Look around the classroom. Can you find a circle, a square and a triangle in this room in ten seconds? Off you go when I say go.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Name eight shapes in French
- Spot shape words quickly in a game
- Notice which French shape words look like English maths words
Give the class a strict ten-second hunt, then take three or four answers (window, clock, book, desk corner). Do not teach the French yet; the flashcards do that next. Keep the energy high and move straight on once a few shapes have been named.
Here are today's eight shapes. Listen to the French first, repeat it together, then try saying it from the English side. Listen for the soft zh sound in le losange, like the s in treasure.
Work through all eight cards on the board. For each one, play the audio first, then have everyone repeat twice: once together, once by table. Only after that, flip or show the English side and invite a confident volunteer to try from memory as a quiet challenge, not a cold call for the whole class. Always insist on the article (le cercle, not bare cercle). Pronunciation guides: le cercle (luh SEHR-kluh), le carré (luh kah-RAY), le triangle (luh tree-AH(n)-gluh), le rectangle (luh rek-TAH(n)-gluh), le losange (luh loh-ZAH(n)zh), l'ovale (loh-VAHL), l'étoile (lay-TWAHL), le cœur (luh KUR). Point out that triangle and rectangle look almost identical to English.
Before leaving the flashcards, run a quick low-stakes choral recap so every pupil has said each word at least once: Table 1 chorus le cercle, le carré, le triangle; Table 2 chorus le rectangle, le losange, l'ovale; Table 3 chorus l'étoile, le cœur, then swap groups so all eight are covered by everyone. This bridges into the spinning wheel without jumping straight to unaided production.
The wheel picks a shape at random. When the teacher calls your name, say the French word clearly, article and all. You may hear the audio once if you need a quick reminder.
Spin on the IWB and cold-call by name (or invite a volunteer to spin, then call another pupil to name). Accept only the full phrase with the article. If a pupil freezes, replay the audio once and let them try again rather than supplying the answer yourself. Keep a small reference strip or the word list visible for the first full pass through the set; only move to a faster 'no peeking' second round once most pupils have had one supported turn. Aim for two passes so quieter pupils get a turn. Success check: most pupils can name at least five of the eight shapes aloud with acceptable pronunciation.
Draw any four of today's shapes in your copy. Write the French name under each one, including le or l'. Keep the shape list on the board while you write, and take care with accents.
Pause the board games and keep the shape list or one quiet reference card visible while they draw. Everyone writes: this is the only three minutes where every pen is moving. Check that articles are going in (le carré, l'étoile) and that the œ in cœur and the acute on carré are attempted. Do not collect the copies.
We are playing bingo as a class from the board. Sketch a simple grid in your copy and write in six of today's shape words (your choice). Listen carefully. When you hear a shape that is on your grid, cross it off. First full line shouts Bingo! then reads that line back in French.
How to Play Bingo:
Option 1: Students on Devices (Digital Version)
- Use the digital version where your teacher view of the lesson displays the cards that are being called out.
- Play the pronunciation sound of each word and the children mark it off their unique digital bingo card.
- Each student has a randomised bingo card so winners will vary!
Option 2: Print Out the Bingo Cards
- Print out the Bingo Cards from the attachment above, cut out the cards, and give one to each student.
- You call out the vocabulary words and students mark off their sheets.
- First student to complete a line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) calls "Bingo!" and wins.
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