What it’s all about

A great topic on climate change is how different countries are tackling the problem. Pupils could pick one issue from the country in question and research it, then present their findings in various forms, giving them practice in the target language, writes Catherine Paver.

Start with simple, everyday vocabulary you want them to learn anyway, such as “car”, “tree” and “water” and add nouns or verbs such as “use”, “waste” and “recycle”.

You could have a wall display with a world map, and little cards with pictures and words you taught. Let children take it in turns to pin “the rubbish in Germany” and “the cars in France”. This will help them to build simple phrases about “les voitures en France”.

Alternatively, find out how many electric cars have been sold in different countries. Pupils could research this and produce a wall display that shows the position of each country as a little car on a big graph.

Electric cars are exciting and visual, with inspiring stories in the press. Recycling is another good topic for young children because it is visual and familiar.

Children could produce colourful work for a wall display using the target language and examples you have given them and posters, leaflets, or simple front pages for an environmental newspaper, using the stories you have explored. You could supply the text and help them to understand it. They could then illustrate the page and produce headlines and captions - even a snappy name for the newspaper.

What else?

Use this termly plan and suggested language for comparing countries from QCDA_Resources. bit.lyTheWorldAboutUs

Try this French blog charting the first world tour in an electric car. bit.lyElectricOdyssey.