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5 Oct 2026
French Students Demonstrate for Better Schools and Classrooms
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Students are asking for better school buildings in France.
b) Students are travelling to space on a rocket.
c) Students are building a new zoo in Paris.
Ask:
(1) Do you like your school building?
(2) What is your favourite room in your school?
VOCABULARY
student (/ˈstjuː.dənt/, noun)
Meaning: A young person who goes to school to study and learn.
Example: The student put her new books inside her school bag.
building (/ˈbɪl.dɪŋ/, noun)
Meaning: A structure with a roof and walls like a house or school.
Example: Our school building has large bright windows.
classroom (/ˈklɑːs.ruːm/, noun)
Meaning: A room in a school where pupils learn with a teacher.
Example: We painted colourful pictures in our classroom today.
teacher (/ˈtiː.tʃər/, noun)
Meaning: A person whose job is to help children learn new things.
Example: The teacher explained the math lesson very clearly.
gate (/ɡeɪt/, noun)
Meaning: A door in a fence or outside wall that opens and closes.
Example: The children waited outside the front gate for the bus.
protest (/ˈprəʊ.test/, noun)
Meaning: A gathering of people who show that they disagree with something.
Example: The pupils held a quiet protest to save their school park.
Many young students in France are unhappy with their schools today. They say that their school buildings are very old and cold. Some classrooms have too many children in one room. There are also not enough teachers to help everyone learn every day.
The students want nicer rooms and new books to read. They also want new desks, chairs, and computers for their daily lessons. Because of this, pupils meet outside their school gates. They stand together to show that they need help from the government.
The protests started in the big capital city of Paris last week. Now, children in many other French cities are doing the same thing. Some schools are closed today because the students are standing outside. Their parents and friends hope that the schools can get more help soon. All the children want a safe, quiet, and happy place where they can learn and play together with their good friends every single week.
A student attempts to kick a tear gas cannister in Seine-Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris
Police in protective gear have been deployed across French cities where demonstrations are taking place.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Why are students in France unhappy with their school buildings?
(2) What new things do the children want for their classrooms?
(3) Where did the student protests start last week?
(4) How do you feel when your classroom is very cold or noisy?
(5) What is one thing that can make your school even better?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: classrooms, gates, protests, teachers
Many young students in France are unhappy with their schools today. They say that their school buildings are very old and cold. Some _______(1) have too many children in one room. There are also not enough _______(2) to help everyone learn every day.
The students want nicer rooms and new books to read. They also want new desks, chairs, and computers for their daily lessons. Because of this, pupils meet outside their school _______(3). They stand together to show that they need help from the government.
The _______(4) started in the big capital city of Paris last week. Now, children in many other French cities are doing the same thing. Some schools are closed today because the students are standing outside. Their parents and friends hope that the schools can get more help soon. All the children want a safe, quiet, and happy place where they can learn and play together with their good friends every single week.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this article?
a) Students in France are asking for better schools and more help.
b) French teachers are going on a holiday to Paris.
c) Children are building a new computer game together.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Some school buildings in France are old and cold. T/F
(2) The students do not want any new books or computers. T/F
(3) The protests began in the capital city of Paris. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order from 1 to 3:
( ) Protests spread to many other French cities.
( ) Students stand outside school gates to ask for help.
( ) Protests started in Paris last week.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. student
2. building
3. classroom
4. teacher
5. gate
a) a room in a school where children study
b) a person whose job is to help children learn
c) a young person who goes to school
d) a door in an outside wall or fence
e) a structure with walls and a roof
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) Pupils meet outside because they want _______ school rooms.
a) cleaner
b) safer
c) newer
d) bigger
(2) Teachers help students learn _______ every day.
a) songs
b) lessons
c) games
d) sports
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) A) need / B) Students / C) classrooms / D) good / E) today .
(2) A) meet / B) Children / C) gate / D) near / E) the .
ANSWER KEY
A1 Answer Key
Warm Up Think Ahead: a) Students are asking for better school buildings in France.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) classrooms
(2) teachers
(3) gates
(4) protests
Section 2: Main Idea
a) Students in France are asking for better schools and more help.
Section 3: True or False
(1) True
(2) False
(3) True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
(3) Protests spread to many other French cities.
(2) Students stand outside school gates to ask for help.
(1) Protests started in Paris last week.
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 - c
2 - e
3 - a
4 - b
5 - d
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) b) safer
(2) b) lessons
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) B - A - D - C - E (Students need good classrooms today.)
(2) B - A - D - E - C (Children meet near the gate.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student answers will vary. Ensure full sentences and relevant ideas.
Thank you for your feedback!