France is a hexagon with intersting geographic features all around.  Check out this link to learn more.

The Aristocats was used to introduce some other French names and places, as well as, explore some Cultural Geography Vocabulary including:

• Forced Migration (Edgar drugs the cats and drops them in the country)
• Human Migration (The cats try to return home)
• Cultural Differences and Culture (O'Malley and Duchess are from different cultures)
• Paris
• Ile De France

Students did a wonderful job sharing their reports about the different regions of France.  

Next week we will cover the geographic features and the Fine Art.  Students are asked to, please, learn something about the rich Fine Art of France.  This includes visual and performing arts.  We will also include classic literature too.  

Here are some links to help with your research: 

• The Louvre (please realize classical art will have some aspects of the human form exposed)
• Giverny Monet's Gardens
• Art Smarts 4 Kids
• Vincent van Gogh (map of places the artist lived in France)
• South of France - Van Gogh Museum
• Edgar Degas (Discover France)
• Henri Rousseau
• Famous French Artists
• Georges Bizet
• Claude Debussy
• Marcel Marceau
• Auguste Rodin
• Mime
• Michel Petrucciani

These are just a few.  Please do not be limited by my suggestions -- have fun exploring.

We also covered some history about Marie Antoinette and croissants.  Here are some links to further your learning:

• https://uchicagopalate.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/croissants-marie-antoinettes-favorite-viennoiserie/
• http://labadiane-hanoi.com/spice-conners/interesting-history-croissants/
• http://www.lilvienna.com/austrian-vanilla-crescents-vanillekipferl/
• http://www.austria.info/uk/things-to-do/food-and-drink/favourite-austrian-recipes/vanillekipferl
• http://mrnussbaum.com/marie-antoinette-biography-for-kids/
• http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-196589/Marie-Antoinette-the-last-queen-of-France-before-the-French

We also talked about the lack of toilets at Versailles.  Here is a link for more information.  Here is a link to the Palace of Versailles.