January 22, 2010

‘Tour de France’ coming to four French Immersion Elementary schools in the District

KELOWNA, BC: Four schools are participating in a Tour de France (plus exactement “Le tour de la France”) next week.  This French Cultural Day is designed to give French Immersion students and French as a second language students an appreciation of the rich culture of France, the history of the French language in Canada and the pride that comes with mastering a second language.

“Our Tour de France is a day in which teams comprised of kindergarten to Grade six students travel from one activity to another to learn more about France.” says Shelley Dickie, Elementary French Immersion Coordinator.  “It should be a fun event for students.  We chose the Tour de France theme because we currently have a French Monitor working in the schools who is from Lyon, France.”  The schools have all worked collaboratively to plan the day and we are all very excited.

Some of the activities include:

Tour de France Race – Students will be riding tricycles or scooters in a relay race with a baguette under their arms.

ART - Photos of historical monuments from France (Le pont d'Avignon, the Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, The Notre Dame Basilica, etc.) will be posted and students will be asked to copy one of the monuments using toothpicks and glue.

Geography: The students will learn more about the location of France and its various regions as well as the surrounding countries.

Experience Lyon: Our Monitor will visit the schools to teach the students about her home town.

History: The students will look at a timeline to learn more about the history of France.  They will learn about their currency, the politics and some historical events and people.

Dégustation (Tasting): “We will have mini croissants and baguettes baked by Gwyneth Richardson, a French pastry chef,” says Dickie.  “The students will drink grape juice, try Brie cheese and enjoy some local apples from the B.C. Fruit Packers. The apples will help the students to make a connection between the Okanagan and the fruit region in France that has a very similar landscape and climate to ours.”

All schools will kick off their Cultural Day with an Assembly at 9:00 am. The students will begin their rotations to the activities at 9:30 a.m.  They will break for lunch and continue until 1:45 p.m.

Dates:
Monday January 25th - George Pringle Elementary
Wednesday, January 27th - Glenmore Elementary
Thursday, January 28th - Belgo Elementary
Friday, January 29th - Peter Greer Elementary
Date to be determined for April – Casorso Elementary.

Approved by the Superintendent and Shelley Dickie on January 22, 2010

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For comments, please contact:

Shelley Dickie, Elementary French Immersion Coordinator, 250-768-5146 ext. 213

Clara Sulz, Director of Instruction, (250) 860-8888

For background information, please contact Lisa Harrison lharriso@sd23.bc.ca or 470-3284.