Grade 1 French Immersion: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 1 french immersion in the Ontario Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- In immersion, French is the language we learn in, so listening and speaking grow every day.
- Reading French texts of many kinds builds comprehension and the habit of reading for meaning.
- Writing in French for a purpose and an audience uses the conventions of the language.
- Understanding how French works helps us choose the right words, tenses and sentence structures.
- Learning in French connects us with Francophone communities in Canada and around the world.
Easy ways to practise french immersion at home
- Read French picture books together, even if you are learning too. Let your child tell you what is happening.
- Sing French songs and nursery rhymes in the car or at bath time.
- Name things around the house in French, and ask your child to teach you the words.
- Clap the syllables in French words and play “What rhymes with chat?”
What each unit covers
Je me présente
Speaking about oneself and one's daily life with simple sentence patterns: my name, age, likes and feelings.
Majuscule et point
Writing conventions: capital letters, spaces between words and end punctuation.
Est-ce que…?
Forming questions with “est-ce que” and recognizing the question mark.
Les verbes d'action
Present-tense endings of common action verbs, matched to the person doing the action.
Couleurs et adjectifs
Colours and simple adjectives to describe people, animals and things, including feminine forms.
Histoire ou texte?
Telling a story apart from an informational text, a key reading skill in Grade 1.
Dans l'histoire
Elements of a story (characters, setting, events) and putting events in order to retell a story.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Level 1
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Level 2
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Level 3
- Has it! Level 3 is the provincial standard. Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Level 4
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Ontario report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 1 child with french immersion?
Read French picture books together, even if you are learning too. Let your child tell you what is happening. Sing French songs and nursery rhymes in the car or at bath time. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 1 french immersion in Ontario?
The Ontario Curriculum Grade 1 french immersion units include je me présente, majuscule et point, est-ce que…?, les verbes d'action, couleurs et adjectifs, histoire ou texte?.
Free printable Grade 1 french immersion practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.