What time is it right now? Say it in English. Now look at a train timetable: the same moment might be written as 14:30, not half past two. Today you learn French time phrases you can say aloud, and you will notice how French timetables often use the 24-hour clock.
What you'll learn
- Ask what time it is and answer with Il est…
- Say o'clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to using today's phrases
- Notice 24-hour times on a French-style board with your teacher
Ask two or three pupils the time in English first, then point to a 24-hour example on the board (for example 14:30). Do not teach full 24-hour French forms yet; the hook is only to notice that French timetables, shops and schools often show the 24-hour clock. Keep this beat to five minutes so the flashcards still have a full stretch.
Listen, repeat, then flip to check the French. English is on the front: hear the model first, say it with the class, then flip to see the spelling. Watch how we build full times on the board, for example Il est deux heures et demie.
Run this as whole-class flashcards on the IWB. On the English side, play the audio (or model yourself), class repeats twice, then flip to confirm the French. Do not ask for cold production before the first hearing.
After two or three cards, leave these built models visible and chorally practise them:
- Il est deux heures (eel eh duh ZUR)
- Il est cinq heures et demie (eel eh sank UR ay duh-MEE)
- Il est huit heures et quart (eel eh weet UR ay kar)
- Il est dix heures moins le quart (eel eh deez UR mwa(n) luh kar)
- Il est midi (eel eh mee-DEE)
Pronunciation guides: Deux heures (duh ZUR: link the z), Cinq heures (sank UR), Huit heures (weet UR), Dix heures (deez UR), et demie (ay duh-MEE), et quart (ay kar), moins le quart (mwa(n) luh kar), midi (mee-DEE). Fragments only ever appear inside a full Il est… sentence on your board.
Flip two cards at a time and find each French time phrase with its English meaning. Whisper the full French time (start with Il est… when you can) as you turn each card so the sound sticks with the match.
Volunteers take turns at the IWB so the whole class can hear each match. If the same pair is missed twice, stop and say both sides together before continuing. Listen for et demie versus et quart; they are easy to mix when pupils rush. Keep the pace light: this is consolidation, not a test. Prompt full joins where you can: Il est cinq heures et demie, not the fragment alone.
Open your copy. Write three full French time sentences using the models on the board. Choose times from today's list only.
Models (copy the pattern, change the time if you like):
- Il est deux heures. (It is two o'clock.)
- Il est cinq heures et demie. (It is half past five.)
- Il est midi. (It is midday.)
Other building blocks you may use: huit heures, dix heures, et quart, moins le quart.
Pause other board clutter and leave the three model sentences visible while they write. Everyone writes three full Il est… sentences built only from phrases already practised orally. Do not require Je me lève, Je me couche, or unaided 24-hour bedtime forms in this lesson.
Walk the room and check they are writing full sentences, not bare fragments like et demie alone. Celebrate any full French sentence, even with a wobbly spelling. Support: they may copy the three models exactly. Extension: they build one extra time from the bank (e.g. Il est huit heures moins le quart). Do not collect the copies.
Listen for each full French time phrase and mark it on your card or in the shared grid on the board. First full line calls out. Keep your ears open for half past and quarter to; they sound close when they fly past quickly.
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.
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