This poem can be used to generate some very high quality CI in French classes at any level. Just project it on the screen, start reading it and discussing it (R and D) and you will see that at some point you have a story going.
At that point just bring up the ant and first knock some language around with him or her (great interview opportunity). Next go with what comes up, which would be to bring up a few penguins and ducks (not too many in the cart) and then enact the story. Don’t be afraid to do a few grammar pop-ups! Tons of CI possible here!
When doing this poem, you will be very aware (since the image is so bizarre) of how your students are truly not focused on the language but rather are locked on to the message/image, while you cleverly pour the CI deep into their brains à leur insu.
If the image gets off the ground, you can say that you are a professional at Reader’s Theatre, because that is what this is. It’s also a chance to really enjoy your job, to remember that there can be joy in teaching, and all we have to do is get the kids focused on something interesting while we cleverly insert the language into their brains. (I cleverly repeated that bc I still think many CI teachers forget the part about CI instruction that is in italics.)
By the way, I have an entire list of good simple poems. When I finish the Four Truths activity, instead of going to stories, I will definitely do some CI with these poems. It is a fantastic way to do CI! The entire list of simple poems is here:
UNE FOURMI
Robert Desnos
Une fourmi de dix-huit mètres
Avec un chapeau sur la tête…
Ça n’existe pas
Ça n’existe pas…
Une fourmi trainant un char plein
De pingouins et de canards…
Ça n’existe pas
Ça n’existe pas…
Une fourmi parlant français
Parlant latin et javanais
Ça n’existe pas
Ça n’existe pas…
Et pourquoi? Pourquoi … pas?