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Lesson 1: French animal nouns and sounds

Learning to use a bilingual dictionary to look up English nouns, to identify the correct French noun and to notice whether it is masculine or feminine. Using these dictionary skills, the children learn new animal vocabulary and sort the nouns according to gender, allocating the appropriate indirect article.
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Learning objective

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

1. Attention grabber

Qu’est-ce que c’est ? - What is is it?

Hold up a French-English bilingual dictionary. Ask the children to talk with partners to identify:

  • What it is.

  • What it does.

  • How it works.

  • Key features.

Discuss general dictionary skills:

  • Alphabetical order.

  • Looking at the first letter first, then the second letter, etc.

Ask the children how they would explain to a younger year group how to use a dictionary.

Discuss how this bilingual dictionary might be different from other dictionaries that the children have used before.

For more information and guidance, listen to the Teacher video: Nouns and sounds.

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Originally created by:
Image Specialists 10
Belinda Dean French specialist

Belinda has been a French and Spanish teacher based in Bath for more than 15 years. She has delivered a range of courses for teachers and PGCE students and is particularly passionate about weaving language, culture and global learning across the curriculum. Having previously worked in travel publishing, she is a keen explorer and nature lover with a fondness for all things South America.

Belinda has created topics on introductions through puppetsplayground games, and has created a French science lesson on the circle of life.

Find out more
Maintained by: Kapow Primary teamLast update: 11 May 2026

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