Simulated Trips To France and To French-Speaking Countries

The Internet offers invaluable resources for discovery of the world through units relating to simulated travel and tourism.

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Backround Information for Simulated Trips: maps, measures, flags, transportation
Simulated Trips to Paris
Putnam's Lesson plans/ Learning Scenarios for Trips to Regions of France

Detailed Lesson plans: A Simulated Trip.

Click here for Teaching Activities for Simulated Trips.
Return to French Home Page

Scroll down this page for sections each with specific sites for Trips Through France, To Quebec and to French-speaking countries world-wide.

For lists of maps, measurement converters, flags, rail and air information and other Backround information for planning simulated trips, click on Simulated Trips:Backround Information

Comparing the Weather

Weather World-Wide: select forecasts and weather reports by world-wide region.
USA Today's Index to World Weather: scroll to continent and selected country to link to information on 5 day weather and precipitation forecasts.
Météo en France pull up a map of France with today's temperature and weather symbols. Click on each region for a useful chart of the forcast for today, tomorrow and the day after. A helpful tip for teachers: click on a specific region then point your cursor on the weather symbol At the bottom of the frame pops up a written version of the weather. For example, touch the cloud to read "tres nuageux, courtes eclaircies" and the like. A great way for all to learn weather related terms!

la Météo a la Source click here for an expandable menu relating to weather throughout Canada. Included are forecasts for the day, future forecasts and a daily report on road conditions throughout Canada.

Weather In France: click on map for weather reports.
Weather In Canada: click on map for weather reports.
Weather In Quebec Province: find weather in cities and towns of Quebec.
Weather for US, Canada, and Cuba: find weather reports.

Trips To French-Speaking Sites

Trips through France

For lists of maps, measurement converters, flags, rail and air information and other Backround information for planning simulated trips, click on Simulated Trips:Backround Information

Tourisme en France: a valuable site to begin your tour. Click on the words carte de France to pull up a map divided by regions or enter the city of your choice. Click on the arrow at each box to access the complete list. For example, for Région, clicking on the arrow pulls up all the choices of regions;the arrow at activités shows the different categories available and so on. Assign students different types of housing at Hébergement then have them choose activities and interests.

Rent-A-Holiday: pick a Foreign Language including French, Spanish, Italian and German for information on housing and tourism all over the world. Visit their site on ski rentals too.

The French Embassy in Washington: lots of useful information in English and French and now in Spanish on France, including a profile of France, studies abroad, French language schools in the U.S., and a link to the Ministere de Culture site.

La France: clickable map of regions in France links with many informative sites from UREC in France.

France Guide: Régions de La France: clickable map showing 6 major regions of France: Paris/Nord, Sud, Centre Alpes, Ouest, Est and DOM-TOM, with detailed thematically arranged information on activities for visitors of all ages in French (Découvrez la France)or in English (Activities).
Maison de France: Regions of France: click on regions of France for a split screen menu of information in English. Learn about driving itineraries, hotels and restaurants for each region of France. Students can look up hotels and restaurants for an area, noticing the telephone numbers and finding each spot of the suggested itinerary on the map of France.

Ski en France: select French, English or German language then select a country and a region for tourist information and skiing conditions at French ski resorts.

Ski Resorts Around the World: plan a ski trip to a French-speaking destination using this guide in French.
Internet Tour de France Game 1996: read the description of this zany informative competition on Internet where participants try to predict results of stages of the famous French bike race held end of June each year. Click on archives of the 1994 and 1995 competitions to generate discussion then plan to be a part of the 1997 online game.

Giverny and Vernon: for an unforgettable day trip out of Paris, to the Ile De France region start with a visit to the Gardens and House of the French painter Claude Monet. Choose either the French or English version and scroll down for information on gardens of the area including Monet's famous ones. Let students plan a day trip or an extended stay to Vernon and to Giverny. One group might click on Means of transport for fares and timetables Paris/Vernon, then on options, from Vernon to Giverny. A second group will choose other sites to visit at each of the following: Museums, Castles, Mills and Archeological sites. Another group plans lunch at restaurants before giving an overview of the flowers and services at Monet's House and gardens (click on gardens then scroll down to menu relating to list of flowers, maps and plants.) The premier site for all contemplating a trip to Giverny and area!

Trips to La Province du Québec, Canada and Ailleurs

For lists of maps, measurement converters, flags, rail and air information and other Backround information for planning simulated trips, click on Simulated Trips:Backround Information

Tour Canada without leaving your desk: click on City Net and on Destination Highlights for specific towns. Click on Ski-Canada then scroll to Tourism Quebec (page 2) for region of choice.
Voyageons Series ready-made questions to ask with links to sites in Tunisia, Morocco,The Ivory Coast, Haiti and other French-speaking regions from Erica M. Rosch of the University of Minnesota. An excellent site for geography units with a French-speaking perspective!

Toile du Québec: much information on events,lodging and excursions in Quebec.
Toile du Québec: for information on events,lodging and excursions in Quebec, click on Tourisme; select other categories relating to the province.
Weather in Quebec Province: click on specific towns for weather report in French.
Quebec Arts et Musique: click on category to learn of arts, music and cultural events in Quebec.
Cabanes à Sucre au Québec: find sugar shacks in each region of Quebec.

Trips to Francophone countries

For lists of maps, measurement converters, flags, rail and air information and other Backround information for planning simulated trips, click on Simulated Trips:Backround Information

Afrique Francophone from Lehman College, CUNY voted one of the best 100 sites, Lehman's CUNY offers an excellent collection with links to general and specific French-speaking African resources for the Maghreb and sub-Sahara Africa. Scroll down to access specific countries.
Other French-speaking countries: scroll to ailleurs to click on French-speaking areas of the world.
Africa and Environs: scroll down for a list of flags of numerous African countries. Click on flag of choice for a short description page in English about each country. Submit information about currency, dates and facts of each country yourself to add to this informative site.
Voyageons Series ready-made questions to ask with links to sites in Tunisia, Morocco,The Ivory Coast,Haiti and other French-speaking regions from Erica M. Rosch of the University of Minnesota. An excellent site for geography!
City Net Guides select France, Belgium, Luxemburg or Switzerland for information on each.
World Factbook 1995 select France, Belgium, Luxemburg or Switzerland for information in English on each.
Visit Wallonie click to tour Wallonie, French-speaking Belgium.
Belgium's Namur Site a choice of guides to the Wallonie region; scroll down to search box on the right to pull up menu. Choices include: activities for young people; the Government and events and leisure activities.
Belgium's Telephone Directory: select commercial or residential numbers.
Travel Magazine on Belgium learn about Belgium here.
Belgium magazine read to learn of Belgian sites.
Unofficial Haitian Home Page: clickable topics on culture, arts, other sites about Haiti, mainly in English with topic headings in Creole or English.

La Tunisie: click here for information in French on tourism, culture, history and happenings in beautiful Tunisia.
The One and Only Morocco: research the History of Morocco, the culture and Media (for festivals and traditions); practical information ( trip prep and for maps of cities, a short Arabic dictionary and weather) and Cooking for recipes in English (one in French). Scroll to bottom of Home page to access Maghreb site still under construction.
TahitiWeb click on menu of sites (left for English; right for French) devoted to Polynesia at this central Polynesian page. Try the guide des sites for many travel articles and commercial sites in English and French.

Africa Online: La Cote D'Ivoire scroll down highlighted topics for current events, weather and topics of note including then click on menu at left for additional topics of interest. Select actualites for four online newspapers in French from La Cote D'Ivoire.

Backround Information on France and Francophone Countries

Je Vais en France: backround topics in French on France.
Les Institutions the menu on this French-language site from the French Government includes les Présidents de la Ve République, les Symboles de la République the symboles are useful for all levels of language study. For beginning levels of study, print out a paper copy of the page on J. Chirac and Valéry Giscard D'Estaing (there is a simple time line for both); xerox enough copies so each small group may practice reconstructing highlights of the life and career of each. Assign each small group a different segment of the life of each man for an oral presentation. Before class, on a blank sheet put in key dates to make a simple life line outline. As each student presents, audience fills in outline.

La Présidence de La France the main page of the French government offers a photo of Jacques Chirac and an interesting and easy-to- understand site La Présidence en 6 questions.
France A La Carte: 4 fact sheets in English on the commune, the mayor and French elections.
Schooling in France: complete and clear information in English on pre-university education in France.
French Higher Education: excellent backround information in English on universities and post-High school institutions in France.
Statistiques Sur La France: backround information in French on France.
French Postal Codes: find postal codes for French towns and cities.
Minitel French Telephone Directory: type in name and address to find telephone number.
EurRail Pass Express: the definitive site for traveling through Europe by train. Click on articles in English for planning your 17 country European train trip. Order online, look up timetables and if you wish, download a trip planning program. Scroll to links for more European travel information.
The European Railway Server: extensive links to European Railway sites and pages, arranged by country. Scroll to bottom of page for major sites throughout the world.
Prenez le Train: look up timetables for trains from many cities in France, consult lists of stations and more, all in French.
TGV Timetables: click on TGV for useful backround information and timetables for TGV trains.
Eurostar Internet: consult the central site for information in English about the Eurostar. Learn about the Chunnel train between London and Paris. Click on tarifs and timetables and have students estimate the length and cost of a day trip or a longer crossing for different groups of travelers as part of a simulated trip.
Site de la SNCF click on voyages for timetables, destinations prices and more at this official SNCF, French RR site.
Les transports: click on les trains for information and a long list of links to info in French and English about trains around the world. For information on Airlines arranged by regions of the world, click on Compagnies Aériennes; select Location/Autos for options on leasing or renting vehicles in Europe.

French Cuisine: create meals from lists of French food (in French).
Electricité de France Lumières: See 4 Paris monuments by night, Mont St. Michel, Chartres cathedral, and sites in Rocamadour, Nancy and Cahors each illuminated by Electricité de France. A short description in French accompanies each exquisite color photo.
French Recipes in French: choose from hundreds of French recipes in all categories to plan a special French regional dinner.
European TV: Guides, Listings and More: a virtual TV Guide to weekly programs in France and 15 other European countries. Click on country of choice for weekly offerings with lots of information on each in language of country.
Télé Sept Jours pull up the daily French TV Guide. Click on grille horaire for an hourly grid of the offerings. Have students compare channels within a two hour period. Click on genres for an overview of programs by categories: what and when are the kids shows/sports/ dramas/documentaries. Pull up the daily horoscope too!

La Cinquième: France's Education and Discovery channel: click on présentation, programs and actualitiés to read summaries of programs and learn about La Cinquième.
La Television en France: click on a TV channel heading to read summaries of programs and to learn about La Cinquième, Canal Plus, France 3, France 2, TF1, Ellipse, and Arte.
Les Radios françaises: click on a French Radio heading to find times and programs for Radio Brume (radio Rock), Radio France, Wit Fm and Europe 2.
La France: click on France for information on 16 regions of France; click on Le Québec and on ailleurs for French-speaking areas.

Trips To Paris

Click here for Putnam's "Detailed Lesson plans: A Simulated Trip"