Embedding French in the Primary Curriculum

Embedding French in the Primary Curriculum

Pelmanism: astarter activity for Maths in French

Teacher’s Notes:

Learning Objective for Maths:To revise the names for shapes (these are cognates in French & English) and to practise memory skills.

Learning Objective for French:To revise the numbers 1-10; to revise the names for shapes; to practise French word order (un triangle rouge etc.).

Resources: 20 shapes in different colours. For example: rectangles, circles, hexagons, triangles and squares in blue, yellow, red and green. Possibly 20 cards with numbers on, 10 with a figure (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10) and 10 with a number written in French (un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf or dix).

Explanation of the activity:

Step 1 : On different spots on a board, in random order, write or display the numbers 1-10 as figures and as numbers in French. Cover these with 20 shapes, cut from different coloured card. These might be, for example, rectangles, circles, hexagons, triangles and squares in blue, yellow, red and green. You might like to practise with the children how to say these shapes and colours and ask them to chant un triangle rouge etc in order to give them confidence.

Step 2 The children are divided into two teams.

Step 3 The first team chooses two shapes, such as “a red rectangle and a green hexagon”. The teacher reveals the numbers underneath. If the numbers match –for example 10 and dix or 2 and deux- the team score one point. If they do not match –for example 6 and cinq- the shapes are put back over the numbers.

Step 4 The second team chooses two shapes, such as “a red triangle and a green square”. The teacher reveals the numbers underneath. If the numbers match –for example 10 and dix or 2 and deux- the team score one point. If they do not match –for example 6 and cinq- the shapes are put back over the numbers.

The winner is the team with the most points once all the numbers are revealed.

Progression: suitability for which year group? This is probably suitable for years 3 and 4, but may be adapted for older year groups.

Teacher’s script / Translation into English
Un / One
Deux / Two
Trois / Three
Quatre / Four
Cinq / Five
Six / Six
Sept / Seven
Huit / Eight
Neuf / Nine
Dix / Ten
Un triangle (rouge) / A (red) triangle
Un carré (vert) / A (green) square
Un pentagone (blanc) / A (white) pentagon
Un hexagone (noir) / A (black) hexagon
Un heptagone (rose) / A (pink) heptagon
Un octogone (jaune) / A (yellow) octagon
Nous avons / We have
Une/ deux équipe(s) / One/ two teams
Vous avez vingt cartes ou vingt formes / You have twenty cards or twenty shapes
Par exemple… / For example
Qu’est-ce que c’est? / What is this?
John, choisis deux formes/ cartes / John, choose two shapes/ cards
(Est-ce que) c’est la même chose? / Is it the same thing?
Oui/ non / Yes/ no
OK. Je vais couvrir les chiffres / OK. I’m going to cover up the figures
Un point pour cette équipe / One point for this team
Vous avez gagné! / You’ve won.
Bravo! Bien fait! / Well done!