Ideas to help us all promote French language learning this week, including Washington, D.C. area French-language and cultural events for kids and families. Please share any other ideas by commenting below or posting to Bonjour Mama's Facebook page, Le Petit Groupe Français, or Les Mamans Autour de DC! Merci et bonne semaine!
La Semaine en Français (Out and About in or near DC)
($) indicates there is a cost for the event.
Monday, March 11
Tuesday, March 12
Thursday, March 14
10am - Open House at Communikids in Falls Church, VA
4pm – French Storytime at the Cleveland Park Library
Saturday March 16:
4pm – French Storytime at the Cleveland Park Library
Saturday March 16:
9am to 4pm – Children's book sale at the Alliance Française (by Bonjour! Books, Bonjour Mama's new book store!)
10:50am - Storytime at the Alliance Francaise
10am - Kid's French Film: Le Jour des Corneilles at the Avalon Theatre ($)
10:50am - Storytime at the Alliance Francaise
10am - Kid's French Film: Le Jour des Corneilles at the Avalon Theatre ($)
La Semaine en Français (at Home):
Sing/Play “Promenons nous dans les bois": Watch the song on youtube and alternate playing the part of the children "Promenons nous dans les bois, pendant que le loup n'y est pas s'il le loup y était il nous mangerait, mais comme il n'y est pas il nous mangera pas: loup y est tu? que fais-tu? entends-tu?" and then wolf's deep-voiced response each time: "je mets mon pantalon (ma veste, les bottes.....) until he's finally dressed and announces "je prends ma fusille, j'arrive!" and the kids scream out "sauvons nous!".
After you've done it a few times the same way, you can change it up by varying the wolf's wardrobe (je mets les chaussettes, la cravate, les lunettes) and induce more laughs by expanding his "toilette" (je fais pipi, je me brosse les dents;-)).
Play Parcours d'obstacle (Obstacle course): Create an obstacle course whatever furniture and cushions you've got and wherever you have space and shout out instructions like: Escalade la montagne! Climb the mountain! [pillows piled up]; Grimpe dans le tunnel! Crawl through the tunnel [chairs lined up]; Glisse le long de la rampe! Slide down the ramp! [large pillows propped up against sofa]; Je te chronometre. Peux-tu le faire en 20 secondes? I'm timing you, can you do it in 20 seconds?
Read one of the Frisson l'Ecureuil books (available on Bonjour! Books) by Mélanie Watt; he is Zach's favorite character at the moment and "Frisson se fait un ami" begins with an avertissement (warning) to please brush your teeth before reading the book as Frisson has a morbid fear of germs (great for encouraging reluctant brushers at bedtime!)
Sing and Dance to songs on Radio Moussaillons
[Note: they sometimes even mix in other languages - yesterday Zach was singing "Como te llamas? como te llamas?" - I've been trying to get him to speak basic Spanish phrases forever and now in four seconds he's got it, from a kids' song on French radio of all places!]
Make a leprechaun's hat (chapeau de lutin/leprechaun) or do an activity on Tete à modeler's Saint Patrick Day page --it has lots of great vocabulary (shamrock = treffle!) and craft ideas.
[Note: they sometimes even mix in other languages - yesterday Zach was singing "Como te llamas? como te llamas?" - I've been trying to get him to speak basic Spanish phrases forever and now in four seconds he's got it, from a kids' song on French radio of all places!]
Make a leprechaun's hat (chapeau de lutin/leprechaun) or do an activity on Tete à modeler's Saint Patrick Day page --it has lots of great vocabulary (shamrock = treffle!) and craft ideas.
Plan a playdate with other French-speaking parents and kids! If you are in the DC Metro area, join or suggest an event on Bonjour Mama’s facebook page, Le Petit Groupe Français, or Les Mamans Autour de DC!
P.S. The DC Grande Fête de la Francophonie 2013 is officially underway! (March 1-April 13). Check out the web site for tons of upcoming French cultural events and activities throughout the DC area for all ages.
What a great set of ideas! I'm especially inspired to make a leprechaun's hat.
ReplyDeletemerci Talullah! A hint on the leprechaun hat: use a large sheet of green paper or tape two together - ours ended up being on the small side.
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