French - Mrs Blackett

Click the + sign next to each month, below,  to see our fabulous French learning journey across 2026-27 - we hope you enjoy it as it unfolds - Bon Voyage! You can also explore the previous year, via the link at the bottom of the page.

September 2026

Last Year - 2025-26

June & July 2026

We have been learning about a huge variety of things recently in French. In year 6, the children have been discovering how to describe themselves and each other. Year 5 have been using their prior knowledge of places in a town and telling the time to say where they are going and when. Year 4 have begun to describe their own gardens and their ideal gardens. Year 3 have been learning how to talk about London using sentence structure they are familiar with after describing Paris. In Key Stage 1, our children have enjoyed learning about sea creatures through the song ‘Sous l’Océan’. They love doing the actions and joining in with the words.

May 2026

During May, our children in Key Stages 1 and 2 have been listening very carefully in their French lessons. In year 1, we have been listening for the names of the days of the week in a story all about a busy witch. Year 3 have been working hard listening to a variety of questions about themselves and giving the correct answers. They have become very good at introducing themselves. The children in year 4 have listened carefully to a rhyme about an elephant balancing in a spider’s web and inviting his friends to join him. This has helped them to improve their phonic understanding. Year 5 have listened to and joined in with a song all about things to do each day of the week. This will lead them to be able to describe what they enjoy doing on different days. Finally, year 6 have really enjoyed listening to a variety of songs in the Eurovision song contest. They were able to give their different opinions of the songs in French. It was lovely to see everyone engaged in this multi-cultural competition.

April 2026

We use many skills when learning a language, which turn us into detectives looking for clues to help us.  The children in year 6 have been finding out how to introduce members of their family in French with the help of a story about a witch and her family. Year 5 are using their decoding skills to read and understand a letter from a French child talking about what there is in their hometown. In year 4, we have used our phonic knowledge to ask and answer questions about animals. Year 3 are extending their spoken sentences about Paris by including more than one place to visit, using prior knowledge. In year 1, the children are learning the names of sea creatures by joining in with a lovely song about living under the sea, they have found that some of the words look like the English names. 

March 2026

In year 1, we have been learning the names of the days of the week with the help of a story and a song. Year 2 have been inspired by the musical suite ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ to create pictures with animals and musicians. In year 3, we are beginning to say sentences to describe Paris. Year 4 have used their iPads to create animal habitats and write sentences to describe the animals. Year 5 are learning to recite a rhyme which includes numbers and parts of the body. Finally, year 6 have received their latest replies from their pen pals alongside a lovely handmade bookmark to keep.

February 2026

Year 6 have been describing what they like to do in their French lessons, in French to tell their pen pals. In year 5, we have mastered the pronunciation of new vocabulary using the story ‘Berthe Va En Vacances’. Year 4 have enjoyed reading the French version of the story ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear’. In year 3, we have been singing a song about animals to help us with our French phonics. To begin our celebrations of the Northeast Festival of Languages, years 1 and 2 have taken part in a Japanese taster session. They learned to say hello and goodbye and to count to ten. They also learned how to write numbers using special Japanese characters

January 2026

It has been a busy start to the year in French lessons. Miss Mortimer’s children have been learning the names of farm animals with the help of the French version of Old McDonald. In year 2, we have been learning the names the months of the year by singing a song and standing up when we hear our favourite month. Year 3 can answer a simple question, in French, about Paris and the capital cities of the UK. In year 4, we have done a virtual visit to the Zoo Parc de Beauval to look for animal names, which are like the English versions. Year 5 have been consolidating their learning about places in a town and telling the time. Finally, year 6 are getting ready to write to their pen pals again by learning to talk about their school routine. They have played paper cut bingo to help them learn new phrases.

December 2025

Y6 have been writing to pen pals from the north east of France. Each child was sent a letter in English from their new friend. They were surprised to see how different the French children’s handwriting is. They loved learning about the children’s hobbies and interests. Our children wrote in French. They introduced themselves and described Sunderland. In November, year 6 designed and wrote New Year cards, as is the tradition in France. They worked hard to make their cards look appealing. This month, we have received Christmas cards from our French friends who have also put a lot of effort into their designs. We are looking forward to seeing what will arrive from France in the new year.

November 2025

This month, Y6 were excited to receive some replies from their new pen pals in France. They’ve been busy writing a New Year card to send in response. Y5 have been introduced to the ‘Languagenut’ website which they are using to increase their vocabulary. Y4 are confidently writing longer sentences about animals and reading them aloud with excellent pronunciation. Y3 are learning the names of the 4 countries of the UK and their capital cities in French. They have enjoyed practising a song about staying warm when the snow is falling. In Y1, the children have been learning the names of farm animals and colours using songs to help them remember the words. 

October 2025

Linking with maths, year 6 have been revisiting the months of the year. They have practised reciting a French poem to help them remember how many days are in each month. Year 5 are working on telling the time and they can read and understand French sentences about the time difference between the UK and France. Year 4 have used their iPads to ask questions and give answers about animals which has helped their ICT skills. In year 3, we have been using actions and singing a song to learn the names of the most famous Parisian monuments. Year 2 have planned a day trip to Paris. They know how to get there, what they would do and even which currency they would need to buy things, adding up Euros. In year 1, children have been familiarising themselves with questions and answers in French including talking about how they feel. Using puppet eyes to pretend they were someone else was great fun!

September 2025

What a busy month we have had in our French lessons. Our year 1 children have been introduced to our French puppet, Thierry Tricolore. They have enjoyed creating their own puppets to speak to Thierry. In year 2, we have been learning how Barnaby Bear would travel to France on a ferry or even through a tunnel under the sea, which really surprised everyone. In Key Stage Two, to embrace the European Day of Languages, we have talked about why learning a new language is useful and fun. Children have been using their iPads to discover translations for a word of their choice in several languages and drawing a picture and decorating bunting. Finally, year 6 have been writing a letter, in French, to send to our partner school in France. They are excited to receive the replies in the next few weeks.