Lesson overview

In this lesson students will use Google Expeditions to explore the Palace of Versailles, after finding out about the people that lived there and the construction of the palace, they will work in groups to create a slideshow about the palace which can then be presented to peers.

Learning outcomes

• Name and locate the main parts of the Château
• Present the key points of its constructions
• Name the keys protagonists in the life of the castle.

Guiding Questions

• Qui ont été les personnages clés de la vie au Château de Versailles?
• Quelles ont été les fonctions principales du Château de Versailles?
• Parlez-moi de ...

Lesson steps

1. Introduction (10 mins)
   Lead a discussion in French answering the questions: Que connaissez-vous du Château de Versailles?
   
   Students watch ‘Histoire du Château de Versailles’ and ‘Discover The Palace of Versailles’ (see links above). Students take notes of the key points.
   
2. Expedition (20 mins)
   

   Guide students through the expedition while asking them questions: Who took part in the building of Versailles? What were the different phases? What are the key features of Versailles?

   Students work in groups to prepare presentations using the Student Sheet, found in the Lesson resources section.

3. Activity (30 mins)
   Students create a slideshow on the Château Versailles in French.
4. Extension
   Students research and write a ‘day in the life of Louis XIV’.

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