French - Mrs Blackett
Bienvenue and welcome to French with Madame Blackett. We have lots of fun in our French lessons here at GPS.
Click the + sign next to each month, below, to see our fabulous French learning journey across 2025-26 - we hope you enjoy it as it unfolds - Bon Voyage! You can also explore the previous year, via the link at the bottom of the page.
June & July 2026
We have been learning about a huge variety of things recently in French. In year 6, the children have been discovering how to describe themselves and each other. Year 5 have been using their prior knowledge of places in a town and telling the time to say where they are going and when. Year 4 have begun to describe their own gardens and their ideal gardens. Year 3 have been learning how to talk about London using sentence structure they are familiar with after describing Paris. In Key Stage 1, our children have enjoyed learning about sea creatures through the song ‘Sous l’Océan’. They love doing the actions and joining in with the words.
May 2026
During May, our children in Key Stages 1 and 2 have been listening very carefully in their French lessons. In year 1, we have been listening for the names of the days of the week in a story all about a busy witch. Year 3 have been working hard listening to a variety of questions about themselves and giving the correct answers. They have become very good at introducing themselves. The children in year 4 have listened carefully to a rhyme about an elephant balancing in a spider’s web and inviting his friends to join him. This has helped them to improve their phonic understanding. Year 5 have listened to and joined in with a song all about things to do each day of the week. This will lead them to be able to describe what they enjoy doing on different days. Finally, year 6 have really enjoyed listening to a variety of songs in the Eurovision song contest. They were able to give their different opinions of the songs in French. It was lovely to see everyone engaged in this multi-cultural competition.
April 2026
We use many skills when learning a language, which turn us into detectives looking for clues to help us. The children in year 6 have been finding out how to introduce members of their family in French with the help of a story about a witch and her family. Year 5 are using their decoding skills to read and understand a letter from a French child talking about what there is in their hometown. In year 4, we have used our phonic knowledge to ask and answer questions about animals. Year 3 are extending their spoken sentences about Paris by including more than one place to visit, using prior knowledge. In year 1, the children are learning the names of sea creatures by joining in with a lovely song about living under the sea, they have found that some of the words look like the English names.
March 2026
In year 1, we have been learning the names of the days of the week with the help of a story and a song. Year 2 have been inspired by the musical suite ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ to create pictures with animals and musicians. In year 3, we are beginning to say sentences to describe Paris. Year 4 have used their iPads to create animal habitats and write sentences to describe the animals. Year 5 are learning to recite a rhyme which includes numbers and parts of the body. Finally, year 6 have received their latest replies from their pen pals alongside a lovely handmade bookmark to keep.
February 2026
Year 6 have been describing what they like to do in their French lessons, in French to tell their pen pals. In year 5, we have mastered the pronunciation of new vocabulary using the story ‘Berthe Va En Vacances’. Year 4 have enjoyed reading the French version of the story ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear’. In year 3, we have been singing a song about animals to help us with our French phonics. To begin our celebrations of the Northeast Festival of Languages, years 1 and 2 have taken part in a Japanese taster session. They learned to say hello and goodbye and to count to ten. They also learned how to write numbers using special Japanese characters
January 2026
It has been a busy start to the year in French lessons. Miss Mortimer’s children have been learning the names of farm animals with the help of the French version of Old McDonald. In year 2, we have been learning the names the months of the year by singing a song and standing up when we hear our favourite month. Year 3 can answer a simple question, in French, about Paris and the capital cities of the UK. In year 4, we have done a virtual visit to the Zoo Parc de Beauval to look for animal names, which are like the English versions. Year 5 have been consolidating their learning about places in a town and telling the time. Finally, year 6 are getting ready to write to their pen pals again by learning to talk about their school routine. They have played paper cut bingo to help them learn new phrases.
December 2025
Y6 have been writing to pen pals from the north east of France. Each child was sent a letter in English from their new friend. They were surprised to see how different the French children’s handwriting is. They loved learning about the children’s hobbies and interests. Our children wrote in French. They introduced themselves and described Sunderland. In November, year 6 designed and wrote New Year cards, as is the tradition in France. They worked hard to make their cards look appealing. This month, we have received Christmas cards from our French friends who have also put a lot of effort into their designs. We are looking forward to seeing what will arrive from France in the new year.
November 2025
This month, Y6 were excited to receive some replies from their new pen pals in France. They’ve been busy writing a New Year card to send in response. Y5 have been introduced to the ‘Languagenut’ website which they are using to increase their vocabulary. Y4 are confidently writing longer sentences about animals and reading them aloud with excellent pronunciation. Y3 are learning the names of the 4 countries of the UK and their capital cities in French. They have enjoyed practising a song about staying warm when the snow is falling. In Y1, the children have been learning the names of farm animals and colours using songs to help them remember the words.
October 2025
Linking with maths, year 6 have been revisiting the months of the year. They have practised reciting a French poem to help them remember how many days are in each month. Year 5 are working on telling the time and they can read and understand French sentences about the time difference between the UK and France. Year 4 have used their iPads to ask questions and give answers about animals which has helped their ICT skills. In year 3, we have been using actions and singing a song to learn the names of the most famous Parisian monuments. Year 2 have planned a day trip to Paris. They know how to get there, what they would do and even which currency they would need to buy things, adding up Euros. In year 1, children have been familiarising themselves with questions and answers in French including talking about how they feel. Using puppet eyes to pretend they were someone else was great fun!
September 2025
What a busy month we have had in our French lessons. Our year 1 children have been introduced to our French puppet, Thierry Tricolore. They have enjoyed creating their own puppets to speak to Thierry. In year 2, we have been learning how Barnaby Bear would travel to France on a ferry or even through a tunnel under the sea, which really surprised everyone. In Key Stage Two, to embrace the European Day of Languages, we have talked about why learning a new language is useful and fun. Children have been using their iPads to discover translations for a word of their choice in several languages and drawing a picture and decorating bunting. Finally, year 6 have been writing a letter, in French, to send to our partner school in France. They are excited to receive the replies in the next few weeks.
Last Year - 2024-25
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.
