aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	French as second
What age group	Year or Grade 11
What topic	Environment et les catastrophes
Quantity	1
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Introduction to Environment et les catastrophes

Creative Lesson Starter: "The A-Z of Environmental Changes"

Objective

To engage Year 11 students in discussing environmental issues and catastrophes through a creative, interactive activity. The goal is to activate prior knowledge and encourage students to express their thoughts in French.

Activity Overview

As students enter the classroom, they will find a large poster on the wall with the heading "L'environnement et les catastrophes." The poster will be empty except for the letters A to Z listed vertically down one side. Underneath each letter, there will be space for students to fill in words or phrases related to the topic.

Instructions

1. Engagement (5 minutes):

   • As students settle in, activate curiosity by asking them to think of one word or phrase in French that corresponds to each letter of the alphabet concerning the environment or disasters.
   • Display an example at the top of the poster: "A - Atmosphère," or for "B," they could write "Biodiversité."

2. Group Collaboration (10 minutes):

   • Once students have had a few minutes to reflect individually, divide them into small groups and assign each group a few letters (e.g., Group 1: A-C, Group 2: D-F, etc.).
   • Challenge each group to add words or phrases to the poster within their assigned range, encouraging discussion in French as they strategise and collaborate.

3. Class Discussion (10 minutes):

   • After the groups have presented their contributions, guide a whole-class discussion, facilitating students in explaining their chosen words or phrases. Encourage interaction by asking questions like:
     • "Pourquoi avez-vous choisi ce mot ?"
     • "Comment cela se rapporte-t-il aux catastrophes environnementales ?"

4. Transition to Lesson Content:

   • Conclude the activity by noting that today’s lesson will delve deeper into the implications of these environmental terms and explore case studies of environmental catastrophes.

Conclusion

This engaging start will not only activate students' prior knowledge but also set a collaborative tone for the lesson ahead. By connecting personal input to the overarching theme of "L'environnement et les catastrophes," students will be better prepared to engage with the topic in both discussions and subsequent assessments in French.