The Origin of 'Poisson d'Avril' and How to Celebrate It in Your French Classroom
If you’ve ever had a student stick a paper fish to your back and giggle as they run away, you’ve experienced the classic French tradition of Poisson d’Avril! But where does this quirky April 1st tradition come from, and how can you bring it into your FSL classroom? Let’s dive in!
Where Does 'Poisson d'Avril' Come From?
The origins of Poisson d’Avril date back to the 16th century when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Before the change, New Year’s celebrations took place at the end of March and into early April. When King Charles IX adopted the new calendar in 1582, moving New Year’s Day to January 1st, some people were slow to adapt (or simply refused to acknowledge the change). These people became the target of jokes, with pranksters giving them fake gifts or invitations—sometimes even sticking a paper fish on their backs! The tradition of playful hoaxes stuck and evolved into the modern Poisson d’Avril we know today.
How to Celebrate Poisson d’Avril in the Classroom
Want to bring the fun of Poisson d’Avril to your French classroom? Here are some engaging activities your students will love:
1. Classic Paper Fish Prank
Have students create and decorate their own paper fish. Then, let the fun begin as they (respectfully!) try to stick them onto their classmates' backs without being noticed. At the end of the lesson, count how many fish were successfully placed!
2. French Prank Storytelling
Encourage students to write short prank stories in French. Provide them with silly prompts like, “Tu te réveilles et tout est à l’envers!” (You wake up and everything is upside down!). Have them read their stories aloud for some laughs!
3. Fake News Challenge
Show students some wacky, almost-believable fake news headlines (you can create your own or find some classic ones). Their task? Work in groups to write and present a short, funny fake news article in French.
4. ‘Poisson d’Avril’ Jokes and Expressions
Teach students some classic French jokes and expressions related to pranks and humor. Here are a few to get started:
Poisson d’Avril! – April Fools!
Tomber dans le panneau – To fall for a trick (literally: to fall into the panel/trap).
Marcher dans la combine – To be fooled (literally: to walk into the scheme).
5. Watch a French April Fools’ Prank
Many French media outlets release prank news stories on April 1st. Find a kid-friendly Poisson d’Avril video and discuss the humour and cultural differences with your students.
Make April Fools’ Day an unforgettable day in your French classroom with this engaging Poisson d’Avril lesson! Designed for Grade 4-7 FSL learners, this resource introduces students to a fun French cultural tradition while building vocabulary, listening, speaking, and writing skills through interactive activities.
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| Check out these themed activities from The French Nook on TPT |
Key Vocabulary for Poisson d’Avril
Here’s some useful vocab to introduce before diving into the activities:
Un poisson – A fish
Une blague / Une farce – A joke / a prank
Un canular – A hoax
Faire une blague – To play a joke
Se faire piéger – To get tricked
Un canular médiatique – A media hoax
Wrap-Up: Why Celebrate?
Bringing Poisson d’Avril into your classroom is a fantastic way to introduce students to French culture in an interactive, lighthearted way. Not only will they practice their language skills, but they’ll also get a taste of real-life French humor and traditions.
So, are you ready to bring some laughter (and maybe a few sneaky paper fish) into your classroom? Bonne chance et… Poisson d’Avril!
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