Languages and literacy
Francophone files: explore two French-speaking places
Research one place where French is an official language, compare it with a partner’s place and write a short postcard in French. Country-file prompts cover a capital, continent, languages, food, celebration, landmark and a source for each fact.
Read the material
Research one place where French is an official language, compare it with a partner’s place and write a short postcard in French. Country-file prompts cover a capital, continent, languages, food, celebration, landmark and a source for each fact.
Activity. Use the preview for diagrams and layout.
Page 1
NAME CLASS DATE LEARNING GOAL Find out how French is part of life in places around the world. SUCCESS CRITERIA I can research and record facts about one place. I can compare two French-speaking places. I can write a short postcard in French. French is an official language in many places, including these six. Tick one stop to research. No. 1 France No. 2 Belgium No. 3 Switzerland No. 4 Canada No. 5 Senegal No. 6 Côte d'Ivoire French cultural spot and country exploration F R E N C H A G E S 11 TO 1 4 C U LT U R E A N D C O U N T R I E S Francophone files A travelling exhibition: research one French-speaking place. 1 Choose your exhibition stop Gallery 1 2 Open the country file Archive 10 marks One fact on each line, from an atlas or a source your teacher shares. E.G. LANDMARK the Eiffel Tower in Paris, completed in 1889 COUNTRY CAPITAL CONTINENT LANGUAGES FOOD CELEBRATION ITS DATE LANDMARK IN FRENCH MEANING a One thing that surprised me, and why: MY SOURCE COUNTRY FILE NO. ___ SKETCH THE LANDMARK 2 Write 3 Teacher 1 Research Page 1 of 2
Page 2
Use your file and a partner's. These three exhibits can help. 1 2 FEBRUARY La Chandeleur in France, traditionally celebrated with crêpes 2 24 JUNE Quebec's Fête nationale, in Canada 3 14 JULY The national day of France EXHIBIT PLACE A: PLACE B: A celebration and date A landmark A food a One way the two places are similar: b One way they are different: Read the model aloud. Then write your own postcard in French from the place you researched. Model postcard: about 40 words Write your postcard in French Checklist: a greeting, your name, where you live, a celebration or landmark, a question, a thank you. Go further: add a sentence about food with nous mangeons (we eat). French cultural spot and country exploration F R E N C H F R A N C O P H O N E F I L E S C O M PA R E A N D W R I T E Two places, one language 3 Compare two French-speaking places Gallery 2 8 marks 4 Send a postcard home Studio 10 marks Bonjour Léa ! Je m'appelle Sam et j'habite à Paris. Aujourd'hui, c'est le 2 février, la Chandeleur. À la maison, nous mangeons des crêpes. Demain, je visite la tour Eiffel avec ma famille. Ça va ? Merci beaucoup pour ta lettre ! À bientôt, Sam PHRASEBOOK Bonjour Hello Je m'appelle... My name is... J'habite à... I live in... Ça va ? How are you? Merci beaucoup Thank you very much Bonne fête ! Happy celebration! TO STAMP 1 Research 3 Teacher 2 Write Page 2 of 2
Page 1
Francophone files: explore two French-speaking places Teacher companion French | Pupils aged 11 to 14 Use with the exact 2-page original file. Keep pupil or staff activity pages separate from this teacher companion. When to use it Use after pupils can locate places on an atlas and have practised the postcard phrases. Model how to find a reliable source and distinguish a fact about a place from a generalisation about everyone who lives there. Purpose Research and compare two French-speaking places, recording sourced facts and writing a short postcard in French. Start here Choose one of the six suggested places and open an atlas or a source shared by the teacher. A teaching sequence 1. Choose a place where French is an official language and research its capital, continent, languages, food, celebration, date and landmark. Record sources for each set of facts. 2. Sketch the landmark and note one surprising fact, checking names and dates against reliable sources. Compare with a partner without generalising about a whole population. 3. Use the French model and phrasebook to write a short postcard with greeting, name, where you live, landmark or celebration, question and thanks. 4. Use the checklist, then add the optional food sentence. Ask, “Which source confirms the date?” Verify place details before sharing. Checking guidance Check that each research fact has a source and that the place name, language status, landmark and celebration date are accurate. Look for a comparison grounded in the facts gathered rather than a broad claim about a culture. Review the postcard for the listed features and intelligible French. Use a fact-and-source check for each research row, then review the postcard against its greeting, introduction, place, landmark/celebration, question and thanks. Do not require disclosure of a real home address. Support Provide a map, a small set of trusted sources and a vocabulary list. Pupils can record short notes before drafting sentences and use the phrasebook for openings. Encourage specific wording such as “this celebration is observed on…” rather than claiming that everyone celebrates it. Take it further Ask pupils to compare how French is used in two places, including other languages spoken there. They can add a short source note in French or investigate how a celebration or landmark has changed over time. Things to keep in mind A country or region contains many communities and languages; one landmark, food or celebration cannot represent everyone. Facts and official-language status should be checked against reliable current sources. The example postcard is a model, not a full account of life in Paris. Francophone files: explore two French-speaking places Teacher companion | Page 1
A teaching sequence
Research and compare two French-speaking places, recording sourced facts and writing a short postcard in French.
Research a named place
Choose a place where French is an official language and research its capital, continent, languages, food, celebration, date and landmark. Record sources for each set of facts.
Which reliable source supports each recorded fact and language status?
Compare specific details
Sketch the landmark and note one surprising fact, checking names and dates against reliable sources. Compare with a partner without generalising about a whole population.
Which date or landmark have you checked without generalising about everyone?
Write from your place file
Use the French model and phrasebook to write a short postcard with greeting, name, where you live, landmark or celebration, question and thanks.
Does the postcard use details belonging to the place you researched?
Check the French and facts
Use the checklist, then add the optional food sentence. Verify place details before sharing.
Which source confirms the celebration date before you share it?
Before you teach
Look for the thinking behind an answer, choose the support your class needs and leave room for an independent response.
What to look for
Check that each research fact has a source and that the place name, language status, landmark and celebration date are accurate. Look for a comparison grounded in the facts gathered rather than a broad claim about a culture. Review the postcard for the listed features and intelligible French. Use a fact-and-source check for each research row, then review the postcard against its greeting, introduction, place, landmark/celebration, question and thanks. Do not require disclosure of a real home address.
Give a little support
Provide a map, a small set of trusted sources and a vocabulary list. Pupils can record short notes before drafting sentences and use the phrasebook for openings. Encourage specific wording such as “this celebration is observed on…” rather than claiming that everyone celebrates it.
Take the idea further
Ask pupils to compare how French is used in two places, including other languages spoken there. They can add a short source note in French or investigate how a celebration or landmark has changed over time.
Things to keep in mind
A country or region contains many communities and languages; one landmark, food or celebration cannot represent everyone. Facts and official-language status should be checked against reliable current sources. The example postcard is a model, not a full account of life in Paris.
Keep the idea. Make it yours.
Bring your topic, learning goal and class context to PLAI™, then review what you create.
Ideas to try with your class
Sample teaching perspectives on what to try, what to adapt and what to watch for.
Meet The Creators
Meet a creator whose teaching interests connect with this template.
Storytime Sidekick
Pupils choose one of six French-speaking places, research sourced facts and compare it with a partner’s exhibit before writing a postcard in French. The fields ask for a source alongside country, languages, food, celebration and landmark.
Extra Page
For ages 11 to 14, the exhibition format links research and a short written message. The model names distinct dates for La Chandeleur, Quebec’s Fête nationale and France’s national day, showing why a place label matters in the comparison.
Chalk & Chai
The source line gives the pupil somewhere to record where each fact came from, while the model postcard can be read aloud before drafting. A landmark sketch offers an additional way to capture the researched place.
Reread Reminder
The six examples do not represent every Francophone community or the full life of a country. Verify facts with suitable sources and keep celebrations attached to their stated places and dates rather than generalising about all French speakers.