Lesson overview

In this lesson students will use Google Expeditions to explore Antarctica with a particular focus on describing and observing, they will use descriptive language about landscapes and animals and identify the differences between un manchot et un pingouin.

Learning outcomes

• Develop vocabulary especially descriptive language

Guiding Questions

• Comment décrire un paysage (How to describe a landscape).
• Comment décrire un animal? (How to describe an animal).
• Comment décrire un animal dans son environnement? (How to describe an animal in its environment).

Lesson steps

1. Introduction (10 mins)
   

   Lead a discussion on the following themes: Why do we have, in French, two different names to talk about penguins? Note: technically the term ‘pingouin’ refers to the northern hemisphere ‘penguin’, known in English as an auk. The term ‘manchot’ refers to the penguin that we most commonly think of, with the vast proportion living in the southern hemisphere. Confusingly, many people also use the term ‘pingouin’ to refer to these southern hemisphere cousins of the auk.

   Qui a déja vu un manchot? D’où vient-il? Students translate J'ai tout compris entry on penguins.

2. Expedition (20 mins)
   Guide students through the expeditions, during which they should make notes to answer the following questions:
   
   • Comment pouvons-nous décrire un manchot?
   • Quelles sont ses particularités.
3. Activity (30 mins)
   Enquire if students can distinguish between un manchot et un pingouin?
   Students complete the Student Sheet found in the Lesson resources section, designed to help them record and process what they will have learnt from the expedition.
4. Extension
   Students write a 300 word encyclopaedia entry using this website for information entitled ‘Le Manchot’.

England

Key Stage 4 French

• Listen to a variety of forms of spoken language to obtain information and respond appropriately
• Transcribe words and short sentences that they hear with increasing accuracy
• Initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses, making use of important social conventions such as formal modes of address
• Express and develop ideas clearly and with increasing accuracy, both orally and in writing
• Speak coherently and confidently, with increasingly accurate pronunciation and intonation
• Read and show comprehension of original and adapted materials from a range of different sources, understanding the purpose, important ideas and details, and provide an accurate English translation of short, suitable material
• Read literary texts in the language [such as stories, songs, poems and letters], to stimulate ideas, develop creative expression and expand understanding of the language and culture