ContentsIntroduction ........................................................................................................................................ 4Analysis by year group ...................................................................................................................... 5Analysis by objective .......................................................................................................................... 6Successful teaching ideas for new vocabulary .................................................................................. 7

Month Mois Festival/TraditionJanuary janvier Le Jour de l’An/La fête des Rois (New Year’s Day/Epiphany) ................ 8 February février La Chandeleur (Candlemas) ................................................................. 12 La Saint-Valentin (Saint Valentine’s Day) .............................................. 15

March mars Mardi gras (Carnival Day) ..................................................................... 18 April avril Poisson d’avril (April Fool’s Day) .......................................................... 21 Pâques (Easter) .................................................................................... 23 Les contes de fées (Traditional stories) ................................................ 26 May mai La fête du travail (May Day) ................................................................. 31 La fête des Mères (Mother’s Day) ........................................................ 33

June juin Joyeux anniversaire (Happy Birthday).................................................. 35 Le festival de Cannes (Cannes Film Festival) ....................................... 38

July juillet Le quatorze juillet (14th of July) ............................................................ 40 Symbols of France ............................................................................... 40

August août Planning a holiday ............................................................................... 44 How is French culture incorporated into our everyday life? ................ 48

September septembre La rentrée (The new school year) ......................................................... 50 Comparing pastimes and everyday life ................................................ 55

October octobre Halloween/La Toussaint (Halloween/All Saints’ Day) ........................... 57 Challenging stereotypes ...................................................................... 61 Role models for children ...................................................................... 63

November novembre Cuisine française (French Food) .......................................................... 64 Beaujolais nouveau wine tradition ....................................................... 69

December décembre Joyeux Noël (Happy Christmas)........................................................... 70

Planning a French day for your school ............................................................................................ 75

Useful resources ............................................................................................................................... 88

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French Festivals and Traditions© Nicolette Hannam, Michelle Williams and Brilliant Publications6

Learning objective Covered in book

IU3.1 Learn about the different languages spoken by children in the school

Planning a holiday (pages 44–47). Could be developed from discussions around the French language. Does anyone speak French in our school? Which other languages are spoken? Why?

IU3.2 Locate country/countries where the language is spoken

Planning a holiday (pages 44–47)

IU3.3 Identify social conventions at home and in other cultures

Joyeux anniversaire (pages 35–37) – typical namesSocial conventions addressed throughout book

IU3.4 Make direct or indirect contact with the country/countries where the language is spoken

We recommend that you approach your Local Authority for advice, or visit the NACELL or CILT websites

IU4.1 Learn about festivals and celebrations in different cultures

Throughout book

IU4.2 Know about some aspects of everyday life and compare them to their own

Throughout book, especially La rentrée (pages 50–54) and Comparing pastimes and everyday life (pages 55–56)

IU4.3 Compare traditional stories Les contes de fées (pages 26–30)

IU4.4 Learn about ways of travelling to the country/countries

Planning a holiday (pages 44–47)

IU5.1 Look at further aspects of their everyday lives from the perspective of someone from another country

Guided sheet – What I know about France (page 68)See also, French Day evaluation sheet (pages 86–87)

IU5.2 Recognize similarities and differences between places

Throughout bookPlanning a holiday (pages 44–47) – comparing two localitiesCuisine française (pages 64–68)

IU5.3 Compare symbols, objects or products which represent their own culture with those of another country

Symbols of France (pages 40–43)Cuisine française (pages 64–68)Planning a holiday (pages 44–47) – develop from locality discussion

IU6.1 Compare attitudes towards aspects of everyday life

La rentrée (pages 50–54)Comparing pastimes and everyday life (pages 55–56)Role models for children (page 63)Cuisine française (pages 64–68)

IU6.2 Recognize and understand some of the differences between people

Throughout book – comparing how people celebrateHow is French culture incorporated into our everyday lives? (pages 48–49) – develop cultural diversity discussion from guided sheet (page 49)Challenging stereotypes (pages 61–62)

IU6.3 Present information about an aspect of culture

Children can be encouraged to develop plays, songs and dances from the information taught about French cultureThey can use ICT (for example, PowerPoint) to present information for a given audienceCan possibly be used for transition information/ assessment

Analysis by objective

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DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA AND USA AS AN E-BOOK BY TRALCO-LINGO FUN.

French Festivals and Traditions© Nicolette Hannam, Michelle Williams and Brilliant Publications 13

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Crêpes Ingredients190 g fl our 375 g whole milk2 large eggs 45 g sugara little salt75 ml unsalted butter, melted

Instructions◆ Put the sieve on top of the bowl.

◆ Put the fl our in the sieve and into the bowl.

◆ Add a little salt.

◆ Put two eggs in another bowl. Mix.

◆ Put the milk in the bowl with the eggs.

◆ Put the eggs and the milk in the bowl with the fl our. Add the sugar.

◆ Mix.

◆ Add the melted butter.

◆ Mix again and start cooking!

◆ Bon appetit!

Ingrédients190 g de farine375 g de lait entier2 gros œufs45 g de sucreune pincée de sel75 g de beurre doux (fondu)

Instructions◆ Mettez le tamis au-dessus du saladier.

◆ Mettez la farine dans le tamis et dans le saladier.

◆ Ajoutez une pincée de sel.

◆ Mettez deux œufs dans un autre saladier. Mélangez.

◆ Mettez le lait dans le saladier avec les œufs.

◆ Mettez les œufs et le lait dans le saladier avec la farine. Ajoutez le sucre.

◆ Mélangez.

◆ Ajoutez le beurre (fondu).

◆ Mélangez encore et commencez à cuire les crêpes.

◆ Bon appétit!

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SAMPLE

French Festivals and Traditions© Nicolette Hannam, Michelle Williams and Brilliant Publications14

La ChandeleurNom: Date:

I learned about the tradition of La Chandeleur and how it is celebrated in France.

Draw and label the pancake topping that you would choose in a French café.

février / February

Describe what a crêpe tastes like.Draw and label some of the ingredients in a crêpe. Use French, if possible.

Extension activities◆ Can you compare and contrast how you celebrate Pancake Day?

◆ Write a letter to a real or imaginary French person to tell them how you celebrate.

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SAMPLE

French Festivals and Traditions© Nicolette Hannam, Michelle Williams and Brilliant Publications 15

La Saint-ValentinValentine’s Day

Background informationValentine’s Day, on 14th February, is celebrated in France as in this country! People send romantic cards and presents to each other.

Here is a traditional French Valentine’s Day poem:

Que l’on est si bien It’s so good to be togetherLe jour de la Saint-Valentin On Saint Valentine’s DayPrès de notre bien-aimée With the one you love.Que l’on veut aimer.

Teaching activities◆ Make a valentine’s day card or poster. Write some words

on the board to help:

Words for Valentine’s Day cards Joyeuse Saint-Valentin Happy Valentine’s Day Cher… Dear … (boy) Chère ... Dear … (girl) Bisous Love from

◆ Make une cocotte – a ‘Chatterbox’ fi nger game (see page 16 for instructions).

Here are some suggestions for things that could be written inside:

Je t’aime I love/like you Je ne t’aime pas I don’t love/like you Je t’adore I love you Tu es super You’re great Sors avec moi Go out with me Veux-tu m’épouser? Will you marry me? Comment t’appelles-tu? What is your name?

◆ Pupils could use any French vocabulary they have learned for the words on the outside fl aps, eg colours, numbers etc.

◆ Children could use the guided sheet on page 17 to design a Valentine’s Day card or poster using French vocabulary.

février / February

Vocabulairel’amour lovel’amitié friendshipJe t’aime I love/like youJe ne t’aime I don’t love/like pas youJe t’adore I adore youVeux-tu Will you marry m’épouser? me?joyeuse Saint- Happy Valentine’s Valentin Daycher… dear … (boy)chère ... dear (girl)bisous love fromtu es super you’re greatsors avec moi go out with meComment What’s your t’appelles-tu? name?

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SAMPLE