Lesson Title: Touche ta tête.                                    Subject: French

 

Grade Level(s): Adaptable for any level                      Time: 20-30 minutes

 

Objective:

Students will observe the basic use of the impératif with select –er verbs (some beign reflexive) and after receiving feed back with be able to give such basic commands to fellow students.  Students will also gain a basic understanding

 

This lesson can be used as an introduction to the impératif or just as simple way to begin new learners’ oral comprehension of how –er verbs in French sound while conjugated.  On the vocabulary side it may also be used for reinforcing knowledge of the parts of the body or common classroom objects, thus this lesson can really grow and be used in multiple ways.

 

Materials: None required

 

Anticipatory Set/Introduction: This game requires no real introduction and is surprising enough to grab the attention of most elementary students. 

 

Activity 1: Modeling

Begin the lesson by simply commanding the students to “Touche ta tête”.  Be sure to also demonstrate this (and the other commands) yourself at this stage.  Continue through a change line of commands begin sure to demonstrate as you do so.

 

Vocabulary:

  • Touche ta... Frappe ta...

...tête.

...main.

...jambe.

...chaise.

... table.

  • ...ma/sa...
  • Ferme/Ouvre…

…tes yeux.

…ta main.
  • Lève-toi.
  • Assieds-toi.
  • Saute.
  • Tourne-toi.
  • Va à…

…la fenêtre.

…la porte.

…la table.

…au tableau.

 

Activity 2: Guided Practice & Scaffolding

After sometime of mixing the different expressions given to students, begin to not demonstration the actions.  They will of course begin to look to each other for support, and if any are truly confused demonstrating a few more times is possible.

 

Activity 3: Independent practice

Select several of the students who are becoming the most adept at following commands and have them become “Simon” for the class.

 

Checking for Understanding & Possible Test Evaluation:

This can be a very easy process as one simply needs to observe students’ responses.  Student could further be asked to “Ferme tes yeux.” and then be asked to “Continue à fermer tes yeux.”  before instructor asks then to do some of the actions—eyes closed.  This could be used as a very simple oral quiz.

 

Modifications: For younger kids, a doll for “toucher les parties du corps” is also a nice touch, and not using “frapper” also is preferable. 

 

 

Enrichment:

An explanation of the in impératif to older student (6th grade on) could prove valuable, but either way much is being modeled and taught on the oral conversational level. 

 

The use of reflexive verbs may also be a cause of confusion but only on a level where students are attempting to understand why toi is being placed at Also see cultural notes throughout lesson.

 

Other vocabulary could easily be added to this lesson.

 

Logic & Reasoning: For the most part, only feminine words are used in this and other early lessons to not confuse students.  Need to explain the vocabulary gender differences will be addressed in later lessons.