FRENCH STORY FOR KIDS
– Maggie and the Squirrel
French practice for children which encourages them to appreciate nature and listen to wildlife.
To Hear + To Listen are different verbs in French too:
écouter = to listen
entendre = to hear
A naughty squirrel listens ( il écoute ) carefully to try to work out if it is safe to steal some nuts.
Then he hears something ( il entend quelque chose ) …
Listen to the birdsong in the video.
Read the story, watch the video, listen and join in.
Worksheet + Online Quiz.
Adverbs describe Verbs:
How does the squirrel arrive ..?
doucement – slowly, softly, silently
How does Maggie work?
dur – hard
How do the dogs run?
à toute vitesse – at full speed
‘Écureuil’ – is a hard, useful word to learn to pronounce in French. Break it down to its 3 syllables: é – cu – reuil.
Video
Repeat with Audio in French AND English:
Downloadable PDF Translation Worksheet
Online Quiz
This quiz is also available on its own separate page here:
Online Quiz
#1. There is a garden.
#2. Maggie watches over the garden.
#3. Squirrels are not allowed.
#4. A squirrel arrives quietly.
#5. He listens
#6. Is Maggie there?
#7. Oh no! He hears something.
#8. Maggie runs at top speed.
#9. Maggie goes in front. Billy goes behind.
#10. The dogs work very hard.
Results
Très bien!
Video Transcript in French:
Voici le jardin.
Il y a une mangeoire. Regardez! Écoutez!
Maggie est la gardienne de la mangeoire!
Toute la journée elle surveille le jardin.
Les écureuils sont interdits!
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
Un écureuil arrive doucement.
Il attend. Il écoute.
Est-ce que Maggie est là?
Il commence à manger les graines.
Oh non! Il entend quelque chose.
Maggie et Billy ont vu l’écureuil! (= have seen)
Ils courent à toute vitesse!
Maggie sait ce qu’il faut faire.
Elle va devant!
Billy suit Maggie. Il va derrière.
Ils courent après l’écureuil!
Bravo Maggie! Bravo Billy!
Vous travaillez dur.
Grâce à Maggie et Billy la mangeoire des oiseaux est protégée.
Bien fait Billy! Bien fait Maggie!
– – – – – – –
Translate the following into English:
1. Voici le jardin
2. Qu’est-ce que c’est?
3. Il arrive doucement.
4. Il entend quelque chose.
5. Ils courent à toute vitesse!
6. Elle va devant.
7. Il va derrière.
8. Vous travaillez dur.
