KS 3-4. The Tour de France provides a rich source of engaging material covering a wide range of language - from dates, numbers and comparisons, to fitness, pen portraits and drugs. There are so many possible themes it would be the perfect subject for an end of term project, and students could follow it stage by stage, keeping a record of the highlights. Another possibility is to focus on geography. The map of France on the Tour de France website (www.letour.fr) provides an overview, while links to the villes etapes offer short descriptions of each one. The site can also be read in English, allowing students of all levels to access more complicated language.

KS5

The topic is equally appropriate for an AS-level oral presentation or could be incorporated into general classwork in the context of leisure. The prize money could lead into a comparison with other sports and a discussion about the impact of money on traditional sporting values. The issue of drugs is another potential area of debate.