Not unlike Italy, France's beauty goes far deeper than Paris or the Eiffel tower. It is the picturesque countryside and the small villages...
Not unlike Italy, France's beauty goes far deeper than Paris or the Eiffel tower. It is the picturesque countryside and the small villages...
In teaching, I always do my best to make things personal. Not always in a bad way, but so that students can relate to what they are learning. The French Revolution is no exception. This year is the second time now that I have done this activity, and it has worked wonders in helping the students truly understand the feelings and emotions of that time period. I always kick off my unit with this activity. They have NO clue what is going on, therefore don't necessarily get that I am "tricking" them. For starters, I write on the board that there will be a pop quiz today. The quiz, however, will be multiple choice and on colors (this makes them stop freaking out so much). I also let them know that they will be able to "buy" the answers or the English version of the quiz at the end of our activity for certain amounts of euros. Next, I randomly (I use cards that have "R", "P" or "N" on it, you can use what you want) assign them to three groups: Royalty, Nobles/Clergy and Peasants. I don't call them these titles because I don't want them to understand quite yet what is going on. I usually do 2 royalty, 4 nobles and the rest as peasants. Once they are separated, I give them each 5 fake euros for starters. It makes them feel that they are starting out "fair". But then I simulate everything that is going on. This is how a "quarter" works: 1. I point out that the R's are in charge of the class. They are in charge of their well being and must be answered to if there are any problems. Because they do SO much for the class, each Peasant must give each R one euro (so they are out two total). The R's end up with roughly 20 euro apiece from this. *I make the peasants get out of their chairs to hand the royalty the money. This simulates them working to give the money* 2. I then say that because the N's are such great students, they deserve 4 euros apiece. I take 4 euros from the "bank" in my hand and just give it to the N's. I hand the money off to them. 3. I then take 5 euros from each royal, pointing out that it costs money to run a classroom. 4. Next, I take 2 euros from each noble because they do need to make sure the electricity and heat is running in the room. 5. Finally, I give one euro to each peasant because they work SO hard. I make them come and get the euro, though, so they have to "work" for it. I do these 5 steps THREE total times. I might change the wording or the amounts by 1 (which can indicate famine or prosperity), but in the end, the royals have roughly 30-40 euro, the nobles have 10-12 and the peasants have 1 or 2. Once this is done, I hand out the quiz to EVERYONE. It is multiple choice and asks questions about colors. However, it is in French. I use vocabulary they do not know and ask questions they may not know the answer to (what color is Mme's car...what color is a 100 euro bill...etc). First, I ask if anyone wants to buy the answers for 20 euro (obviously only the royals can afford this). Then I ask if anyone wants to buy the English translations for 10 euro (only the nobles can afford this). Then I make them take the quiz. Hopefully nobody asks if it counts, but if they do, I just say "it is a quiz and will go in the quiz category" so I don't have to give them a direct answer. After about 5 minutes, we grade it. I point out that 1 wrong is a B, 2 is a C, etc. The kids always get REALLY upset. But then I calm them down and say "this test does not count". Once we are done, we discuss it (usually still without the Revolution context). I ask each group how they feel and what they would change, and then they have an open discussion about it. Eventually it catches on that this is about the Revolution and the "lightbulb" goes off. I love this activity because it momentarily places them in the roles of the revolution without actually harming their grade or being unfair.
Monaco is less than an hour away from Nice, France. Read about our day trip where we ate at La Salière, visited the Prince's Palace and won at Monte Carlo!
World War II was the biggest conflict in world history, and it profoundly shaped the modern world.
Explore Jerry Fryer's 434 photos on Flickr!
We spent a day in La Rochelle, on the coast of Poitou-Charentes and reaffirm our love for this unique maritime city. Here are 6 things we love about La Rochelle, France.
The Most Beautiful Villages in France....in the Dordogne Valley;travelling around the some of the Dordogne Valley's most beautiful villages with gastronomy.
I non giornalisti del web stanno facendo emergere quanto i giornalisti dell'albo avevano tenuto sommerso.
Explore dprezat's 35786 photos on Flickr!
France's Alsace Region is a hidden gem on the French/German border. The architecture, culture and food are a reflection of its history in the border region.
The Top 10 Normandy sights to see in this region of France: Mont St. Michel, D-Day landing beaches, market towns painted by the Impressionist painters.
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Riquewihr a medieval town in the Alsace Region in France. This wine town has its original architecture and was the inspiration for Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
Small charming villages is the specialty of France. Here's an itinerary of the most beautiful places to visit along the Dordogne River. Charming villages, old castles, medieval hamlets and beautiful water gardens are among the attractions in Corrèze, Lot and Dordogne. This itinerary is perfect for the summer holidays.
This is the ULTIMATE Simple Guide to getting a Long Stay Visa for France (with the VFS System). Seriously, you'll want to bookmark this!
Explore the beautiful villages on the south coast of France. Seaside towns to historical inland towns to explore the French way of life.
Ce n'est pas parce qu'il pleut que vous allez rester chez vous à vous lamenter, voici 7 idées géniales pour profiter de Paris sous la pluie !
With a stay at Grand Hotel Moderne in Lourdes, you'll be minutes from Basilica of St. Pius X and Rosary Basilica. Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk, multilingual staff, and a library. Planning an event in Lourdes? This hotel features 915 square feet (85 square meters) of event facilities.
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La cité corsaire est entourée de remparts qui forment une véritable ceinture de granit. Ils ont été construits au XIIe siècle pour protéger la ville.
France's Alsace Region is a hidden gem on the French/German border. The architecture, culture and food are a reflection of its history in the border region.
From wine country to the Alps (and everywhere in between), these are the most beautiful small towns in France.
