French Classes Incorporate Olympics into Curriculum

With all the buzz around the Paris Olympics and Paralympics this summer, our Middle and Upper School French classes have been extending their studies to the athletes, community and culture that surround the Games.

In the Upper School, Ms. Allison Cain’s French III and AP French classes and Ms. Valerie Genin’s French III class researched French-speaking Olympic athletes. Working in the Impact Studio, the students created gold medals out of laser cut chipboard, air dry clay and gold spray paint to represent each athlete’s identity and background. Once the medals were complete, the classes held Olympic medal ceremonies, complete with acceptance speeches and national anthems.

In the Middle School, Ms. Genin’s French II class also made gold medals after researching French-speaking Paralympians. Meanwhile, her French 1A class crafted Phryges, which were the official mascots of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The little red hats, known as a Phrygian cap (or a liberty cap), are a symbol of the French liberation. The students decorated their Phryges with materials from the Middle School Impact Studio.