By the time June hits, our classrooms are buzzing with excitement—and a little chaos. One of my favourite ways to keep engagement high and get some fresh air is to take learning outside. It’s simple, it breaks up the day, and it gives French learning a chance to feel natural and playful.
Here are a few of the low-prep activities I use to sneak in language practice while enjoying the sunshine.
🌱 1. Measuring Nature
We bring out Unifix cubes and head straight for the grass! Students work in pairs or small groups to measure leaves, sticks, rocks, and dandelions.
This opens up so much natural vocabulary:
court / long
plus grand / plus petit
bâton / feuille / fleur / roche
You can model simple sentences like:
“Cette feuille est longue.”
“Ce bâton est plus court que le crayon.”
It’s a fun way to connect French to their world—and they love the hands-on aspect.
🎨 2. French Colour Hunts
This one works almost anywhere: the playground, a school garden, or even just the sidewalk.
Give students a simple colour checklist or let them draw what they find. Call out:
“Trouve quelque chose de rouge!”
“Est-ce que tu vois du bleu?”
You can extend it with drawing the items with sidewalk chalk!
🔍 3. Nature Word Scavenger Hunt
Send students to look for outdoor items that match simple vocab words:
un arbre, une fleur, une roche, une plume, un insecte, une feuille
Pair it with actions or questions to boost engagement:
“Touche un arbre!”
“Est-ce que tu peux sauter à côté d’une roche?”
You can keep it open-ended or offer clipboards and a checklist.
Letting Go of Perfection
None of these need to be Pinterest-perfect. You don’t need fancy printables or hours of prep. Just grab a basket of materials, pick a simple goal, and head out the door. The real magic is in the connection, movement, and joy of language that happens naturally.
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