Lesson Plan #: AELP-FRN0200

Creating a Rhyming Book - Bonsoir Lune

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Catherine Hobby
Email: rhobby1@maine.rr.com
School/University/Affiliation: Lunt Elementary School, Falmouth, Maine

Date: December 3, 2001

Grade Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

Subject(s):

Duration: Two 30-minute sessions

Description: The book Goodnight Moon rhymes in English but not in the translation Bonsoir Lune . Students will make a "Goodnight" book in French that rhymes!

Goals:

  1. Students will review vocabulary already studied and use it a new context.
  2. Students will be aware of the different sounds used in French (especially the nasal sounds).

Objectives:

  1. Students will recall vocabulary and select appropriate rhyming words to include in a class book.
  2. Students will pay close attention to the details of pronouncing French words in order to choose words that truly rhyme.
Materials: Procedure:
Read the book, Bonsoir Lune . Have the students notice that, although the book is charming, it has lost something in the translation -- the rhyming! Invite students to make their own class book that will rhyme, using the words they already know.

Before class, go through the vocabulary your students have learned to date and find words that rhyme. Bring flashcards representing these words to class, and place them in different areas around the room. As a large group, ask students to help group the words according to the ending sounds. This can be quite tricky with words like "maman" and "bonbon."

Once the flashcards have been grouped into rhyming piles, the entire class will work together to create a "class book." Have the class decide on a rhyming pattern (aabb; abab; abba; whatever they come up with). For example, with a rhyming pattern aabb, the first student might choose a card representing "Papa." The student stands in front of the class (next to the first child) with his flashcard and everyone says, "Bonsoir Papa." The next student needs to find a card that will rhyme with the first, such as "pyjama." The student stands in front of the class, and everyone says, "Bonsoir pyjama." Continue in this fashion, stopping every now and then to go over the entire book to make sure the rhyming pattern is continued, until all students have a turn. This provides lots of oral practice!

To create the class book, xerox the flashcards and mount them on construction paper. Read the completed book to the class (read it as a chorus together). Give each student a copy of the book. [ Author's Note: Teachers may also want to put a copy of the class book on a bulletin board or place on display in the library. Note: There are no words written in these books, as my first graders do not read French. For older students in grades 3 or 4, I would do the same thing but have the written words on the page. On each page, students could glue or draw a picture representing the word. For grades 5 or 6, I would have them work in small groups to draw the pictures and write the French words. Then each group would share its book with the class.]

Assessment: Observe students as they group and pronounce rhyming words. Are students able to "read" the class book to others?