As October rolls around, many French teachers are looking for creative ways to engage their students while tapping into the spooky season. A perfect way to achieve this is by incorporating a virtual field trip to the Catacombs of Paris into your lesson plan. This 27-page PowerPoint presentation, designed entirely in French, offers a rich and immersive experience that transports students to the eerie and fascinating world beneath the streets of Paris.
This resource has been a favorite among teachers, especially around Halloween. As one teacher, Melissa L., shared, "This was a lot of fun to use around Halloween! My students are very interested in the Catacombs, and this kept them engaged." Another educator, Lauren C., who used this with her Honors French 2 class, remarked, "Great resource! I incorporated this into a Halloween lesson. It was very engaging!" With such glowing reviews, it’s clear that this virtual field trip is not only a hit with students but also a valuable tool for educators.
Preparing for the French Virtual Field Trip: Setting the Stage with Mystery and Imagination
Without revealing that the destination is the Catacombs, encourage your students to think about what lies beneath the surface of Paris, a city known for its rich history and hidden depths. Ask them to think about what might be beneath their feet, deep underground.
Pose questions to stir their curiosity:
“What do you think lies beneath the streets of Paris? Perhaps the Métro, with its busy trains carrying passengers from one part of the city to another?”
“Could there be old, forgotten tunnels or secret passageways?”
“What other mysteries might be hidden in the depths of this ancient city?”
Allow your students to share their thoughts in French, encouraging them to use vocabulary related to the underground (souterrain), tunnels (les tunnels), and the subway (le Métro). As they imagine and discuss, their anticipation will build, making them eager to discover what truly lies beneath Paris.
By keeping the focus on the mysterious aspects of the city’s underground, you set the stage for a surprising reveal when they learn that their journey will take them into the historic and eerie Catacombs. This approach not only piques their interest but also engages their creativity, setting the tone for a memorable and immersive learning experience.
Exploring the Catacombs in French Class
Once your students are primed and ready, it’s time to embark on the virtual field trip. This presentation is packed with fascinating facts about the Catacombs, from their history to their current status as a major tourist attraction in Paris. As you move through the slides, you can ask students to take notes on key details, which will be useful for later activities.
To enhance the experience, the presentation includes a link to a video tour of the Catacombs. This visual component is crucial, as it allows students to see the Catacombs in all their eerie grandeur. Encourage students to pay attention to the architecture, the arrangement of the bones, and the overall atmosphere. After watching the video, facilitate a discussion in French about their impressions. What did they find most surprising or intriguing? How does the reality of the Catacombs compare to their expectations?
Incorporating Literature and Media
One of the highlights of this resource is the inclusion of a short video from the movie Le Bossu de Notre Dame, specifically the musical scene set in the Catacombs. This adds a fun and theatrical element to your lesson, allowing students to see how the Catacombs have been portrayed in popular culture. After viewing the clip, you could ask students to compare the movie’s depiction of the Catacombs with the real thing. What artistic liberties were taken? How does the setting contribute to the mood of the scene?
For those teaching more advanced classes, such as Honors French 2, this virtual field trip can serve as a fantastic introduction to related literature. One teacher noted, "This was a great addition to class, we are reading Perdue dans les Catacombes." Another teacher used the resource before introducing students to the novel Rat des Catacombes. If you’re teaching one of these or similar texts, this virtual field trip provides the perfect backdrop for exploring themes, setting, and vocabulary related to the Catacombs.
Post-Trip Activities and Reflection
After completing the virtual field trip, it’s important to reinforce the learning with a closing activity, such as having students create their own fictional diary entries as if they had visited the Catacombs themselves. They could describe what they saw, how they felt, and what they learned, using the vocabulary and facts from the presentation.
Another idea is to hold a class discussion or debate on the ethical considerations of the Catacombs. Are they a respectful way to honor the dead, or do they turn human remains into a spectacle for tourists? This can be a powerful way to engage students in higher-order thinking while practicing their French speaking skills.
For a more creative approach, you could have students design their own virtual tour of the Catacombs. Using the information they’ve learned, they could create a series of slides or a video, complete with narration in French. This project would not only reinforce their understanding of the Catacombs but also allow them to practice their French writing and speaking skills in a fun and interactive way.
Incorporating this virtual field trip to the Catacombs of Paris into your French lesson plan is an excellent way to engage students, especially around Halloween. With its mix of historical facts, visual media, and interactive activities, this resource brings the mysterious world of the Catacombs to life in your classroom. Whether you’re teaching beginners or more advanced students, the Catacombs offer a unique and captivating way to explore French language and culture.
As the reviews have shown, this resource is a hit with both students and teachers. It keeps students engaged, sparks their interest in French history and culture, and provides a perfect opportunity to practice language skills in a real-world context. So, as you plan your October lessons, consider taking your students on a virtual trip to the Catacombs—they’re sure to enjoy the journey.