Looking for French Christmas activities you can do when students are having trouble focusing? We all know that the days leading up to winter break can be challenging! Students don’t want to sit and focus, and they just want to do some fun activities that mix things up a little bit.
Maybe you’re already planning on using French Christmas worksheets and are already playing French Christmas songs. If you are, then how about adding some movement by having students create their own French vocabulary lists with this write the room activity?
What is write the room and how do I use it in French class?
Write the room is a fun movement-based activity that is perfect for times when students need to move!
Just print and cut out the word cards and put them up around your room. Then, give students an answer sheet and have them move around the room filling in the spaces with the correct words. They’ll create their own visual vocabulary sheets and get in some much-needed movement!
Once they’re done, pair them up and have them practice reading the words with a partner. It’s okay if pronunciation isn’t perfect at first. You’ll go over the words with them when all students have finished. It’s just how I keep all students engaged in case a few of them need a little more time to write.
Find this French write the room activity here at my TpT store.
Another one of my favorite French Christmas activities is perfect for getting them speaking!
Use a ceci ou cela activity to have them discuss preferences with a partner. It’s perfect for comparing and contrasting, speaking, and working on new vocabulary all at once. Plus, the fun and interactive style of the activity will keep them interested when they aren’t in the mood to sit and do written work (although they will get some writing in during this activity!)
To start, print off the French vocabulary lists and give them to each student to help them with any unknown words. I like to model pronunciation and then have students partner up and read them together before we do the activity.
This is one of my favorite French Christmas activities because it’s a speaking activity any level of student can do and feel successful!
Once they are familiar with the words, you’ll pass out the preferences sheet. Students will go through and circle their preferences. Once they have done that, they’ll work with their partners to compare their answers. They’ll mark a check by their partner’s answers. They’ll only be speaking French, so if you have newer beginners, you’ll want to model using the topics in complete sentences with “Je préfère…”
After they have completed this part of the activity, now they get to write. You have two options for a follow-up writing activity, or you may choose to use both.
For option 1, have them complete the Venn diagram and they’ll list their choices, their partner’s choices, and then which things they have in common.
For option 2, they’ll write a short paragraph using the third person to tell the preferences of their partner.
Beginning students are capable of doing either activity, but if we’re running short on time, or if I want them to review how a Venn diagram works, we might just do option 1. You can always assign the paragraph as homework or as a short written assessment if you’d like.
I hope these are fun for your students!
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