1 - Something Changes After Ten ~5 mins
Count to twenty in English together. Easy, right? Now listen carefully when we meet the French numbers above ten. From seventeen onwards, something changes: the words are built out of smaller numbers stuck together.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Count and recognise French numbers from eleven to twenty
- Spot which numbers are built from two smaller parts
Lead a quick count to twenty in English, then stop. Tell the class that French numbers above ten are not all brand-new words: some are built by joining smaller ones. Do not name the pattern yet; the flashcards will reveal it. Keep this beat light and curious so they are listening for the join when the words appear.
2 - Numbers to Twenty ~10 mins
Here are today's ten numbers, from eleven to twenty. We meet them in two groups.
- Group 1 (11–16): hear the French, then the whole class repeats twice.
- Group 2 (17–20): same again. Listen hard: you will hear two smaller numbers joined together.
On a second pass, you may guess the French before the flip if you feel ready.
Run this as whole-class on the board. First pass is listen-then-repeat only: play or model the French before anyone is asked to produce it. Batch the cards: onze to seize first, then dix-sept to vingt as their own group so the compound pattern is heard clearly. Pronunciation guides: onze (OHNZ), douze (DOOZ), treize (TREZ), quatorze (kah-TORZ), quinze (KANZ), seize (SEZ), dix-sept (dees-SET), dix-huit (deez-WEET), dix-neuf (deez-NUF), vingt (VAN). Pause on dix-sept, dix-huit and dix-neuf and ask what two parts they can hear. Celebrate the first time someone spots "dix + sept": "Yes! You cracked the code." Optional second pass: English shows first and a volunteer guesses before the flip. Class still repeats each word twice after the model.
3 - Market Bingo ~10 mins
You each have a printed bingo card (your teacher will hand them out). Listen carefully. When you hear a number in French, mark it on your card. Imagine a stall at a French market calling prices: quinze euros, douze euros. First full line shouts "Bingo!" then reads the line back in French. The calls lean on the numbers above ten, so stay sharp.
How to Play Bingo:
Option 1: Students on Devices (Digital Version)
- Use the digital version where your teacher view of the lesson displays the cards that are being called out.
- Play the pronunciation sound of each word and the children mark it off their unique digital bingo card.
- Each student has a randomised bingo card so winners will vary!
Option 2: Print Out the Bingo Cards
- Print out the Bingo Cards from the attachment above, cut out the cards, and give one to each student.
- You call out the vocabulary words and students mark off their sheets.
- First student to complete a line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) calls "Bingo!" and wins.
4 - Into Your Copy ~3 mins
Write the French words for 11 to 20 in your copy. Use the list on the board. Then circle the ones made of two smaller numbers.
Board list: onze · douze · treize · quatorze · quinze · seize · dix-sept · dix-huit · dix-neuf · vingt
Pause the board and keep this step's list of onze to vingt fully visible for the whole three minutes so the task stands alone. Everyone's pen should be moving. Walk the room and check they are writing the French words, not only the digits or the English. The ones to circle are dix-sept, dix-huit and dix-neuf (ten-seven, ten-eight, ten-nine). Do not collect the copies.
5 - Croissant Count on the Wheel ~10 mins
Imagine a basket of croissants at a French boulangerie. Spin the wheel. Say the number it lands on in French. Then say the next number only if it is still between onze and vingt. If you land on vingt, shout vingt and stop. The class cheers!
Spin for the class and name a volunteer each time. They say the landed number, then only the next one if it stays inside onze–vingt (for example, quinze then seize; dix-neuf then vingt). If the wheel lands on vingt, the volunteer shouts vingt and the class cheers the stop: nobody is asked for twenty-one or beyond. Keep a simple 11–20 number line visible so the stop rule is obvious. If they stall inside the band, the class can whisper-support, then the volunteer repeats alone. Keep the pace brisk so several pupils get a turn. Pronunciation reminder: vingt is VAN. If vingt comes out flat, laugh it off: "No hard g: think VAN driving past, not 'vingt' with a clang."
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