Let’s be real—the end of the year is wild. Between field trips, report cards, and kids basically melting into puddles of excitement, finding time (and energy) for French class can feel impossible. But what if it didn’t have to be another thing on your list?
Whether you’ve been teaching French all year or you’re suddenly realizing you haven’t squeezed in as much as you meant to, it’s not too late! You can still bring the joy of French into your classroom with simple, low-prep activities that feel fun—not forced.
Keep It Light, Keep It Moving
At this point in the year, kids are buzzing with energy. Use it to your advantage! Think movement-based activities like scavenger hunts using French vocabulary, or simple games like “Jacques Dit” (Simon Says en français!). These kinds of activities help students burn energy and reinforce vocabulary—all while keeping the classroom chaos to a minimum.
Stick to Hands-On and Familiar
Now’s not the time to introduce something brand new and complicated. Think: beading cards, pompom sorting, stamp-and-say activities—things your students already know how to do, but with seasonal or themed vocabulary. These kinds of tasks let students feel successful while keeping French front and centre.
If you have my summer-themed or seasonal French resources, this is the time to pull them out! Many include vocabulary for things like beach, ice cream, sunshine, and outdoor fun—perfect for this time of year, and so easy to set up.
Keep Them Writing (Even Just a Little!)
Low-pressure writing activities like simple sentence building, mini booklets, or vocabulary “find and write” pages help kids stay in learning mode without it feeling like work. Pair these with drawing, coloring, or even sticker prompts for an extra boost of engagement.
Have a few minutes before recess? This is the kind of French you can squeeze in with zero prep.
Let Kids Lead
One of my favourite things to do near the end of the year is give students the chance to teach or share their favourite French words or phrases with the class. You’d be surprised how excited they get to stand in front of their peers and say “Bonjour mes amis!”—and it’s a great way to reinforce confidence and show how far they’ve come.
Keep It Positive
The end of the year should feel fun and celebratory—not stressful. If you’ve introduced French into your classroom in any way this year, you’ve made a difference. Your students have learned more than you think, and you’ve shown them that French can be playful, hands-on, and part of their everyday classroom life.
If you’re looking for easy-to-use, low-prep French resources to wrap up the year, I’ve got you! My activities are designed for busy teachers (especially those who aren’t fluent in French!) and give your students meaningful practice in a way that feels fun.
Let’s keep the joy going—right to the very last day.