Skip to main content

F Is For French

We are participating in the Christian Home School Hub's Passport to the World journey. This week, we're exploring France. French is a beautiful language. I studied French for 2 years in high school. I even translated one book from French into Thai :). Now I can only remember a handful of French words/phrases. Below are some interesting facts we've learned about France and some useful links that different homeschool families share at http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/ .

Bienvenue A la France! = Welcome to France!

Some Interesting Facts:
  •  The French flag is called le tricolore (blue, red, & white). Red and blue are the colors of Paris and white was once the color of French royalty.
  • The French national anthem is called La Marseillaise, composed by a soldier named Claude-Joseph Rouget De Lisle as a marching song for the revolutionary army in 1792.
  • In France, you drive on the right hand side of the street and cars have steering wheels on the left just like us here in U.S.
  • The Eiffel Tower was built for the Paris Exposition of 1889 and contains 9,700 tons of iron. It's 1,000 feet high.
  • Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps, at 15,781 feet.
  • The first winter Olympics were held in Chamonix in 1924.
  • Children have a day off school on Wednesday.
  • In France, there are 2 kinds of police: Les gendarmes who work in the country and les agents de police who work in the town. 
  • Grasse in southern France is the center of the perfume industry.
  • France is the 4th biggest car producer in the world, next to the United States, Japan, and Germany.
  • Boules or pe'tanque is the national game of France. The object of the game is to toss or roll the boules (metal balls) as close to the jack ball as possible. The kids and I actually saw this game played on The Cosby Show :).
  • The famous bicycle race, Tour de France, follows a 2,975-mile course through France each summer.
  • Bastille Day on July 14 is a national holiday in France. It is the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prision in Paris in 1789 which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
  • People in France do not usually give gifts on Christmas Day but instead give them on St. Nicholas's Day (Dec. 6) or on la Fete des Rois (Jan. 6).
  • Some famous French artists include Eugene Delacroix (1799-1863), Honore Daumier (1808-1879), Edouard Manet (1832-1883), Edgar Degas (1834-1917), Claude Monet (1840-1926), Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), Henri Rousseau (1844-1910), Paul Gauguin (1848-1903).
  • Victor Hugo (1802-1885), a famous French writer, wrote poems, novels, and plays. The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables are his two most famous novels.
Some Useful Links:
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DVD Review and Giveaway: A Mile in His Shoes

A Mile in His Shoes is a family-friendly movie (PG) about a young man diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism) and how his God-given talent (his amazing throwing ability) helps him and others. It's about overcoming challenges in life. It is based on the book "The Legend of Mickey Tussler" (a true story). It's directed by William Dear, the director of "Angels In the Outfield." It stars Dean Cain who plays Arthur Murphy, a baseball coach and Luke Schroder who plays Mickey, the main character. Excellent performances! My family and I enjoyed this movie. It spoke to my heart deeply because one of my kids has symptoms that are similar to Asperger's Syndrome but the doctors diagnosed him with anxiety disorder, instead. My son is very athletic and great with numbers like Mickey. He is also sensitive to noise and crowds like Mickey. When Coach Murphy sees Mickey (a farmer boy) throw apples at a bucket for his pigs, he knows that he has just fo...
45 comments
Read more

Curriculum Clean Out--Spring 2011

I am participating in the Curriculum Clean-Out hosted by Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations . I'm a little late in joining so my giveaway deadline will be Friday, May 6th at midnight (Pacific time).  The item I'm giving away is Eenie Meenie Miney Math!  This book is filled with fun games and activities for parents to play with their preschooler(s) while "teaching" them math. The playing/learning takes place during daily routines. To enter: Leave a comment here and your email address. This giveaway is open to US residents only. For extra entries: 1. Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect or NetworkedBlogs                           2.  "Like" my Facebook page, Christ Alone, at http://www.facebook.com/ChristmyLordandSavior/                   ...
52 comments
Read more

Book Review: Immeasurably More: 100 Devotions on God's Extravagant Grace by Deb Burma

I was excited to review this devotional book for 3 reasons: 1. I collect devotional books, 2. I'm a big fan of God's grace, and 3. The theme of our church's women retreat this year (this weekend) is Ephesians 3: 20-21, " Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory ." which is also the theme for this book. Immeasurably More is a beautiful and meaningful devotional journal. It has 100 devotions organized into 10 different topics (grace, love, power, provision, purpose, peace, joy, gifts, rest, and life). Each devotion starts with Scriptures and ends with journaling and prayer prompts. This journal can be used individually or in a group study.  I have been blessed and refreshed by God's wondrous truths and Godly insights found in this book. These encouraging, inspiring devotions invite readers to bask in God's goodness and to experience His never-ending, jaw-drop...
Post a Comment
Read more