Describing Physical Features

Overview

This 20-minute French lesson introduces Year 3 pupils to vocabulary and simple phrases for describing physical features, aligned with the National Curriculum for Languages (MFL) for Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6). The focus is on recognising, pronouncing, and using simple descriptive words about people’s appearances.

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National Curriculum Links

• KS2 Languages Programme of Study:
  • Pupils listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding.
  • Pupils engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others.
  • Pupils develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases.
  • Pupils broaden their vocabulary and develop ability to describe people, places, things, and actions orally.

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT: Use simple French vocabulary and phrases to describe physical features.
• WALT: Recognise and pronounce key words linked to describing people’s appearances.

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Success Criteria

Pupils will be able to:

• Recognise and say vocabulary related to physical features (e.g., grand, petit, cheveux longs, yeux bleus).
• Respond to simple questions about physical description using learned words and phrases.
• Read aloud key vocabulary and short phrases with correct pronunciation.
• Understand simple phrases describing physical appearances when heard.

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Resources Needed

• Interactive presentation (PowerPoint / Google Slides) with simple, dyslexia-friendly slides.
• Flashcards depicting physical features with French words.
• Mini whiteboards and markers.
• Audio clips of pronunciation by a native French speaker.

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Lesson Plan Outline

Starter (3 minutes)

• Activity: “Simon dit” (French Simon Says) - Physical Features
  Show flashcards of physical features one-by-one (e.g., les cheveux longs, les yeux verts). Pupils only do the action if you say “Simon dit” + the phrase. This tunes ears into pronunciation and vocabulary.
• Differentiation: Use visual aids and gestures emphasising each feature for learners needing more support.

Presentation (7 minutes)

• Slide 1: Title – Décrire les caractéristiques physiques (Describe physical features) with colourful cartoon characters.
• Slide 2-7: Introduce vocabulary one at a time, e.g.,
  • grand / petite (tall / short)
  • les cheveux longs / courts (long / short hair)
  • les yeux bleus / verts (blue / green eyes)
  • les lunettes (glasses)
  • un nez / une bouche (nose / mouth)
    Each slide shows a picture and the word in large, clear font (using a dyslexia-friendly font like Open Dyslexic). Include an audio button for native speaker pronunciation.
• Slide 8: Simple sentences combining vocabulary:
  • Il a les cheveux longs.
  • Elle est petite.
• Emphasise pronunciation with repetition and choral reading.

Main Activity (8 minutes)

• Pair Work: Guess Who?
  Pupils receive a picture of a cartoon person. Using mini whiteboards, they write one or two French phrases describing the person (e.g., Il est grand. / Elle a les yeux verts.).
• Pairs take turns reading their descriptions aloud. Other pairs guess who is being described, reinforcing listening and speaking skills.
• Teacher circulates for support and pronunciation help.
• Differentiation: Provide sentence starters on coloured paper strips for pupils needing support. For more confident learners, encourage use of adjectives in negative form (e.g., Il n’a pas les cheveux courts).

Plenary (2 minutes)

• Recap with whole-class oral quiz using flashcards. Pupils shout out the French word for the displayed physical feature.
• Ask a few pupils to say one sentence describing themselves or a friend in French.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Supporting learners: Use visual aids, gestures, and sentence starters. Pair lower-attaining pupils with confident peers for speaking tasks.
• For pupils with dyslexia: Use dyslexia-friendly fonts and colour backgrounds on slides and worksheets. Provide audio support and allow extra time for reading tasks. Simplify written material and use clear, large print.
• Advanced learners: Introduce gender agreements and plural forms (e.g., Il est grand / Elle est grande, Ils ont les cheveux longs). Challenge them to ask and answer questions about physical descriptions using Est-ce que...? structure.

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Extension Activities

• Creative Drawing and Description: Pupils draw a person and write or orally describe their creation in French with learned vocabulary.
• Role-play: Pupils work in pairs conducting short dialogues using questions like Il est comment? / Elle est comment? and answering using descriptive phrases.
• Memory Game: Create pairs of cards (image–word) for pupils to play a matching game to reinforce vocabulary.

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Assessment

• Ongoing formative assessment during pair activities listening for correct pronunciation and appropriate use of vocabulary.
• Use mini whiteboards to quickly check understanding of vocabulary with written or drawn responses.
• Teacher observation during plenary quiz and oral descriptions to assess participation and pronunciation accuracy.

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Notes for Teachers

• Keep language input clear and repeat key phrases frequently.
• Encourage a positive, supportive environment to build confidence with speaking French.
• Use praise and visual rewards to motivate participation.
• Adjust pace based on pupil responses and engagement.

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By following this detailed plan, pupils will develop foundational French skills in describing physical attributes while building confidence in speaking and listening, fully aligned with the statutory KS2 language curriculum.