Engage your pupils in reading (and writing) through play by printing and cutting out these simple puzzles for them to solve. There are separate files for puzzles in upper and lower case letters.

In this virtual race, players have to reconstitute and recopy words that have been broken down into syllables and scattered over the game grid. Students may play individually or in pairs. The words embedded in the grid are: 1 spider 2 cauldron 3 costume 4 pumpkin 5 phantom 6 haunted 7 wizard 8 zombie 9 disguise 10 casket 11 cobweb 12 demon 13. howl Happy Hallowe'en!

WOORDOKU6 (Kerstmis) is a simplified version of my WORDOKUs (word sudokus). The challenge is to slot the following Dutch words about Christmas into the grid: 1 de kerstster 2 de kerstkrans 3 de speculaaspop 4 de Kerstman 5 het elfje 6 het speelgoed

The end of every word in this circular puzzle is also the beginning of the next word. This puzzle comprises the following words: 1 thanks 2 stuffing 3 gobble 4 blessing 5 gratitude 6 devout 7 turkey 8 yam 9 amen 10 enterntain 11 nap 12 apple 13 leaves 14 squash 15 share 16 reap 17 pies 18 serve 19 vegetable 20 leap 21 potluck 22 kitchen 23 nut Once your students have found all the overlapping words, assign a theme and invite them to work with a partner to build their own variation on the game. Happy holidays!

WORDOKU6 is a simplified version of my 9 x 9 word sudokus.  The challenge is to slot the following expressions into the 6 x 6 grid. 1 pumpkin pie 2 share 3 turkey 4 family 5 cornucopia 6 autumn Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

This simplified word sudoku ( in a 6 x 6 grid) features the following expressions: 1 chocolates 2 Cupid 3 bouquet 4 friendship 5 February 6 sweetheart

Ce MOTDOKU simplifié met en valeur le vocabulaire ci-dessous. This MOTDOKU6 is a simplified version of my 9 x9 word sudokus. Students are challenged to slot the expressions below into the grid. 1 la tarte à la citrouille 2 partager 3 la dinde 4 la famille 5 la corne d’abondance 6 l’automne Joyeuse Action de grâce à tout le monde!

Many students are reluctant to speak in the target language. Using the transcripts of popular commercials and children’s television shows, this activity builds their confidence and enthusiasm for speaking in French. • First, have the class view the whole video. • Then, assign short segments of the (tran)script to small groups of students. • Each group will listen and rehearse their lines carefully because on the second screening of the full video, the sound will be muted and they will be providing the soundtrack. (I usually schedule the second viewing a week after the first screening.) • Especially creative and motivated classes should be encouraged to include sound effects and/or background music. This file includes transcripts for videos about Halloween, l’Action de Grâce, Noël and le patin à glace. I’ve included suggestions for extending the lesson for both Immersion and Core French programmes.te

Dutch primary schools are using Montessori pegboards to introduce children to coding work. The colours and numbers of the code reveal a pattern. Pupils must work the code, line by line, to build the surprise picture. Since not every classroom has pegboards, I’ve reworked the principle as a “paper-and-coloured-pencil” activity for individuals or pairs. P.S. I protested to my resident IT guru that it seemed a stretch to call this “coding” as it looked more like a knitting or weaving pattern to me. “Well,” he answered, "The punch cards of the Jacquard loom were direct ancestors of those in early computers”. I stand corrected!

My sister and her writing partner have given me permission to share their happy new Christmas song with other teachers. So, to spark a seasonal singalong, I’ve made a karaoke version of BABY, BABY, IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMA for your students. P.S. I’ve also included a triangle puzzle based on the lyrics and, of course, the lyric sheets. (Triangle puzzles make wonderful cooperative activities.) May your well-deserved Christmas holidays be joyful, relaxing, and . . . restorative. Merry Christmas!

2 Jeux de mots pour Noël (EN COMMENÇANT PAR LA FIN et MOTS COUPÉS) EN COMMENÇANT PAR LA FIN The end of every word in this circular puzzle is also the beginning of a new word. The words embedded in the puzzle are: 1 renne (m.) 2 neige (f.) 3 générosité (f.) 4 terre (f.) 5 réveillon (m.) 6 Noël (m.) 7 lutin (m.) 8 invité (m.) 9 étoile (f.) 10 lettre (f.) 11 rêve (m.) 12 vert 13 traîneau (m.) 14 auberge (f.) 15 église (f.) 16 étable (f.) 17 emballage (m.) 18 geler 19 roi (m.) 20 imagination (f.) 21 naître MOTS COUPÉS In this virtual race, players have to reconstitute and recopy words that have been broken down into syllables and scattered over the game grid. The words in this puzzle are: vacances (f.pl.) sapin (m.) cadeau (m.) étoile (f.) église (f.) chaussette (f.) enfant (m.) lutin (m.) hiver (m.) traîneau (m.) jouet (m.) grelots (m.pl.) 13. gui (m.) SEE IF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE RIGHT FOR YOUR STUDENTS. TRY . . . a free English version of “En commençant par la fin” : https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/i-know-these-words-backwards-and-forwards-thanksgiving-11424790 a free English version of "Mots coupés: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/chop-chop-a-hallowe-en-word-puzzle-11407269

In this small-group activity, Fate (the dice) will determine which Christmas character or object your students will describe. A relaxed way to reinforce lessons on adjectives and to encourage speaking in full sentences in French (or any target language). If you’d like to extend the lesson to written work, just assign any dice co-ordinates (ie: •• x •••• or •••• x •) I’ve included a PDF and a Powerpoint version of this resource. To be sure that this kind of activity is right for your students, download the free Exprime-toi (Les vêtements) at : https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/exprime-toi-les-v-tements-6291778 Joyeux Noël!

The difference between homophones and homographs is (literally) illustrated in this homonym lesson camouflaged as a game. Students are asked to identify and write out the eighteen pairs of homonyms pictured in the puzzle: ad add ball bawl bare bear bat bat bowl bowl cents scents dough doe eight ate eye I flour flower knight night lynx links moose mousse pair pear piece peace pitcher pitcher sow sew waste waist Black and white and half-sized versions of the game board are included.

The French episodes of Peppa the Pig are a rich and engaging resource for both FSL and immersion students. This puzzle complements the episode, PEPPA APPREND À SIFFLER. The objective is to match the sentence fragments printed on the edges of the triangles in order to reconstitute the picture of the pig and the 12 statements about the episode. Les épisodes français de Peppa sont une ressource précieuse pour les étudiants en français langue seconde et en immersion. Cette activité accompagne l’épisode “Peppa apprend à siffler”. L’objectif est de faire correspondre les fragments de phrases imprimées sur les bords des triangles afin de reconstituer l’image du cochon et les 12 énoncés concernant l’épisode. Le jeu encouragera vos étudiants à lire en contexte et à s’entraider pour trouver les solutions. L’activité peut également servir de matériel d’enrichissement pour les étudiants individuels. To be sure that this kind of activity is right for your students, download the free tarsia puzzle, LE FUTUR SIMPLE https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-6450469

Students have to match the sentence fragments and Q and As printed along the edges of the triangles in this puzzle. In so doing, they will reconstitute the following  25  statements on the themes of friendship and Valentine’s Day and “build” a heart Cette année je vais envoyer des cartes numériques. J’ai beaucoup de chance d’avoir un(e) ami(e) comme toi! Petit bandit! Tu as volé mon coeur. Prends-moi dans tes bras. = Fais-moi un calin. Je t’aime un peu . . . beaucoup … À LA FOLIE! un ours en peluche = image d’un ours en peluche S.t.p., ne joue pas avec mon coeur! le petit Cupidon = image d’un Cupidon Pourquoi la St-Valentin est-elle la fête préférée de M. Hershey et M. Cadbury? Il lui demande en mariage. [+ image] Papa offre des fleurs à Maman! Malheureusement, ce sont des dents-de-lion! Tu es comme une calculatrice; je peux toujours compter sur toi! Quelle fleur symbolise l’amour? La rose rouge. Que vas-tu faire pour Maman le 14 fevrier? Le petit déjeuner au lit! Tu es mon ami(e) parce que tu es très sympa. Ce bonbon est un coeur de conversation. [+ image] Ma recette pour un dîner romantique? image d’une boîte de dîner Kraft. Voici l’acrostiche d’un mot important: Aimable, Magnifique, Imaginatif Un admirateur secret t’achète une boîte de chocolat! Un synonyme de copain / copine est ami / amie. Je t’aime gros comme ça! [+ image] C’est toi et moi pour toujours! “x,x,x” a la fin d’ une lettre = bisou, bisou, bisou Mon meilleur ami / Ma meilleure amie? C’est toi, bien sûr! Chaque [image d’un chat + k] seconde passé avec toi est un moment de bonheur! LA SAINT-VALENTIN (JEU TARSIA/TRIANGLE PUZZLE) est une activité coopérative. Elle encouragera vos étudiants à se focaliser et à s’entraider pour trouver les solutions ci-dessus. To be sure that this activity is right for your students, please download the free “futur simple” triangle puzzle at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-6450469 Si vous cherchez un puzzle tarsia un peu plus difficile pour vos étudiants plus avancés, je vous propose COUP DE COEUR: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12965687

VALENTINE’S DAY (A TRIANGLE PUZZLE) focuses on friendship and fun rather than romance. It asks students to match the sentence fragments and Q and As printed along the edges of the triangles. In so doing, they will reconstitute  25 statements about friendship and Valentine’s Day and “build” a heart. Here are five of the reconstituted solutions: • You’re like a calculator; I can always count on you. • Yo, magnet! That paperclip thinks you’re really attractive. • I am so lucky to be your friend! • There’s nothing better than a friend unless it’s a friend with chocolate. • Friend, you mean the world to me. To be sure that this kind of activity is right for your students, downloadi the free “Christmas Singalong TRIANGLE puzzle” here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12764890 In the unlikely event that you have any cheeky children in your class, double-cutting your triangles will outmanoeuvre any player who might prefer matching paper edges to matching ideas!

This is a competitive, repetitive game that will help your students to listen “actively” and to familiarise themselves with a tricky grammar point through the process of osmosis. Tobe sure that this activity is right for your class, try the free resource, Let’s get to the bottom (or top) of LES EXPRESSIONS AVOIR: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/let-s-get-to-the-bottom-of-les-expressions-avoir-6451763 HERE ARE THREE SAMPLE SENTENCES FROM LGTTB(OT)OLVD&MV • Ma grand-mère est allée chez un tatoueur / pierceur. Je me demande si elle va rentrer avec un tatouage ou un piercing . . . • Harry, Ron et Hermione sont montés dans l’express à destination de l’école Poudlard (Hogwarts). • Le train est parti le premier septembre de la voie 93⁄4 à la gare de King’s Cross.

Embedded in each of the 4 puzzle grids in this bundle are several French words on the themes of L'Action de Grâce, L'Automne, L'Hiver and L’Halloween as well as many more general vocabulary words. The bundle includes • Full-colour copies and BW copies of each puzzle • a thematic vocabulary for each theme • answer keys • a “how to play” guide Try the free TES activity,'Joyeux Noël ('C'est touchant' is like Boggle.)' to see if this activity is for you: https://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Joyeux-No-and-235-l-and-quot-C-and-39-est-touchant-and-quot-is-like-Boggle-6150658/

This 11-page tutorial walks students through the differences between the interrogative and the relative pronouns, qui and que /qu'. It also explains the difference between the subject and object pronoun. However, there's also a simple little visual for those students who have not yet studied or mastered that grammatical point in English. The relatively simple gap fill exercise is followed by a more challenging mini-tutorial on combining two sentences using these pronouns and a page of questions.

This triangle puzzle focusses on the present tense of the irregular verbs, vouloir, pouvoir and devoir. To solve the puzzle co-operatively, students will have to match snippets of text to form sentences like, "Pour jouer à Minecraft, on doit utiliser son imagination" and "Pour voir mes photos, vous pouvez me suivre (folow) sur Instagram". To make sure this activity is right for your students, test drive another triangle puzzle, the free "futur simple" puzzle: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/le-futur-simple-a-triangle-puzzle-6450469