Talking about school life is one of the most relevant and engaging topics for French learners—especially when it involves something as familiar as a locker. The French Chat Mat: What’s in My Locker? helps students learn essential school vocabulary, practice everyday communication, and describe what they keep with them during the school day.
This chat mat supports novice-level conversations through clear visuals, sentence starters, and accessible language that help learners stay in French with confidence.
Why Use a Locker-Themed Chat Mat?
A “What’s in My Locker?” theme is perfect for classroom communication because it:
- Builds practical, high-frequency school vocabulary
- Encourages natural conversation among students
- Helps learners practice avoir, il y a, colors, quantities, and simple descriptions
- Connects directly to students’ real lives
- Makes an ideal warm-up, partner task, or speaking center
With structured support, even beginners can engage in meaningful interpersonal communication.
What’s Included in the “What’s in My Locker?” Chat Mat?
A well-designed chat mat might include:
Common School Items
- un cahier
- un livre
- un classeur
- un sac à dos
- une trousse
- un stylo / un crayon
- une calculatrice
- une bouteille d’eau
- un sweat / une veste
- des écouteurs
Useful Verbs & Phrases
- J’ai…
- Dans mon casier, il y a…
- Je garde…
- Je trouve…
- J’ai besoin de…
- Je partage…
High-Utility Sentence Starters
- Dans mon casier, j’ai…
- Je dois prendre…
- J’utilise… pour…
- J’oublie souvent…
- Je prête… à mes amis.
Descriptive Vocabulary
- les couleurs
- les tailles
- les quantités (un, deux, beaucoup de…)
- l’état (neuf, vieux, cassé, propre, etc.)
Visual Icons
Clear images of school items help novices make meaning quickly and stay in the target language.
Classroom Activities Using This Chat Mat
Here are some fun and easy ways to use it:
1. Partner Inventory
Students describe what they keep in their locker and listen to their partner’s inventory.
2. True or False Game
One student describes their locker contents; the partner guesses if it’s true or false.
3. “Who Am I?” Locker Edition
Students draw or write a list of clues from the chat mat. Partners guess who the locker belongs to.
4. What’s Missing?
Show a sample locker image and have students describe what is missing using the chat mat.
5. Cultural Comparisons
Discuss how lockers differ between schools in francophone countries and your own.
A Fun, Relatable Topic for Everyday Communication
The French Chat Mat: What’s in My Locker? makes school vocabulary meaningful and interactive. It supports conversation, description, and essential beginner grammar—all while keeping students engaged with a topic they know well.
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