At this point, all students have written their English version (some still need to revise their papers), and all have started their French paper (some are done, yeah!). This is a difficult task, and students should stay away from Google Translate. The instruction was to write the story in a simpler version that students could tell in their own words. Students have the linguistic tools to write such stories : past tenses, immigration vocabulary, talking about families, places and hardship. French version are due Monday13th, but we will use the week to finish and revise. Students need to work at home as well as in class. This is the only HW given for the Cultural Connection class.
The last part of this project is to present it orally, in French. Students need to write a 250 to 300 word paper to present their project to their classmates and practice it multiple times. They will have the board they created as a prop. Speeches will take place during the week of the 27th but need to be submitted by Tuesday the 21st.
Everything (English + French papers, titles and captions, speech in French) needs to be done by Tuesday February 21st.
Cultural Festival projects will be mounted on poster boards during the week of the 20th (Wednesday and Thursday). Students who want to do their poster boards at home are welcome to do so, but some supervision is needed to help students place all their material onto the board. French Immersion students have the difficult task to fit their information in French and in English, yet have enough room on their posters for pictures. The key is to hold off on the glue stick. Often students start gluing a few elements without thinking where other will go or if all will fit. For those who have a lot of everything (info and pictures), there are few tricks available: create a picture books on the display / taping an accordion-like display at the bottom of the board / pasting the English text over the French on a flap that one would lift or drop (a small magnet can keep the flap up). We will have a lesson on aesthetics and design to ensure that all posters are easy to read, and are pleasing to the eye.
Last, the fun part: Open House on Thursday March 8th from 6:30 to 8:00. Parents and families are invited to browse the projects all RMS 6th graders have created telling the story of their families or of local features. It is quite a sight. Posters will ornate our C and D hallways for about two weeks.
