Need to present France to 10-11 y.o. What are the main 3 areas I should present?

Question

It's sort of like an educational graduation from elementary. We are doing an around the world theme. My area is France, and while I would love to do a wine tasting, the principal may frown on that. Paris needs to be represented with maybe an outdoor cafe and the Louvre and Eiffel Tower. Would love to showcase other areas of France but am having a hard time narrowing it down.

Our school is set up in "pods", so there will be 6 pods to be decorated. I will have one. It's a big night and a lot of work goes into it, so any and all ideas are welcome. Thanks.

Answer 1

I read your question differently.  The three areas I would recommend are 1) Paris because you said it needed to be represented; 2) Versailles came to mind because it is truly remarkable, but perhaps Provence would be better, since it is in the south and has beach resorts and a lovely countryside aspect; and 3) The Normandy region due to the D-day landings and the history and landmarks that are so much a part of France and our world history.  These are three "areas" that I believe would represent a good introduction to France and could be presented in the way you describe.  Best of luck--it does sound like a lot of hard work, but it will be very cool.  Hope that helps.

Answer 2

try something centered around something ever so slightly less known then the eiffel tower. try the centre pompidou, the inside-out museum. it's the coolest thing in the world! look it up. another thing would be the arc de triomphe. it's beautiful and majestic and absolutely huge. look up something around those lines.

Answer 3

You mention three areas and I take it that you mean more than three physical areas in France.

It seems to me the obvious ones are:

1. France's role in American history (The role of Lafayette. The intervention of the French Fleet and Army that were responsible for the victory at Yorktown. Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson in Paris. The US and France in the world wars and Vietnam) Find a picture of the Cafe Procope on the internet. Its the place that Franklin used to hang out and its still in operation at the same address.

2. France's place in  artistic, scientific  and philosophical history. (David and Lautrec to Manet and Gaugin in art. The Foucault pendulum to Lavosier in science. Descartes to Bergson to Sartre in philosophy)

3. France's influence on American culture. From food ( try serving "bread and chocolate"...a common treat for French school children but, I think, rarely done in the USA) to crossover music. (Trenet's "La Mer" becomes Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea", "Plasir D'amour" is the basis for Elvis' "Can't help falling in love", Aznavour's "Hier encore" becomes the Roy Clark hit "yesterday when I was young" That might be the basis for the musical background)

Answer 4

As usual Rillifane has given a superb answer!

But if you need "landmarks"...For Paris, besides the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre Museum, try something that isn't only french, but also american... The Statue of Liberty! The original model for the statue is on a small island in the Seine river in Paris.... After all the statue in New York was a gift from the french people to our country! Why not go to Google maps for a view of Paris so you can locate it perfectly?

Then if you want different areas of the country...

How about the Côte d'Azur...use something about the Cannes film festival for example... Or the lovely beaches in that part of France...

Or go to the mountains: Grenoble (in Isère) is the french city equivalent to the US's Silicon Valley, latest technology and  industrial areas, it is also the door to most of Frances wonderful ski resorts... Worth looking into.

Brittany, a part of the country with a celtic origin, the regional costumes are fantastic, and every summer they have a Celtic Music festival famous all over Europe (you can find it in internet)...It goes to show that bagpipes aren't just native to Scotland!

As you said, I doubt the wine tasting would go over very well... But how about a cheese tasting? After all France is well known for its over 365 different cheeses! Get some french baguette loaves (or vienna style bread will do)  and some crackers or bread sticks....Check how many french style cheeses you can find in your area...Surely at least  camembert,  brie,  roquefort and an Emmenthal (same as swiss, swiss will do in a pinch), and maybe some others can be found. Put them on a red checked tablecloth, and behind put a picture of the Eiffel Tower and voilà...one of the essences of France. (Evidently no wine, but some good grape juice will give a nice flavour contrast!)

Hope this helps you out!

Have fun...wish I were there to help you out and see the childrens reactions!

Answer 5

After these beautiful things written on France, it's difficult to add something, my friends have said everything. They know France better than many french !

I suggest you to offer "croissants" to eat...

Answer 6

How about the Loire Valley and it's chateau. Lots to choose from and the chateaux themselves give a strong image of France. Perhaps leading onto the French Revolution.

Chennonceau, Chambord and Blois have fascinating histories.