French - Mrs Blackett

Click the + sign next to each month, below,  to see our fabulous French learning journey across 2024-25 - we hope you enjoy it as it unfolds - Bon Voyage!

July

We have been busy practicing writing in French across our year groups. Y1 have been learning the names of fruit and have designed t-shirts with fruit and its name in French. Y2 have been learning the names of animals in the musical suite ‘The Carnival of the Animals’. Y3 have been busy writing a postcard from London describing all of the sites to see. In Y4, children have learned how to say what is and is not in their gardens. In Y5, children have been producing an identity card to introduce themselves. This has helped them to ask and answer each other questions. Finally, Y6 have been learning how to talk about what they are going to do in the near future. 

June

We thoroughly enjoyed our annual celebration of all things French. This year, we celebrated French-speaking countries around the world, including Switzerland, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our visitor, native French speaker, Nathalie Paris, led a story telling session for each class. We also enjoyed a music workshop with a focus Disney films set in France such as ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ and ‘Ratatouille’. Each year group took part in a research activity based on their chosen country and its culture. We had great fun in the sunshine, taking part in some French playground games. 

May

The children in Mrs Millican’s class have been learning some animal names in French. They have listened to a variety of classical tunes written by a French composer named Camille Saint-Saëns. Each piece of music relates to a particular animal. We have used actions to help remember the new words in French. We have played games to help us to learn and the children have volunteered to lead the games if they are feeling confident. To finish off the topic, everyone has made a mask of one of the animals. Each child has given their animal a name and the children have taken part in a simple role play to introduce themselves to each other and to ask how they are feeling. 

April

In year 6, we have been learning how to talk about our families and pets by imagining which pets we would like to have. Year 5 have translated a letter from French describing the writer’s hometown. They then wrote a reply to describe Sunderland. Year 4 have been learning how to describe animals in their habitats in French. This was brought to life using the Book Creator app to illustrate their work. Year 3 have enjoyed describing Paris and learning all about the sights and sounds of the city of light. In Key Stage 1, we have been learning all about Easter traditions and how chocolate eggs arrive in gardens all around France. The children were surprised to learn that it is not the Easter bunny who brings them!

March

Our children have had some fantastic language learning opportunities in March. First of all, to celebrate World Book Day, each class chose a favourite French book by the author Gwen Brookes who wrote and illustrated a series of books about Berthe the witch. Year 6 finished the day with a live video call with the author herself. She read their favourite book to the class and then answered questions from our children about being an author. We are also celebrating the North East Festival of Languages at school this month. We have been learning the song ‘What A Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong in a variety of languages. Year 4 have been learning the song in French, German club sang the song in German and some of our children performed the song in Yoruba. The whole school have learned the British Sign Language version in assembly. The performances will be included in a region-wide, multilingual version of the song later in the year.

February

February has been a very busy month for our young linguists. In year 1, our children have been listening to a story in French about a dog who could not bark but could make lots of other animal noises, they loved finding out why. Year 2 were very proud of their ability to remember the names of the months of the year and the seasons. They have excellent memories. Year 3 have begun to write and say short sentence about Paris in French. In year 4 we have been discovering the names of sea creatures in French and using them in sentences describing where they live. Year 5 very much enjoyed a craft activity which showcases their work done about towns and cities. I am extremely proud of the effort year 6 have made when writing a letter in French to describe their school day. They are wonderful at giving their opinions about school subjects and what they like to do at playtime.

January

To start the new year, all of our children wished each other Bonne Année - a Happy New Year. We have also learned about the Epiphany and how it is celebrated in France. Everyone enjoyed explaining what they would like to do if they found the lucky charm in their cake and they were the King or Queen of their family for a day. We have been learning the words to Old MacDonald, in year 1, in French with actions to help us. In year 2, we have been singing a song to help us to remember the months of the year. We have also learned the names of the seasons and which months are in which season. Year 3 have been learning a song to help with pronunciation. They are remembering the words very well. Year 4 have been introduced to some insects in French, this has helped to understand the concept of noun gender. Year 5 are discovering how to write a complex sentence about places in a town. Finally, year 6 are building on their work last year on telling the time, to talk about their daily routine in school. Their decoding skills are extremely good.

December

The festive season brings such a lot of interesting cultural traditions for the children to discover. In German club, we are celebrating by visiting a virtual Christmas market. Delicious Lebkuchen and Stollen add an authentic touch to the experience. Years 1 and 2 have enjoyed finding out that children in France leave their shoes out instead of stockings to receive small gifts. Year 3 have learned that nativity scenes are very popular in homes in France. They have made a card using the key figures in the Christmas story. In year 4, our children have used their knowledge of describing animals to design a garden at Christmas with light-up animals. Year 5 and 6 have practised their reading skills to follow a description of a Christmas tree in French and to draw it correctly. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!

November

We start every French lesson with a song, story or rhyme. This helps to embed the language they are learning for any topic. Y1 have been learning a simple song called ‘Bonjour, Salut’ which introduces greetings. Y2 have been introduced to Berthe the witch in the story ‘Bonjour Berthe’, they are very good at repeating the story using the correct actions. Y3 are amazing at singing the song ‘Lulu la Tortue’ about a tortoise who travels to Space. Y4 have been enjoying the song ‘Le Chat en Chocolat’,which ties in beautifully with our animal theme. The Proclaimers song ‘500 Miles’ provides the melody for an alternative version which is helping Y5 to tell the time in French. Finally, Y6 have been practising new vocabulary by learning a rap about what is in your backpack. Listening to these stories and songs and joining in with them improves pronunciation and the ability to remember new words. The best part is that our children are having great fun at the same time!

October

We have been working hard and having lots of fun in French this month. Year 2 have been learning about different ways to travel to France from Sunderland. We have learned the names of types of transport and played lots of games to help us remember the new vocabulary, we even had some help from a former pupil. In Key Stage 2, all of our children have been learning how to use the Duolingo app. This is a wonderful tool to enhance their language learning both in school and at home if they would like to do so. Year 3 have also been learning actions to go with the names of places to visit in Paris. Year 4 have been working on learning the names of animals with incredible pronunciation. Year 5 can now describe the time difference between a city in the U.K and France and year 6 have been practising conversations using opinions and asking each other questions. 

September 

Every year, in September, we embrace the European Day of Languages. This year, our children in year two have learnt how to say hello in other languages with the help of a catchy song. In Key Stage Two, children have discovered that words which we use in English, can originate from different languages. Using their language detective skills, our children have solved puzzles and learnt about links between words in a variety of European languages such as German, French Spanish and Italian. These activities have given our children who speak an additional language outside school a lovely opportunity to share their languages with others. The children have approached the tasks with enthusiasm and great interest.