LITTLE FLOWER SCHOOL FRENCH LANGUAGE CURRICULUM FOR GRADES 1 – 5
GOAL: The primary goal of the French curriculum at Little Flower School is to foster a love of the French language and culture. Classes meet twice a week; first, second and third grades for thirty minutes, fourth and fifth grade, for forty minutes.
METHODOLOGY: A wide variety of methodologies are used in order to accommodate all learning styles. Topical units are introduced using the TPR (Total Physical Response) method. Stories, nursery rhymes, videos, games, songs and skits are also used to further develop these units.
ASSESSMENT: Competency assessment is built around the four pillars of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading and writing. * Listening and speaking: classroom participation – dialogs – storytelling and role‐play – miscellaneous activities (50 %) * Speaking, reading and writing: Age‐appropriate research projects and presentations (20%) * Reading and writing: ‘Me’ booklet [grades 1 and 2 only] – Quizzes and essays [grades 4 and 5 only] (30%)
RELIGION: Prayers are taught in the following sequence: First and second grades: ‘Signe de Croix’, ‘Notre Père’ Third grade: ‘Je Vous Salue, Marie’ Fourth and fifth grades: ‘Gloire Soit À Dieu’
CULTURE: Francophone culture is taught as an integral part of the class. Differences and similarities with American culture are discussed whenever appropriate. The following French holidays are celebrated: la Toussaint, la Noël, l’Épiphanie, la Chandeleur, Pâques, la Fête du Travail.
ACADEMICS: French is taught using a thematic, content‐based approach that integrates other subject areas and makes learning contextual and fun.
First Grade:
1. Les Salutations (Salutations) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Greeting others b. Content objective: Making friends
2. Les Formes et les Couleurs (Shapes and Colors) a. Language objective: Vocabulary b. Content objectives: Blending colors (art) 3. Les Nombres de 1 à 20 (Numbers 1 to 20) a. Language objectives: Counting b. Content objectives: Sequencing, grouping (math) 4. Les Parties du Corps (Parts of the Body) a. Language objectives: Self‐description b. Content objective: The five senses (social studies)
Second Grade:
1. Les Animaux (Animals) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary ‐ simple sentences: ‘je porte’ b. Content objectives: Animals and their young, animal attributes: size, sounds, method of locomotion, habitat (science) 2. Le Calendrier (Calendar) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – The day’s date b. Content objective: Graphing birthdays (math) 3. Le Temps et les Saisons (Weather and Seasons) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – The day’s weather b. Content objective: Charting weather patterns (science) 4. Les Vêtements (Clothing) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Descriptions b. Content objective: Matching clothing and seasons
Third Grade:
1. La Nourriture (Food) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary ‐ Simple sentences: ‘je mange’ b. Content objectives: Nutrition, food groups and food pyramid (science) – meals and parts of the day (social studies) 2. La Famille (Family) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary ‐ Simple sentences: ‘j’aime’ b. Content objective: ‘Family tree’ project (social studies) 3. La Maison (My House) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Simple sentences: ‘j’habite’ b. Content objectives: ‘knowing my home address’ homework 4. L’École (School) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Simple sentences: ‘j’étudie’ b. Content objectives: ‘What I like about school’ discussion
Fourth and Fifth Grades The fourth and Fifth grades use the textbook, French is Fun, to study grammar and sentence structure. The thematic unit approach of the earlier grades is used to reinforce the grammar rules from the textbook. Stories are also used to stretch the units and make them fun.
Fourth Grade:
Grammar: Definite and indefinite articles, descriptive adjectives, negative sentences, interrogative sentences, personal pronouns, conjugation of the ER verbs, conjugation of the irregular verbs ‘être’ (to be) and ‘avoir’ (to have).
Topical Units: 1. Les Objets de Classe (Classroom Objects) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Grammar: definite and indefinite articles – descriptive adjectives b. Content objective: ‘What is in my backpack?’ presentation
2. Les Nombres de 1 à 100 (Numbers 1 to 100) a. Language objectives: Spelling numbers – Grammar: ‘combien’ ‐ negative sentences b. Content objectives: Multiplication and division (math)
3. L’Heure (Telling Time) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Grammar: ‘Quelle heure est‐il?” – ‘À quelle heure?’ ‐ Interrogative sentences b. Content objectives: military time ‐ time zones (social studies)
4. Les Activités (Activities) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Grammar: ER verbs – verbs ‘être’ and ‘avoir’ – personal pronouns b. Content objectives: character straits ‐ story arc [with stories] (language arts)
Fifth Grade:
Grammar: Review of all grammar rules studied in fourth grade. Possessive adjectives; question words; use of ‘c’est’ and ‘ce sont’; conjugation of the irregular verbs ‘faire’ (to do) and ‘aller’ (to go); conjugation of IR verbs.
Topical Units: 1. La Famille (Family) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary (review) – Grammar: possessive adjectives b. Content objective: Research and present in class the life of a family member or ancestor (language arts)
2. Les Professions (Trades and Professions) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary – Grammar: question words b. Content objective: ‘When I grow up’ essay (language arts)
3. Le Temps et Les Vêtements (Weather and Clothing) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary (review) – Grammar: ‘c’est’ and ‘ce sont’ – Irregular verbs ‘faire’ and ‘aller’ b. Content objective: ‘Describe what you are wearing’ fashion show
4. Les Parties du Corps et Les Sports (Parts of the Body and Sports) a. Language objectives: Vocabulary (review) – Grammar: IR verbs b. Content objective: ‘My favorite sport’ oral presentation