Each day I sent a Did you know fact about France to the staff & parents (via Scholabo). Year 1 & 2 also got age appropriate facts (1 a day) via a powerpoint.

ICT: The Year 2 had a quiz to complete involving online research using www.euroclubschool.co.uk  and the year one had to draw the French flag and monuments.

Art: The Year 1 & 2 made paintings based on Matisse and Seurat's work.

Games: Children played a French playground game called Chat-couleur (http://www.pmfl.eu/french-games)

The festivities started on Shrove Tuesday (Monday was an inset day) so the children had crêpes for dessert and a French mum came round and read 1,2,3 Qui est la? and Les 3 petits cochons (with puppets ) to the reception children. They also made some crepes with their teachers throughout the week.

On Thursday we had a French assembly. The whole school sang a translation of Praise Him! (Louez-le!) to open it and Thank you Lord (Merci seigneur/rearranged for the occasion) at the end. I had organised a little French musical/play with the Drama tag teacher based on Amazing Milo's Rainforest Quest ( www.sparklespeak.co.uk). The children from the Music Tag played the accompanying music on the xylophone. Both groups sang the song "Dans la Foret tropicale..." and there was some musical effect when Milo search through the Forest for example. A very artistic teaching assistant had painted a jungle background.

It was followed by a translation/loose interpretation of Rumble in the jungle (read in French and english by bilingual children) and animated by the Drama and Music Tag groups. We had A£ signs made and the audience was invited to make the animal sounds.

Friday was dressing up day for the whole school (staff included): Because the children are young (Rec-Y1 & 2) the theme is very loose (frogs, snails and whole stereotypes are allowed so there was a lot of Garlic about!). The only rule was to have fun with it and if coming as a character it did not nececerally have to be French but Francophone at least (ex: Tintin, the smurfs etc). For snack we had mini croissants and pains au chocolat. Lunch was also "French". The staff had a cheese platter as well and I had brought in some French fresh coffee. We had a closing assembly at 13.30pm with dressing up prizes for selected children: Each teacher selected a boy and a girl from their class. They received a certificate and a "French" pen. 2 members also recieved a best dressed certificate.

All the children were given a customized sticker. I had also made a simple booklet for each year group to take home at the end of the week (recipe, and colouring pages, etc.). The Year 1 and 2 had a couple of worksheets to complete during the week at their own pace.

During French lessons we watch Le Petit Prince: La Planète du Temps

NB:I have probably left out bits and bobs of activities that were planned that week.

...Then I slept the whole weekend! 

PS: I was planning on attaching some of the material I had made but I will have to check with my HT first. If I  am allowed I will share them with you.

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

Thank you so much for sharing all your hard work here! This is brilliant and so helpful for those of us planning similar activities -thank you thank you thank you!