Science / Sciences

Our current Science unit focuses on biodiversity. We are presently talking about the threats to biodiversity (global warming, pollution, etc.) as well as the goods that come from it (food, water, shelter, oxygen, etc.).

Pollution / La pollution

Students are studying various awareness posters to help them reflect on our lifestyles and choices as human beings and on how they can have an impact (positive and/or negative) on biodiversity. I have included some of the awareness posters we have seen together. Please keep in mind that while some are in French, others are in English.  A few have been translated by me when shown in class. Please feel free to go over these posters with your child to further discuss the importance of biodiversity in our lives. The students will be creating their own awareness posters which will be put up all around the school. 







Global Warming / Le réchauffement de la planète





Pollution and Habitat Destruction / La pollution et la destruction des habitats



Pollution, Exploitation and Habitat Destruction / La pollution, l'exploitation et la destruction des habitats



Exploitation / L'exploitation



Reading / Lecture

During the first term of the 6FI, students are given time (in class) on a weekly basis for silent reading. The "J'ai le fou de lire" reading program helps students to keep track of books they read throughout the week (in class or out of class - I ask to see the books read at home). It also allows them to comment on the book/chapter they have read. I ask that every book/chapter is initialed by a parent/guardian. I will also provide my initials. When students have filled out one side of the "J'ai le fou de lire" hand-out (author, title, amount of pages, comment(s), parent/guardian and teacher initials), they will receive a small prize (pencil, eraser, bookmark, etc.). This reading program also gives me an idea of the students' reading level. Our reading comprehension strategies mirror those of the English Language. We will start with the first strategy "Faire des prédictions" (making predictions). This strategy will be posted in class for students to see and I will also hand out a summary of "Faire des prédictions" to students. This summary will be kept in their white Reading duo tang (Duotang de lecture). After we have learned and mastered this strategy, it will be replaced by the second one "Visualiser". If students need to revisit the "Faire des prédictions" strategy, they will be able to do so by using the strategy's summary. Students are expected to keep these summaries in order (as taught in class) and they are also expected to use them independently (when working on a reading assignment).
Have a look at the following French Web site with your child to have a general idea of the reading comprehension strategies "en français"!
http://www.atelier.on.ca/edu/pdf/Mod41_strategies_lecture_cycle_moyen.pdf

Physical Education "en français"

The Grade 6 students will be doing various Physical Education activities in French. I have provided you with a copy of our rules when participating in all physical activities. This year, the students will have Physical Education twice a week for a period of 40 minutes each.  It is important that your child wears running shoes during our Physical Education class. It is a good idea to always have a pair of running shoes in the classroom.

 Français immersion 6e année

Les règlements pour la classe d’éducation physique

1. Be safe.	1. Je respecte les règles de sécurité.
2. Be nice.	2. Je suis gentil(le) envers les autres élèves.
3. Take care of the equipment.	3. Je respecte l’équipement.
4. Wear running shoes.	4. Je porte des espadrilles.
5. Be fair.	5. Je respecte les règles du jeu.
6. Stop, look and listen when you hear the whistle blow.	6. J’arrête, je regarde et j’écoute au son du sifflet.
7. Have fun!	7. J’ai du plaisir!

French Grammar - October 2011

During the month of October, we will be studying the reflexive verbs. In French, these are called "Les verbes pronominaux".
Students will been given 4 resources to help them master this verb tense:

1. A Visual Instructional Plan (V.I.P.) that decribes the necessary steps to conjugate this verb tense.
2. A handout with different examples (the morning routine verbs VS the nightly routine verbs).
3. A PowerPoint document explaining the different reflexive verbs.
4. A song on reflexive verbs called "Ma routine" to be sung to the song "We Will Rock You" by Queen.

These verbs will be firstly practised orally. Afterwards, we will study these verbs when reading different texts (song, letters, etc.) and finally, the students will be asked to produce a comic strip as their final writing assignment. The software we will be using for the comic strip is called Bitstrips. Feel free to explore their Web site : http://www.bitstrip.com/

Here's a link that your child and yourself may want to visit in order to study the reflexive
verbs.

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/rgshiwyc/school/curric/French/Reflexverbs/ReflexIndex.htm

TFO - Ontario's French Language Television Network

You don't have to speak French to help your child learn it!
TFO has tools to help you! Please visit the following links :

http://www2.tfo.org/education/immersion
http://www2.tfo.org/education/Content/PDF/Parent%20Brochure%20EN.pdf

Some Useful Internet Web Sites

- www.edu.gov.on.ca (Ontario Ministry of Education) 


- www.cpf.ca (Canadian Parents for French - Canada)

- www.cpfont.on.ca (Canadian Parents for French – Ontario)

- www.frenchtipsandbits.blogspot.com (Mme Lebrun’s web page)

- www.french-future.org (French for the Future)

- www.verb2verbe.com (To practise French verbs)

- www.jump-gate.com/languages/french/french1.html (Pronunciation Guidelines)

- www.languageguide.org/french (French Pictorial Vocabulary Guide)

- www.wordreference.com (Translation Dictionary)

- www.librairieducentre.com (French language bookstore located in Ottawa)

- www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/ (Le Droit – Ottawa - French Online Newspaper)

- www.expressottawa.ca (L’Express – Ottawa – French Online Newspaper)

- http://rainbowschools.ca/programs/French/Toolbox/FI_TOC.php (Essential Homework Helper for parents & students)

- http://www.myhamilton.ca/articles/french-immersion-homework-help-resources (French Immersion Homework Help Resources)

- http://www.cpf.bc.ca/site3/index.php/students/homework-help (Homework Help)

- www.culturefrancophone.ca (Arts, Culture & Fun Stuff)

How to Type French Accents - International Keyboard Layout OR ALT codes

This year, your child will take part in a number of technology integrated activities. Unfortunately, he or she will not be able to avoid "les fameux accents"! It is essential to put accents in their proper places - an incorrect or missing accent is a spelling mistake just as an incorrect or missing letter would be. Many homophones exist in the French language. They can be distinguished from each other by the accents. Here are a few examples :

un cure - a cure              mais - but                    ou - or
un curé - a priest            maïs - corn                  où - where

Now you can see how a sentence like the one below can be easily avoided :
Hier, j'ai mangé du mais pour souper. (Yesterday, I ate some but for supper.) ;)

There are two ways to type accents on a PC.

A. You can use the international keyboard, which requires a simple control panel configuration - there is no keyboard to purchase or software to download. In order to use one of these alternate keyboard layouts, you need to add it to Windows. Once you've done this, you can either set it as your default keyboard, or use alt plus shift to toggle between two or more layouts. The way to do this is slightly different for each operating system.


Windows Vista
1.Open your Control Panel
2.If in Classic View, click Control Panel Home in upper-left corner
3.Under Clock, Language, and Region, click Change keyboards or other input methods
4.Click Change keyboards
5.Click Add
6.Scroll down to the layout you want to add*
7.If you don't see a list including the keyboard you want, click + to expand
8.Choose your layout
9.Click OK in each dialog window.


Windows XP
1.Open your Control Panel (via Start menu or My Computer)
2.Double-click Regional and Language Options
3.Click Languages
4.Click Details
5.Click Add
6.Under "Input Language" pick the language you want to add*
7.Under "Keyboard layout/IME" make your selection
8.Click OK in each dialog window.


Windows 95, 98, ME, NT
1.Open your Control Panel (via Start menu or My Computer)
2.Double-click Keyboard
3.Click Language
4.Click Properties, Settings, or Details (whichever you see)
5.Click Add
6.Pick the layout you want to add*
7.Click OK in each dialog window.


Windows 2000
1.Open your Control Panel (via Start menu or My Computer)
2.Double-click Keyboard
3.Click Input Locales
4.Click Change
5.Click Add
6.Pick the layout you want to add*
7.Click OK in each dialog window.


B. You can use the accented characters with ALT codes, which use the ALT key and a 3 or 4 digit code. However, ALT codes only work with the numeric keypad, NOT the row of numbers across the top of your keyboard. So they won't work on a laptop unless you hit number lock to activate the number pad "built into" the right-side of your keyboard, which might be tricky because then the letters won't work. Bottom line, if you're using a laptop, use the different keyboard setting instead of the ALT codes.



To type accents with ALT codes, hold down the ALT key, then on the numeric keypad type the three or four digits listed here. When you release the ALT key, the character will appear.


a with "accent grave"
à ALT + 133 À ALT + 0192
a with "accent circonflexe"
â ALT + 131 Â ALT + 0194
a with "tréma"
ä ALT + 132 Ä ALT + 142
c with "cédille"
ç ALT + 135 Ç ALT + 128
e with "accent aïgu"
é ALT + 130 É ALT + 144
e with "accent grave"
è ALT + 138 È ALT + 0200
e with "accent circonflexe"
ê ALT + 136 Ê ALT + 0202
e with "tréma"
ë ALT + 137 Ë ALT + 0203
i with "accent circonflexe"
î ALT + 140 Î ALT + 0206
i with "tréma"
ï ALT + 139 Ï ALT + 0207
o with "accent circonflexe"
ô ALT + 147 Ô ALT + 0212
u with "accent grave"
ù ALT + 151 Ù ALT + 0217
u with "accent circonflexe"
û ALT + 150 Û ALT + 0219
u with "tréma"
ü ALT + 129 Ü ALT + 154
French quotation marks
« ALT + 174 » ALT + 175