Kindergarten

We have been singing a song about spring and learning some words and phrases related to spring.

The kindergartners created an illustration of the song and have brought their drawings home. The song is 

on the front or back of their drawing. I've also included it below.

Some of the words and phrases we've been using in games and activities:

une fleur (ewn fleur): a flower

un papillon (un pah pee yon): a butterfly (a word they heard in The Very Hungry Caterpillar)

une abeille (ewn ahbey):  a bee

Il pleut (eel pleuh): It's raining

C’est le printemps! Sung to the tune of Frère Jacques Song in French C’est le printemps (x2) Il y a des fleurs (x2) et des papillons et des abeilles dans mon jardin (x2) Sounds like say luh prenten (x2) eel ya day fleur (x2) ay day pahpeeyon et daze ahbay dan mon jarden (x2) English It’s spring (x2) there are flowers (x2) and butterflies and bees in my garden (x2) Happy Spring! Erika (Madame)

Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders have been using expressions related to how they are feeling through Muzzy and whole class games.

I've included them below.

French	Sounds like	English
J’ai faim.	jay fe(n)	I’m hungry.
J’ai soif.	jay swaf	I’m thirsty.
J’ai froid.	jay frwa	I’m cold.
J’ai chaud.	jay show	I’m hot.
J’ai peur.	jay purr	I’m scared.
J’ai mal	Jay mahl	Something hurts.
J’ai mal à la tête.	jay mahl ah la tet	I have a headache.
J’ai mal au ventre.	jay mahl oh ventre	I have a stomach ache.
J’ai mal au dos.	jay mahl oh doh	My back hurts.
J’ai mal au genou.	jay mahl oh juhnoo	My knee hurts.

Surprise your kids by using one of these expressions in French and see if they can tell you how you're feeling!

Grades 3 (FES) and 3/4 (MES)

The third (FES) and third and fourth graders (MES) heard a silly story about a boy in search of a cheese sandwich. They are now working as a class on creating a menu for a restaurant. They can add additional items if they want and will each name their own restaurant.

Grades 4/5(FES) and 5/6 (MES)

The fourth (FES) and fifth and sixth graders (MES) are or will be creating menus in French. They may choose to create a menu for a restaurant in France, Quebec or Senegal. Stay tuned!

 Kindergarten

The kindergartners have heard or will hear the story of Pat le chat:  J'adore mes souliers blancs (Pete the Cat: I love my White Shoes). You can hear the story in French here. I have simplified it slightly. 

They continue to dance and sing to "J'aime les fruits." 

The kindergartners celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) the week before February break. They decorated crowns and learned about some of the traditions around Mardi Gras.

The Kindergartners celebrated "la chandeleur," similar to Groundhog Day by eating crepes, a tradition in France. We talked about the different ways to fold a crepe and all the yummy things you can put in a crepe.

                        

We have been listening to a silly song about fruit called "J'aime les fruits" (I like/love fruit).  You can listen to it by clicking here.

J'aime (sounds like "jem"):  I like

les pommes (sounds like "lay pum"): apples

les bananes (sounds like "lay bahnahn): bananas

les pêches (sounds like "lay pesh"): peaches

les fraises (sounds like "lay fre"): strawberries

les poires (sounds like "lay pwar"): pears

les oranges (sounds like "laze ohran"): oranges

Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) before February break. They ate king cake (la galette des rois) and learned about / reviewed some of the traditions around Mardi Gras.

We continue  to watch Muzzy.  Below are a few words and phrases they have heard. Some of these they've heard in other contexts.

Combien (sounds like "kombee-en")- How many

cent (sounds like "suhn")- 100

Je ne sais pas (sounds like "juhn say pah")- I don't know

J'ai (sounds like "jay") - I have

Grade 3 (FES) and Grades 3 and (MES)

We will be starting a story about a man in search of a cheese sandwich. It includes vocabulary related to ordering in a restaurant, including some foods and key phrases. You can read the story here, however each class chose a different name for the main character.

The 3rd and 4th graders celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) before February break. They ate king cake (la galette des rois) and learned about / reviewed some of the traditions around Mardi Gras. 

Grades 4/5 (FES) and Grades 5/6 (MES)

The students have worked in small groups on a story which takes place in a restaurant. They have or will share their stories and the class will choose one story we will use to learn vocabulary related to ordering in a restaurant.  There are some budding novelists and a lot of imagination in these classes!

Grades 4/5 and 5/6 celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) before February break. They ate king cake (la galette des rois) and learned about / reviewed some of the traditions around Mardi Gras.

 Bonne Année!  Happy New Year!

You have probably seen your child's report card. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions (elindberg@huusd.org)

Kindergarten

The kindergartners have been learning vocabulary related to winter through a short Peppa Pig video.

Below are the words and phrases they've heard. Remember hearing the vocabulary does not mean they can necessarily produce the words and phrases on demand.

Il neige (eel nej) - It's snowing

un bonnet (un bo-nay) - a hat (the kind you wear outside)

des mitaines (day mee-ten) - mittens (Canadian French); des moufles (day moofluh) - French French

une echarpe (ewn aysharp) - a scarf

court (koor) - run/runs

saute (sote) - jump/jumps

une boule de neige (ewn bool duh nej) - a  snowball

tombe (tomb - b is pronounced) - fall/falls

un bonhomme de neige (un bunum duh nej) - a snowman

Je suis désolé(e) (juh swee day-zo-lay) - I'm sorry

They came home (or will come home) with "un bonhomme de neige" (a snowman) they made.

They named their snowman using the sentence starter "Je m'appelle" (sounds like "juh mah pell")

Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders have finished activities related to "Simon's Cat - Snow Business, " however the vocabulary will be popping up in other contexts.

We will be starting Muzzy soon, a video series in French the second graders are familiar with. Some of you may even have watched it when you were in school. It introduces kids to high frequency (common) words and phrases through a story that kids enjoy. The 5th and 6th graders continue to ask to watch it! Stay tune...

We have also begun using Linguascope a bit more in class. It is an online language learning tool that you are welcome to use at home as well. It is a paid subscription so I am required to ask you not to share the log in information with those outside your family. Merci!

You can log in using either Moretown's or Fayston's log in details.

MES

linguascope.com

Username: moretown

password: bobcats123

FES

linguascope.com

Username: fayston

password: foxes123

Grade 3 (FES)         Grades 3 and 4 (MES)

We have finished activities related to "Simon's Cat - Snow Business, " however the vocabulary will be popping up in other contexts.

We will be focusing on foods and ordering in a restaurant through stories, skits and technology. We have also begun/ will begin practicing numbers between 20 and 100.

We have begun / will begin using Linguascope a bit more in class. It is an online language learning tool that you are welcome to use at home as well. If you are interested in brushing up on a language other than French that is possible through Linguascope as well. It is a paid subscription so I am required to ask you not to share the log in information with those outside your family. Merci!

You can log in using either Moretown's or Fayston's log in details.

MES

linguascope.com

Username: moretown

password: bobcats123

FES

linguascope.com

Username: fayston

password: foxes123

Grade 4 and 5 (FES)     Grades 5 and 6 (MES)

We have finished activities related to "Simon's Cat - Snow Business, " however the vocabulary will be popping up in other contexts.

We will be focusing on foods and ordering in a restaurant through stories, skits and technology. We have also begun/ will begin practicing numbers between 20 and 100.

We have begun / will begin using Linguascope a bit more in class. It is an online language learning tool that you are welcome to use at home as well. If you are interested in brushing up on a language other than French that is possible through Linguascope as well. It is a paid subscription so I am required to ask you not to share the log in information with those outside your family. Merci!

You can log in using either Moretown's or Fayston's log in details.

MES

linguascope.com

Username: moretown

password: bobcats123

FES

linguascope.com

Username: fayston

password: foxes123

 Kindergarten

The kindergartners have been hearing the story The Mitten in French, based on Jan Brett's version of the classic tale.

They are creating paper mittens in which they will put the animals from the story. We have been focused on a few key words and phrases I've included below.

*  une mitaine (sounds like "ewn meeten") - a mitten  (Canadian French)

 * une mouffle (sounds like "ewn moofluh") - a mitten (European French)

I have been using the Canadian French word for mitten as it is closer to the English word and they are more likely to hear that than the European word for mitten.

* tombe (sounds like "tow mbk") - falls

* la neige (sounds like "la nej") - the snow

* J'ai froid! (sounds like "jay frwa") - I'm cold!

* une taupe (sounds like "ewn tope") - a mole

* un lapin (sounds like "un lahpen") - a rabbit

* un hibou (sounds like "un eeboo") - an owl

* un renard (sounds like "un reuhnar") - a fox

* un herisson (sounds like "un ayreeson") - hedgehog

* un blaireau (sounds like "un blay row") - a badger

* un ours (sounds like "un oors") - a bear

* une souris (sounds like "ewn sooree") - a mouse

                                                                Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders watched and listened to my narration of Simon's Cat - Snow Business.

In this humorous video a cat and bird have a snowball fight.

We  have played some games using the new vocabulary and they have received or will be receiving a small book with the story.  MES students have met with me in small groups to practice telling some of the story. FES students will be doing so next week.

You can see the book here.

       Grades 3 and 4 (FES) and 3/4 (MES)

The 3rd and 4th graders watched and listened to my narration of Simon's Cat - Snow Business.

In this humorous video a cat and bird have a snowball fight.

We  have played some games using the new vocabulary and they have received or will be receiving a small book with the story.  This is the same story that the 1/2 classes have heard but with slightly more vocabulary. 

You can see the book here.

 Grades 5 (FES) and 5/6 (MES)

The 5th and 6th graders watched and listened to my narration of Simon's Cat - Snow Business.

In this humorous video a cat and bird have a snowball fight.

We  have played some games using the new vocabulary and they have received or will be receiving a the written story with pictures from the video.  This is the same story that the younger classes have heard but with more vocabulary.  As the 4th graders at FES are in class with the 5th graders they will have the option of following the 3/4 version or the 5/6 version.

The classes at Fayston have not yet done some of the activities below since they had circus class with Troy during French class this week.

 Kindergarten

The kindergartners continue to move and play while acquiring new words and phrases. "Qui a la pomme?" (sounds like "kee ah la puhm" - Who has the apple) is a favorite.  This is just like "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" but in this scenario an apple is missing and has rolled to someone's house. One kindergartner hides the pretend apple in their hands. The others pretend to hide it. A "detective" is called to solve the mystery while we chant "Qui a la pomme?"

We've also been practicing "Good Manners Words" (listed below)  through a game I call "Une pomme, s'il vous plaît." I have a jar in which there is a small plastic apple and a small plastic bunch of carrots. I walk around the circle and each kindergartner asks me for an apple by saying:  "Une pomme, s'il vous plaît." (sounds like "ewn puhm see voo play"). When I give them the small apple they say, "Merci, madame." (sounds like, "mare see mahdahm") and I respond, "De rien." (sound like "duh ree-en." - You're welcome.) However, at some point when a kindergartner asks for an apple I pull out the carrots. When the kids see the carrots they have to move to a different spot so that the 2 people next to them are not the same people who were next to them before.  It's a simple way to get a lot of repetition without the kids knowing they're getting a lot of repetition!

Good Manners Words/Phrases

    S'il vous plaît (sounds like "see voo play") - Please

    Merci (sounds like "mare see) - Thank you

    De rien (sounds like "duh ree-en") - You're welcome

    Bienvenue (sounds like "bee-en-veuh-nu") - You're welcome    This is a French Canadian way to say         "You're welcome." It is also "Welcome." I have not used this yet in class but plan to introduce it while     also using "De rien."

We continue to dance, especially to songs that reinforce the words for body parts. The latest song we've been moving to is Ediké diké cha la la.

Around Halloween we did activities that introduced the words for pumpkin and candy. I'm happy to hear the kids still remember these words!

    une citrouille (ewn see trwee): a pumpkin

    un bonbon (uhn bonbon): a candy

Grades 1 and 2

We have been or will be practicing "Good Manners Words" (listed below)  through a game I call "Une pomme, s'il vous plaît." I have a jar in which there is a small plastic apple and a small plastic bunch of carrots. I walk around the room and each student asks me for an apple by saying:  "Une pomme, s'il vous plaît." (sounds like "ewn puhm see voo play"). When I give them the small apple they say, "Merci, madame." (sounds like, "mare see mahdahm") and I respond, "De rien." (sound like "duh ree-en." - You're welcome.) However, at some point when a student asks for an apple I pull out the carrots. When the kids see the carrots they have to move to a different chair that is not next to them. There is one less chair than students. No one is out, however.  It's a simple way to get a lot of repetition without the kids knowing they're getting a lot of repetition!

Good Manners Words/Phrases

    S'il vous plaît (sounds like "see voo play") - Please

    Merci (sounds like "mare see) - Thank you

    De rien (sounds like "duh ree-en") - You're welcome

    Bienvenue (sounds like "bee-en-veuh-nu") - You're welcome    This is a French Canadian way to say         "You're welcome." It is also "Welcome." I have not used this yet in class but plan to introduce it while     also using "De rien."

Grade 3 (FES) and Grades 3/4 (MES)

The 3rd and 4th graders have finished writing about a day in their life. They are now sharing these or will be sharing these with their class. 

Just like the younger grades we have been practicing "Good Manners Words" through a game. One student leaves the classroom, all the others close their eyes. Another student walks around the room and taps a student on the shoulder and then returns to their seat. The students open their eyes and the student in the hall is called back in.  That student gives a compliment to every student. I've included some examples below. Students respond to the compliment with "Merci" (Thank you) to which the "complimenter" says, "De rien" or "Bienvenue"(the French Canadian way of saying "You're welcome."). However, when the student who was tapped is complimented they say, "Va-t-en." (Go away). As soon as that is said all students must find a place to sit but may not sit in the chair next to them. One student will not get a chair. No one is out, however.

Possible Compliments

* Tu es sympa. (You are nice.)

* J'aime ton pantalon. (I like your pants.)

* J'aime ton sweatshirt. (I like your sweatshirt.)

* J'aime tes cheveux. (I like your hair.)

Grades 4/5 (FES) and 5/6 (MES)

The 4th, 5th and 6th graders have finished writing about a day in their lives. They are now sharing these or will be sharing these with their class. 

Just like the younger grades we have been or will be practicing "Good Manners Words" through a game. One student leaves the classroom, all the others close their eyes. Another student walks around the room and taps a student on the shoulder and then returns to their seat. The students open their eyes and the student in the hall is called back in.  That student gives a compliment to every student. I've included some examples below. Students respond to the compliment with "Merci" (Thank you) to which the "complimenter" says, "De rien" or "Bienvenue"(the French Canadian way of saying "You're welcome."). However, when the student who was tapped is complimented they say, "Va-t-en." (Go away). As soon as that is said all students must find a place to sit but may not sit in the chair next to them. One student will not get a chair. No one is out, however.

Possible Compliments

* Tu es sympa. (You are nice.)

* J'aime ton pantalon. (I like your pants.)

* J'aime ton sweatshirt. (I like your sweatshirt.)

* J'aime tes cheveux. (I like your hair.)

 Kindergarten

The kindergartners have been moving their bodies to music and in games. We have listened to Bouge, a fun song that directs listeners to move (bouge) their bodies. It's an excellent way to learn body parts in French (listed below).  We have also moved to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and "Madame Dit" (like Simon Says).

We have also played a guessing game (Which body part?)

la tete (la tet):  head

les epaules (laze aypole): shoulders

les mains (lay mehn): hands

les genoux (lay juhnoo):  knees

les pieds (lay pee-ay): feet

les yeux (laze yeuh): eyes

le nez (luh nay):  nose

la bouche (la boosh):  mouth

les oreilles (laze oray): ears

Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders are practicing reporting on the weather through their weather chart, charades, 4 corners and other games.  We've been practicing a hand game with the expressions "Il fait chaud" (It's hot) and "Il fait froid" (It's cold) ending in rock, paper, scissors. You can watch 2 French speaking students in Quebec play here. 

You can hear the weather expressions here.

 

 (or Il fait nuageux; Il fait mauvais)

Grades 3 and 4

The third and fourth graders have begun to write about a day in their lives, following the example of 

"Un Jour dans la vie d'un dinosaure."  They have been given vocabulary they can use and may choose to create a Google slide deck, a Google doc or a description on paper. I am eager to read about their days. They may use their imagination.

This is a big step for third graders, especially. I will fully support them as they work on this in class.

Grades 4 and 5 (FES) and 5 and 6 (MES)

The fourth and fifth graders (FES) and fifth and sixth graders (MES) have begun to write about a day in their lives, following the example of "Un Jour dans la vie d'un dinosaure."

They have been given vocabulary they can use and may choose to create a Google slide deck, a Google doc or a description on paper. I am eager to read about their days. They may use their imagination.

As FES only has a 4/5 and not a 5/6 students were given the choice of doing the activity that was given to grades 3 and 4 or the one given to students in grades 5/6.  The difference is primarily how many are expected.  I will be helping them.