Lesson Plan
L'hiver Mots Froids!
Students will be able to identify and use at least 5 new French winter vocabulary words (e.g., neige, froid, manteau, gants, bonhomme de neige).
Learning French winter words helps students describe their environment and activities during winter, fostering a deeper connection to the language and culture. It builds foundational vocabulary for future language learning.
Audience
1st and 2nd Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through interactive slides, a story, games, and a creative project.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers, Winter Words Slide Deck, Winter Wonderland Reading, Winter Word Match Worksheet, My Winter Scene Project Guide, Winter Scene Rubric, Construction paper, Crayons/Colored Pencils, Glue, and Optional: various craft materials (cotton balls, glitter, fabric scraps)
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review all generated materials: L'hiver Mots Froids! Lesson Plan, Winter Words Slide Deck, French Winter Warm Up, French Winter Script, Winter Wonderland Reading, Winter Words Discussion Prompts, Winter Vocabulary Activity, Winter Word Bingo Game, Winter Word Match Worksheet, My Winter Scene Project Guide, Winter Scene Rubric, and French Winter Cool Down.
- Print copies of the Winter Word Match Worksheet (one per student).
- Gather craft materials for the project.
- Prepare whiteboard/projector for the Winter Words Slide Deck and game.
Step 1
Warm Up: Winter Charades (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Begin with the French Winter Warm Up.
2. Introduce the concept of winter in French.
3. Have students act out simple winter activities or objects, prompting them to guess in French if possible.
Step 2
Introduction to Winter Vocabulary (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Use the Winter Words Slide Deck to introduce new vocabulary (neige, froid, manteau, gants, bonhomme de neige, écharpe, patiner).
2. Use the French Winter Script as a guide.
3. Practice pronunciation and repeat after the teacher.
4. Show pictures for each word.
Step 3
Reading & Discussion: Winter Wonderland (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Read the Winter Wonderland Reading aloud to the class.
2. Facilitate a short discussion using the Winter Words Discussion Prompts to check comprehension and encourage use of new vocabulary.
Step 4
Game: Winter Word Bingo (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Play the Winter Word Bingo Game to reinforce vocabulary.
2. Call out French winter words, and students mark their bingo cards.
Step 5
Activity: My Winter Scene Project Introduction (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Introduce the My Winter Scene Project Guide.
2. Explain that students will create a winter scene using the new vocabulary.
3. Distribute the Winter Word Match Worksheet for homework or quick completion if time allows, and collect it at the end of class.
Step 6
Cool Down: Exit Ticket (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Conclude with the French Winter Cool Down.
2. Have students draw or write one French winter word they learned today.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Bienvenue à l'Hiver! (Welcome to Winter!)
Let's learn some new words for winter in French!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of winter in French. Ask if they know any French words for winter.
La Neige (Snow)
Can you say 'la neige'?
Introduce the word 'neige' with an image of snow. Have students repeat the word.
Le Froid (Cold)
Brrr! It's 'le froid'!
Introduce 'froid' with an image of someone shivering or cold weather. Have students repeat.
Un Manteau (A Coat)
When it's cold, we wear 'un manteau'.
Introduce 'un manteau' with an image of a winter coat. Have students repeat.
Les Gants (Gloves)
Keep your hands warm with 'les gants'.
Introduce 'les gants' with an image of gloves. Have students repeat.
Un Bonhomme de Neige (A Snowman)
Let's build 'un bonhomme de neige'!
Introduce 'un bonhomme de neige' with an image of a snowman. Have students repeat.
Une Écharpe (A Scarf)
Wrap up warm with 'une écharpe'.
Introduce 'une écharpe' with an image of a scarf. Have students repeat.
Patiner (To Skate)
On the ice, we 'patiner'!
Introduce 'patiner' with an image of ice skating. Have students repeat.
Révision des Mots! (Word Review!)
Let's review our winter words! What is this word?
Review all the new words. Ask students to point to pictures as you say the words or say the word as you point to the picture.
Warm Up
French Winter Charades!
Instructions:
1. Your teacher will call out a French winter word (or show a picture!).
2. Act out the word without speaking!
3. Can your classmates guess the word in French?
Examples:
* La neige: Pretend to shiver or make a snowball.
* Froid: Hug yourself and shiver dramatically.
* Un bonhomme de neige: Stand still like a snowman, maybe add stick arms.
Script
French Winter Script
## Warm Up: Winter Charades (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Bonjour, tout le monde! Welcome to our French lesson today. We are going to talk about something very special: l'hiver! Who knows what l'hiver means?"
(Allow a few student responses. Guide them to "winter")
Teacher: "Oui, l'hiver is winter! To get us started, we're going to play a quick game of 'French Winter Charades'. I will say a French winter word, or show you a picture from our Winter Words Slide Deck, and you will act it out! Try not to speak, just use your body. Can your classmates guess the word in French? Let's try!"
* (Present words like la neige (snow), froid (cold), un bonhomme de neige (snowman). Encourage students to act and guess.)
## Introduction to Winter Vocabulary (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Excellent job everyone! Now, let's learn some new French words for winter. Look at our Winter Words Slide Deck as we go through them. I will say the word, and I want you to repeat it after me."
(Go through each slide in the Winter Words Slide Deck one by one, introducing la neige, le froid, un manteau, les gants, un bonhomme de neige, une écharpe, patiner.)
Teacher: "Très bien! You are all doing wonderfully with your pronunciation!"
## Reading & Discussion: Winter Wonderland (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Now that we know some new words, I have a special story for you called Winter Wonderland Reading. Listen carefully for the French winter words we just learned!"
(Read the Winter Wonderland Reading aloud, pointing to pictures or acting out words as appropriate.)
Teacher: "What a lovely winter story! Let's talk about it. I have some Winter Words Discussion Prompts to help us."
(Facilitate a discussion using the prompts from Winter Words Discussion Prompts. Encourage students to use the new French vocabulary in their answers.)
## Game: Winter Word Bingo (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Now for a fun game to help us remember our new words! We're going to play Winter Word Bingo Game! Each of you has a bingo card. I will call out a French winter word, and if you have it on your card, you can cover it. The first one to get a line shouts 'Bingo!'"
(Distribute Winter Word Bingo Game cards and call out words, ensuring clear pronunciation. Help students as needed.)
## Activity: My Winter Scene Project Introduction & Worksheet (5 minutes)
Teacher: "You are all becoming experts at French winter words! For our next activity, we are going to get creative. We will start a project called My Winter Scene Project Guide. Today, we will just introduce it, and you will get started next time, or at home. You will create a beautiful winter scene using all the French words we learned. We also have a Winter Word Match Worksheet that you can work on if we have extra time, or take home for homework."
(Briefly explain the My Winter Scene Project Guide and hand out the Winter Word Match Worksheet. Collect worksheets if completed in class.)
## Cool Down: Exit Ticket (5 minutes)
Teacher: "It's almost time to say au revoir! But before we go, I want you to show me one French winter word you learned today. On your French Winter Cool Down sheet, either draw a picture of one word or write the word in French. This is your exit ticket!"
(Distribute French Winter Cool Down sheets. Collect them as students leave.)*
Teacher: "Merci, tout le monde! Au revoir!"
Reading
Winter Wonderland Reading
Il fait froid en hiver! (It is cold in winter!)
La neige tombe du ciel. (The snow falls from the sky.)
J'aime porter un gros manteau et des gants chauds. (I like to wear a big coat and warm gloves.)
Nous faisons un bonhomme de neige dans le jardin. (We make a snowman in the garden.)
J'ai une belle écharpe rouge autour de mon cou. (I have a beautiful red scarf around my neck.)
J'aime patiner sur la glace. (I like to skate on the ice.)
L'hiver est amusant! (Winter is fun!)
Discussion
Winter Words Discussion Prompts
1. What is your favorite thing to do in la neige (snow)?
2. What do you wear when it is froid (cold)? Try to use one of our new French words!
3. Have you ever made un bonhomme de neige (a snowman)? What did you use for its nose?
4. What color is your favorite écharpe (scarf) or manteau (coat)?
5. Would you like to patiner (skate) on the ice? Why or why not?
Project Guide
My Winter Scene Project Guide
## Objective
Create a beautiful winter scene using the French winter vocabulary we learned!
## Materials
* Construction paper (blue, white, or any winter color)
* Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
* Glue
* Cotton balls, glitter, fabric scraps (optional)
* Scissors (optional)
## Instructions
1. Draw or create your winter background: Start with a large piece of construction paper. You can draw a snowy field, a frozen lake, or a winter sky.
2. Add French winter words:
* Draw la neige (snow) falling or piled up.
* Show that it is froid (cold) by adding shivering people or frosty trees.
* Draw someone wearing un manteau (a coat), les gants (gloves), and une écharpe (a scarf).
* Create un bonhomme de neige (a snowman) in your scene.
* Add someone who likes to patiner (skate) on a frozen pond.
3. Label your scene: Write the French words next to the objects they represent in your drawing (e.g., write neige next to the snow, bonhomme de neige next to the snowman).
4. Be creative! Use different colors, textures, and materials to make your winter scene unique.
## Assessment
Your project will be assessed using the Winter Scene Rubric. Make sure to include at least 5 French winter words correctly labeled!
Game
Winter Word Bingo Game
## How to Play
1. Each student gets a Bingo card.
2. The teacher will call out a French winter word (e.g., "la neige").
3. If you have that word on your card, cover it with a marker (or color the square).
4. The first student to get three in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) shouts "BINGO!"
5. We will then check their card to see if they have a Bingo!
## Bingo Card Example
(Teachers, please create variations of this grid for each student)
| FREE SPACE | FROID | NEIGE |
|---|---|---|
| MANTEAU | GANTS | BONHOMME DE NEIGE |
| ÉCHARPE | PATINER | FROID |
French Winter Words:
* la neige (snow)
* le froid (cold)
* un manteau (a coat)
* les gants (gloves)
* un bonhomme de neige (a snowman)
* une écharpe (a scarf)
* patiner (to skate)
Worksheet
Winter Word Match Worksheet
Instructions: Draw a line from the French winter word to its English meaning.
## French Words
1. La neige
2. Le froid
3. Un manteau
4. Les gants
5. Un bonhomme de neige
6. Une écharpe
7. Patiner
## English Meanings
* Cold
* Gloves
* To skate
* A snowman
* A scarf
* Snow
* A coat
Bonus Question: Draw your favorite French winter word!
Rubric
Winter Scene Rubric
## Project: My Winter Scene
| Category | 4 Points (Excellent) | 3 Points (Good) | 2 Points (Fair) | 1 Point (Needs Improvement) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Vocabulary | Student correctly includes and labels 7+ French winter words. | Student correctly includes and labels 5-6 French winter words. | Student correctly includes and labels 3-4 French winter words. | Student includes and labels fewer than 3 French winter words, or labels are incorrect. |
| Creativity & Effort | Project shows exceptional creativity and effort in design and use of materials. | Project shows good creativity and effort. | Project shows some creativity and effort. | Project shows minimal creativity or effort. |
| Scene Details | Winter scene is detailed and clearly represents a winter environment with multiple elements. | Winter scene is clear and includes several winter elements. | Winter scene is basic and includes a few winter elements. | Winter scene is unclear or lacks significant winter elements. |
| Neatness | Project is very neat and organized with careful attention to detail. | Project is generally neat and organized. | Project is somewhat neat but shows some disorganization. | Project is messy and disorganized. |
Cool Down
French Winter Cool Down: Exit Ticket
Instructions: On this ticket, draw a picture of one French winter word you learned today OR write the French word. You can also try to write its English meaning!
My French Winter Word:
English Meaning (Optional):