Discovering+France

What image does the word [|'France'] conjure up in your mind? Whether it's [|frogs' legs], [|the Eiffel Tower] or [|Napoleon], each person will have their own ideas about the country often referred to as [|'l'Hexagone'] because of its six-sided shape.

In the autumn term of 2005, Y3 pupils, (new to learning a foreign language), were asked just exactly what the word [|'France'] meant to them. Their suggestions were collected on the Interactive Whiteboard...



What would you have suggested? Perhaps something in this youtube video maybe? Watch and see just how many famous French icons you can recognise. Be warned though - the pictures change very fast! media type="custom" key="5446005"

By the end of the academic year 2005-2006, Y3 pupils produced a beautiful, informative corridor display all about [|France], a country they could now locate easily using a [|map of Europe]. They researched interesting facts about the [|Eiffel Tower]; learned how to play the traditional game of [|'boules']; recreated [|'The Snail' by Matisse]; wrote about the very famous bicycle race 'Le Tour de France'; and found out about Bury's twin town of [|Angoulême] and its comic-book history. Pupils also used some of their newly acquired French language skills to write about key players from the French World Cup squad including their names, ages and birthdays.

Here are some photographs of that display... media type="custom" key="5446417" Once taken down, much of the pupils' display work was collated into a big book, which can be viewed in school at any time. Alternatively, you might prefer to browse this selection of pages... media type="custom" key="6526957"

 Did you know that France is often referred to as 'the capital of cheese'?

It's hardly surprising when you realise there are approximately 400 varieties to choose from - that's one for every day of the year and some to spare!

Find out more about some of the most popular cheeses by clicking on [|this interactive map.]

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">media type="custom" key="5809283" align="right" width="88" height="107"A Swiss cheese called Gruyère is normally used to make a delicious ham and cheese toasted sandwich known as [|Le Croque Monsieur.]

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">You'll see them on menus in pavement cafés all over France.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;"> <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">Here's a recipe in English for you to print; why not ask your parents if they'll help you to make one for lunch? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">They're really very tasty.

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<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">After the [|Revolution] and the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the motto of France became 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité', which means 'Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood'.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">[|Marianne], the lady seen in the motto above and in this picture entitled 'Liberty leading the people' by famous French artist [|Eugene Delacroix], became one of the country's national symbols. Her image can be seen on former currency (the franc) as well as on stamps, postcards, government logos and many sculptures.

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<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">Other emblems of France include the lily (le fleur-de-lis) that you will see used in stamps as well as in several departmental flags; and the cockerel (le coq) that you will see on stamps, former currency and on the sportswear of the French national teams. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;"> <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">A song called 'La Marseillaise' is the country's national anthem... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">media type="custom" key="4465863"

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">media type="custom" key="5829323" align="right"French people are so very patriotic that you will even hear the crowds singing out loud at sports stadiums across the country. Just take a look at this short video taken from the terraces of [|'Le Stade de France'] in Paris during the 2007 Rugby World Cup - France versus Argentina game. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;"> <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">If you want to find out lots more interesting facts about France, its people, its history and its culture, then the French Embassy website, [|'Just 4 kids'] is definitely worth a look. Just click on any of the small images on the kiosk to find out all kinds of information including sections on Le Tour de France, the TGV rail network and even theme parks! <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">Talking of kids, what's life like for them in France? [|This page on the thinkquest website] reveals the daily routine of an 8 year old boy in Paris.

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;">The [|Woodlands Junior School website] is another super source of information about our closest neighbour.

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;">And a visit to the [|Euroclub Schools website] is also highly recommended if you're hungry to find out yet more!

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">It's also well worth while listening to this short podcast about France created by the Sunderland primary MFL team. In it you'll find out lots of information about the geography, landscape and climate of the country as well as some interesting facts about the record-breaking speed of [|'les trains à grande vitesse.'] media type="custom" key="6526889"

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">Now that you're an expert on all things French, you might media type="custom" key="6459787" align="right" <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">like to test your knowledge with this Mystudiyo quiz...