A Sample List of French Oral Language Stations
* Note – some of the best games and activities I have were bought at garage sales and second-hand stores like Valu Village. Many games are bilingual (just turn over the board) or can be played in French. Poster Pals www.posterpals.ca is also a good source of simple French games.
/ HEDBANZ – This game has cards with both French and English on them (I cut off the English). Students place the card, without looking, on a headband and must guess what it says. Encourages questioning./ GUESS WHO – Students play in teams to guess who the other team has selected by asking questions. Encourages questioning.
/ HULLABALOO – This game is available in French. A little machine gives children simple instructions to follow. Encourages listening. Great for kinesthetic learners.
/ BINGO - This classic game is great for practicing numbers (which is always a challenge for French learners). Many varieties of Bingo are available to reinforce French vocabulary. I have French versions for TELLING TIME, BODY PARTS, THE FARM, VALENTINES DAY, CHRISTMAS, etc. Builds vocabulary.
/ BASIC FRENCH FLASHCARDS. This surprisingly easy idea is so popular with the kids. One student holds up the card (while covering the word) and the rest of the group yells out the word. The first one to say it gets the card/point. Builds vocabulary.
/ PIM PAM PET PICTO – This game has children looking at a picture and trying to find something that starts with the letter they spin on the spinner. Great for vocabulary building.
/ DON’T PANIC (NE PANIQUE PAS) – Kids love this game because they are racing against the clock to list things in a given category. Ex. Things that are green.
/ TIC TAC BOUM – In this game the students pass a ticking bomb around while giving words that contain a certain syllable. The goal is not to be holding the bomb when it explodes.
/ LA CLASSE DE 5e ANNÉE – This game is modeled after the TV show. Students are asked trivia questions based on things a fifth grader should know.
/ LISTENING STATION – Simple French songs (even ones you have done in class) make a great listening station. Just remove some of the words from the written lyrics, photocopy the page and have students listen carefully to fill in the blanks. This can also be done with a story on CD. Encourages listening.
/ PUZZLE – Can be used to link to Social Studies. A map of Canada works well in Grade 5, as do some puzzles linked to Ancient Civilizations. A puzzle of about 100 pieces is perfect. If the group finishes early they can be given a task based on the puzzle. My Canada Map Puzzle has symbols all over it, so I have them make a list of symbols and what they represent. Or they can quiz each other on provinces and capitals.