CM1 et CM 2 Sound Project-Tant de temps

In Technology class we spent the last weeks learning how to use a video software. Since most of us were already familiar with the video basics, we focused this time on the sound of a video. Not allowed to use the video function, we recorded the poem “Tant de Temps” that we studied in French class. The challenge was to create an interpretation of the poetry using only our voices, sounds and sound effects of the software. Close your eyes – we hope you enjoy HEARING the different results.

Building Addition Inauguration January 31, 2013 at 2:30 pm

You are cordially invited

 Thursday, January 31 at 2:30PM

to the inauguration of the new classroom and entrance of

L’Ecole Française du Maine

Consul General of France, Fabien Fieschi will officiate the event. 

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, 

the Consul General will issue the full accreditation certificate by the 

French Ministry of Education (pre-school through grade 5).

A reception is planned by the Parents’ Association.

RSVP: (207) 865-3308

School’s raison d’être: French

A journalist came to visit L'Ecole Française du Maine last week  and wrote a great article in the Tri-Town Weekly Newspaper this week.
http://www.keepmecurrent.com/tri_town_weekly/news/school-s-raison-d-tre-french/article_5408523c-64b8-11e2-a77b-0019bb2963f4.html

2nd and 3rd graders à la découverte de Jean-François Millet et du réalisme

Students are learning about realism and Jean-François Millet 's work.

We took and printed a picture of each student doing a realistic task in the class.

(getting the mail, carrying the sport equipment, watering the plants, erasing the board, writing. .)

 

Students had to study their own picture and 

really focus on the details like the colors, the position of their body.

 




                     Then, students realized a painting, trying to figure out how to come up with the same colors and detail. 

The Art of Shadow and Light ou l'ombre et la lumière

The real key to making shadow art isn’t the shadow itself, but the light and the objects blocking the light that eventually come together to make an image in the darkness. This lesson is very important in the CE1 and CE2 's curriculum. The students had to figure out how to draw light and shadow. 

First of all, they practiced with a pencil: starting with a white shape, they gradually added some shadow until they eventually got to the darkest shade of grey.

 The second practice was to do the same exercise with paints. They mixed white paint with a solid color to create some real nice palettes. 

             

 Finally, they were ready to apply the

  shadow and light techniques

 they practiced

  to paint pictures of  fruits.                                     

              

   

They also learned the primary, 

secondary 

and  

  tertiary colors. 

 

Check out our great art work featuring apples, pears, peaches and bananas.

CM1-CM2: A la manière de Winslow Homer

So this is the last of our beautiful projects on Winslow Homer.

The students selected one piece seen at the exhibition at the Portland Museum of Art and skethed it beautifully, playing with the subtleties of the paintings, shades and light. They later painted it with a mix of watercolor and paint.

The results are absolutely amazing.

Come check them out on the walls in the hallway.

"C’est bien de…" by the CM1

The students read and studied the book by Philippe Delerm, C’est Bien, which is a great collection of short stories, all dealing with little pleasures in everyday life.

  
In class, we discussed those little things we like to do, may it be baking a cake or reading a book by the fire, or watching a movie when it is raining.

Each student chose one moment that he/she likes and wrote about it, trying to recreate on paper the feelings, the joy, the excitement that it brings to them. They also illustrated their short story.

They are on display in the classroom.

Les CP font du pain

In class, the children read the book " la petite poule rousse". At the end of the story, la petite poule rousse is making bread. The children studied the recipe and learned about the role of yeast while making bread. 

First we mixed the flower and the salt,

then we added the yeast and some hot water, then we

kneaded the dough for 20 minutes until it looked like playdough.

Finally we shaped the dough like baguettes, crowns or little men.

And if you want to know our secret for a very crusty baguette, put some water on it and put in the oven for 25 minutes.

Enjoy!!!

Le livre des couleurs par les maternelles

The children in maternelle have been working really hard to create their book of colors. They are very proud to share it with you.

Les grottes de Lascaux

In history class, the CE2 is studying prehistory and the very famous caves of Lascaux.

  Lascaux is the setting of a complex of caves in southwestern France famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings. The original caves are located near the village of Montignac, in the department of Dordogne.

 The students learned how the caves were discovered, why there are paintings on the walls and what they represent. The children worked in groups to create their own posters.

Meet Peter Dugas, Piano Teacher

L'Ecole Francaise du Maine is  thrilled to announce that Peter Dugas will be joining its faculty as piano teacher in addition to Leah Neuchiller,  now a busy graduate student in Music Education.  Peter is accepting students of various level. A meeting for prospective families has been scheduled with Peter and Leah on Thursday, January 17 at 3:00 pm in the school office. Peter Dugas has been playing and teaching classical and jazz piano professionally for over fifteen years. He has been a fixture in Portland’s music scene and has played in a variety of styles from jazz to classical to pop. He has performed throughout the northeast and in Finland, Germany and France.  He has studied classical piano with Eleanor Carter and Laura Kargul and has studied jazz with Daryl Rhodes, Craig Najjar and Tom Snow. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Maine in Jazz Performance and previously holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.  Peter lives in Portland, Maine with his wife and daughter. He maintains a busy teaching studio and performs throughout New England.