SabrinaP
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Post by SabrinaP on May 4, 2017 15:18:28 GMT
My son's class is doing a "World's Market." He drew France as his country. Anyone have any unique, off-beat suggestions of places to visit in France for him to research? My parents have been to several places around Europe and have money from many countries, but unfortunately not France! His presentation will be focused on France's geography, history, and then travel, so he is looking for some unique things to do in France to include in his presentation. He also has to do a food or craft to sell at the market. He is thinking of chocolate eclairs unless someone has another suggestion. He found this recipe. |
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sueg
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Post by sueg on May 4, 2017 15:23:55 GMT
We are going to France next month. We will be visiting Evian - where the mineral water comes from - and Avignon, which was home of the Popes for a while, when they couldn't live in Rome.
As for money, France currently uses the Euro, as do many other European countries. If you really don't have any, let me know.
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SabrinaP
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Post by SabrinaP on May 4, 2017 15:27:00 GMT
We are going to France next month. We will be visiting Evian - where the mineral water comes from - and Avignon, which was home of the Popes for a while, when they couldn't live in Rome. As for money, France currently uses the Euro, as do many other European countries. If you really don't have any, let me know. Totally forgot about the Euro. I bet we have some at home. Thank you for your suggestion! |
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Post by bc2ca on May 4, 2017 15:55:47 GMT
I lived in Grenoble for a year. The city hosted the 1968 Winter Olympics and is the gateway to the French Alps for skiing and mountaineering. The city also has a great history as the center of the French Resistance to Nazi Germany. It is also one of the locations for the EIT InnoEnergy whose goal is to achieve a sustainable energy future for Europe. |
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Post by hop2 on May 4, 2017 16:04:48 GMT
Cheese - real cheese. They serve it so many places and are rather proud of their cheeses. Easy to get, easy to serve. And the cheeses also tend to be regional so food & geography go hand in hand. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_cheeses |
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wellway
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Post by wellway on May 4, 2017 16:08:33 GMT
Thinking of things that would be okay in a school setting Normandy is famous for Camembert and apples Brittany for pancakes crêpes (sweet featherlight pancakes) and galettes (savoury buckwheat pancakes). Ardeche www.ardeche.com/en/gastronomy/index.php I would search using the regions of France and looking at their tourist sites, something might jump out as just what you are looking for. The Bretons of Brittany have their own language, flag and music. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breton_people |
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pyccku
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Post by pyccku on May 4, 2017 16:09:40 GMT
Carnac has the alignments, they are pretty cool. I know of a ton of places. If he's looking for weird/spooky things, this is a great site: Atlas Obscura |
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Post by leftturnonly on May 4, 2017 16:13:39 GMT
I've never been to Frace, but I did travel to France.  As simple as this was, the very best fried eggs and toast I've ever eaten in my life were very near the Champs d'Elysee in Paris. A presentation on how even simple, basic cooking is an art could be interesting. |
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Post by peano on May 4, 2017 16:14:08 GMT
How about Mont Saint-Michel and its notorious tides. I was always fascinated by that as a kid. Another vote for French cheeses and baguettes. Readily available. Do not do a tarte tatin--lots of work Mom ended up having to do.  |
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Post by Basket1lady on May 4, 2017 16:21:37 GMT
I agree with the cheese idea, since you probably can't do wine in a school setting.  We ate many a lunch of just cheese, sausage, and baguettes! Eclaires are delicious, but can be tricky to make, especially for a young kid. Can you buy them? The frozen ones aren't bad. We were mostly in Paris, but there are so many interesting areas. The Pyrenees, where The Resistance smuggled out Jews and other "undesirables" in WW2, the Loire Valley, Montmartre, Giverny, Normandy, ... I'd let him do a little research and pick something that interests him. |
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wellway
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Post by wellway on May 4, 2017 16:23:13 GMT
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Post by ntsf on May 4, 2017 16:30:39 GMT
there are canals to ride on in boats.. something different
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SabrinaP
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Post by SabrinaP on May 4, 2017 16:39:52 GMT
I agree with the cheese idea, since you probably can't do wine in a school setting. We ate many a lunch of just cheese, sausage, and baguettes! Eclaires are delicious, but can be tricky to make, especially for a young kid. Can you buy them? The frozen ones aren't bad. We were mostly in Paris, but there are so many interesting areas. The Pyrenees, where The Resistance smuggled out Jews and other "undesirables" in WW2, the Loire Valley, Montmartre, Giverny, Normandy, ... I'd let him do a little research and pick something that interests him. He's a 6th grader and we are both experienced cooks. Cheese is a really good idea though. |
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Post by mandolyn9909 on May 4, 2017 16:40:15 GMT
I lived there for 3 months in college. Love France.
Food wise cheese is hugely popular. I agree with lots of dinners with just cheese, baguettes, grapes. Other food I fell in love with when I lived there was chocolate croissants, crepes and quiche.
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twinsmomfla99
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on May 4, 2017 17:30:43 GMT
Macarons? Not coconut macaroons, but the delightfully crispy filled cookies. Yum! I don't know if they can be linked with a place to visit, though.
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Post by Darcy Collins on May 4, 2017 17:35:59 GMT
I agree with the cheese idea, since you probably can't do wine in a school setting. We ate many a lunch of just cheese, sausage, and baguettes! Eclaires are delicious, but can be tricky to make, especially for a young kid. Can you buy them? The frozen ones aren't bad. We were mostly in Paris, but there are so many interesting areas. The Pyrenees, where The Resistance smuggled out Jews and other "undesirables" in WW2, the Loire Valley, Montmartre, Giverny, Normandy, ... I'd let him do a little research and pick something that interests him. He's a 6th grader and we are both experienced cooks. Cheese is a really good idea though. He might find the catacombs in Paris interesting to research at that age - I know my son liked a bit of ghoul. |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 0:02:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2017 17:53:28 GMT
You could make real croissants. Time consuming but worth it.
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Post by monklady123 on May 4, 2017 17:53:28 GMT
I suppose a bottle of good French wine is out of the question eh?  Baguettes and cheese are very French. lol. My dd still talks about how we saw a baguette sticking out of every backpack, purse, and briefcase in the early evening in Paris. lolol |
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azredhead
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Post by azredhead on May 4, 2017 18:00:24 GMT
Cheese and Crepes... We now make our own wiith a crepe maker. But one of my favorite things to eat there. Besides the cheese lol!
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Post by ghislaine on May 4, 2017 18:17:31 GMT
I have lived a total of two years in France.
Another interesting location would be Carcassonne. It's got some fun history for kids and the old city where it all took place is quite well preserved.
Food wise has your son heard of tartines? They are essentially sandwiches, or if served as appetizers they are open faced. My mom is from Belgium so I grew up with tartines for breakfast that ranged from butter or cottage cheese with jam, to butter with sliced meats or my Bonne Maman's homemade paté. (Liver paté might not go over that great with 6th graders though.)
Have fun!
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Post by kernriver on May 4, 2017 18:19:40 GMT
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SabrinaP
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Post by SabrinaP on May 4, 2017 18:45:10 GMT
So many good ideas. This is one of the biggest events at our school (I'm one of his 6th grade teachers). I cannot wait to show him all these things he can start investigating! Thanks so much!
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twinsmomfla99
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on May 4, 2017 18:48:46 GMT
Slight hijack:
I had one year of French in high school. I remember very little from that experience 40 years ago. One thing that stuck with me is a French dinner we went to that was sponsored by the French Club. They served cheese and crepes and macarons, but the one thing that I loved the most (because it was accessible to me) was the bread, butter, and hot chocolate that they told us was popular in France.
Honestly, I have no idea if that is really a "thing" or not, but I loved the combination so much that I often had it as an evening snack in college. It was easy to make in the dorm with an illegal hotpot LOL.
My daughter is on a study abroad trip in France with her masters program as we speak. I remembered the bread and hot chocolate frosting m from high school and college days and introduced her to it. All three of my girls loved it. I don't know what it is about the combo, but it "works." (Edited because ewww, frosting on bread?)
Any Francophiles here who know if this is really a French thing? Or have I been lying to myself all these years?
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valincal
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Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on May 4, 2017 18:51:45 GMT
The Alsace region of France is beautiful and they are known for their coconut macarons and wine of course! Check out the towns along the wine route from Strasbourg and south. Many quaint villages such as Riquewihr.
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zella
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Post by zella on May 4, 2017 19:29:26 GMT
Chamonix is an awesome town in the Alps and home to Aguille du Midi cable car. At the top of the cable car, passengers walk across a bridge between two peaks. This bridge has shown up on "10 scariest bridges in the world," lists. I went there way back in the 70's. It was awesome!
Mont St Michel is very interesting. It is an island that is accessible via land at low tide. Very cool.
There are walled cities that have fascinating histories. One is Carcassonne, and there is a pretty well-known game called Carcassonne.
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Post by supersoda on May 4, 2017 21:10:34 GMT
He's a 6th grader and we are both experienced cooks. Cheese is a really good idea though. He might find the catacombs in Paris interesting to research at that age - I know my son liked a bit of ghoul. Yep, that was my suggestion. We visited the Catacombs last November (my kid's "must see"), and it was really cool and gave us a good history lesson. |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 4, 2017 22:10:25 GMT
He might find the Dunes du Pilat (sometimes spelled Pyla) interesting. Located near Arcachon and Bordeaux, it is the largest sand dune in Europe and continues to move/grow inland. Dune du Pilat. We lived in Paris for a couple of years and went to see this on the recommendation of friends. It was really interesting! |
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Lozi
Shy Member
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Post by Lozi on May 4, 2017 22:31:52 GMT
The Eiffel Tower
TGV high speed trains
Baguette
Croissant
Pain au chocolat
Snails
Champagne
Art - many famous French artists
Fashion - Chanel, Dior, Louis Vitton
Perfume
Beret
Garlic
Le Tour de France - cycling
Moulin Rouge
Pompidou Centre building
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Post by Linda on May 4, 2017 23:54:54 GMT
Do not do a tarte tatin--lots of work Mom ended up having to do. My high schooler made that this year for French food day - she did it all herself - the first try didn't work well so she made a second practise run and then the final one for school. It stretched her cooking abilities a bit but that's good. The year before she made quiche. My policy is that I'll supply ingredients and supervise the trial run (and offer suggestions/advise as requested) but they're on their own for the final product - I passed French class already  |
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Post by ghislaine on May 5, 2017 0:28:01 GMT
Slight hijack: I had one year of French in high school. I remember very little from that experience 40 years ago. One thing that stuck with me is a French dinner we went to that was sponsored by the French Club. They served cheese and crepes and macarons, but the one thing that I loved the most (because it was accessible to me) was the bread, butter, and hot chocolate that they told us was popular in France. Honestly, I have no idea if that is really a "thing" or not, but I loved the combination so much that I often had it as an evening snack in college. It was easy to make in the dorm with an illegal hotpot LOL. My daughter is on a study abroad trip in France with her masters program as we speak. I remembered the bread and hot chocolate frosting m my high school and college days and introduced her to it. All three of my girls loved it. I don't know what it is about the combo, but it "works." Any Francophiles here who know if this is really a French thing? Or have I been lying to myself all these years? Bread, butter, and hot chocolate is definitely a thing in France. It's served by all the cafés for breakfast. |
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