Bonjour! A Fun Introduction to French Language and Culture

Kinder / Preschool / ELC Lesson Plan – Learning French Language, Reggio Emilia philosophy

Title: “Bonjour! A Fun Introduction to French Language and Culture”

Age Group: Kindergarten / Preschool / Early Learning Centre (4-5 years old)

Learning Framework: Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) – Australia

Educational Approach: Reggio Emilia Method

Learning Outcomes (Based on EYLF):

1. Children have a strong sense of identity: Children will learn to express simple greetings and phrases in French, building self-confidence and personal achievement.
2. Children are connected with and contribute to their world: By introducing French culture and language, children will gain awareness and respect for cultural diversity.
3. Children have a strong sense of wellbeing: Through tackling a new language, children’s resilience, persistence, and adaptability will be fostered.
4. Children are confident and involved learners: Exploration of new sounds, phrases, and cultural aspects fosters curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving.
5. Children are effective communicators: Learning to express themselves in a different language develops children’s communication skills.

Resources Needed:

• Picture cards with French words
• Audio recordings of French words and phrases
• Interactive whiteboard or projector
• Art supplies for creating vocabulary cards

Lesson Plan:

1. Introduction to French Language (20-25 minutes):

Start with introducing the French language to the children. Play audio recordings of simple French words and phrases, like greetings, numbers, colours, and everyday objects. Encourage children to listen and repeat the words after the recordings.

2. Interactive Learning (15-20 minutes):

Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to display pictures of common objects and their corresponding French words. Encourage participation by conducting interactive activities like matching words to images and playing simple language games to reinforce vocabulary.

3. Art Activity: Visual Vocabulary Cards (20-25 minutes):

Provide art supplies for children to create their own visual vocabulary cards. They can draw pictures of the items they’ve learned about and write the corresponding French words. This activity combines creativity with language learning, reinforcing the newly learned vocabulary through visual and tactile experiences.

4. Sharing and Reflection (15-20 minutes):

Invite children to share their visual vocabulary cards with the class and practice saying the French words aloud. Reflect on the learning experience, discussing the importance of understanding different languages and cultures.

Assessment:

Assess children’s participation in the interactive learning and art activities, their pronunciation of French words, and their understanding of the multicultural values discussed.

Alignment with Reggio Emilia Method:

This lesson plan incorporates key aspects of the Reggio Emilia approach, such as self-directed and experiential learning, the integration of arts, and a focus on understanding and respecting diverse cultures.

Link to EYLF:

This lesson addresses “Children have a strong sense of identity” (expressing greetings in French), “Children are connected with and contribute to their world” (gaining an appreciation of French culture), “Children have a strong sense of wellbeing” (engaging in a new learning experience), “Children are confident and involved learners” (exploring a new language), and “Children are effective communicators” (practicing speaking and listening in a new language).