Bonjour, Les Enfants!

Overview

Subject: French

Grade: 1st Grade

Duration: 60 minutes

Curriculum Area: World Languages - Introduction to French

Standards: Meeting the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Standards for Elementary Learners: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Objectives

• Familiarize students with basic French greetings and introductions
• Engage students in interactive activities to practice pronunciation
• Develop an appreciation for the French language and culture

Materials Needed

• Flashcards with simple French words (Bonjour, Au revoir, Comment ça va?, etc.)
• Images representing the words on flashcards
• Hand puppets for role-playing
• A globe or world map
• Markers, crayons, papers
• Audio recordings of native speakers pronouncing the greetings
• Whiteboard and markers

Lesson Activities

1. Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Introduction:

• Teacher Greeting:
  • Start by welcoming students back from vacation.
  • Transition into introducing the new language class by saying "Bonjour" (Hello in French).

Interactive Question:

• Ask the students if they know any French words already.
• Show France on the globe or map and explain that French is spoken there.

Hook Activity:

• Play an audio clip of a French child saying "Bonjour!"
• Invite students to repeat the word after the audio clip.

2. Vocabulary Introduction (15 minutes)

Flashcard Activity:

• Show flashcards with basic French greetings such as “Bonjour” (Hello), “Au revoir” (Goodbye), “Merci” (Thank you), “S'il vous plaît” (Please).
• Associate each word with an image for visual learners.
• Have students repeat each word.

Gesture Matching:

• Pair the words with simple gestures (e.g., wave hand for "Bonjour").
• Practice the gestures with the students to reinforce memorization.

3. Pronunciation Practice (10 minutes)

Choral Repetition:

• Use hand puppets to simulate a conversation in French.
• Have two puppets say "Bonjour. Comment ça va?" and another responds with "Ça va bien, merci” (I’m fine, thank you).
• Let students practice these phrases in pairs using the puppets.

Pronunciation Games:

• Conduct a "Simon Says" game using French phrases.
• This will make pronunciation practice fun and engaging.

4. Role-Playing Activity (15 minutes)

Role-Playing Scenarios:

• Divide students into small groups (2-3 students).
• Give each group a simple scenario (e.g., meeting for the first time, saying goodbye).
• Encourage students to use the vocabulary they learned to act out these scenarios.

Group Presentation:

• Each group comes to the front and presents their role-play.
• Provide positive feedback and gentle corrections.

5. Art Integration (10 minutes)

Creative Activity:

• Hand out paper, markers, and crayons.
• Ask students to draw a picture that includes them saying “Bonjour” to a friend.
• Write the word “Bonjour” on their drawings to connect vocabulary with visual art.

6. Conclusion and Review (10 minutes)

Circle Time Recap:

• Gather students in a circle.
• Recap the vocabulary words learned using flashcards.
• Ask students to say each word and perform the corresponding gesture.

Homework Assignment:

• Give students a simple homework task: Teach one family member how to say “Bonjour” and “Au revoir” in French.
• Encourage them to come back with a report on who they taught and how it went.

7. Reflection and Closure

• Teacher Reflection:

  • Reflect on student engagement and participation.
  • Note areas where students excelled or needed more support.

• Student Reflection:

  • Each student shares one thing they enjoyed about the lesson.
  • Encourage an interactive discussion on how they felt about learning a new language.

Assessment

• Informal observations during activities and role-playing
• Participation in class
• Ability to recall and correctly pronounce vocabulary words

Extensions

• Plan for a French culture day where students can learn about French food, music, and customs.
• Incorporate French songs and nursery rhymes into future lessons.

This lesson is designed to be interactive, engaging, and fun, ensuring that students leave the classroom not only with new vocabulary but with a love for the language and a curiosity about the culture.