

France

Explorer’s Guide
FRANCE
Welcome
A country in the north west of the continent of Europe. It is geographically positioned between the North and Eastern Hemispheres of the earth.

Find FRANCE
Click on the correct country below.
THE CAN DO QUIZ


1. Where in the continent of Europe is France located?

A
North Western Europe

B
South Western Europe


2. What are the colours of the French flag?

A
Blue, Yellow and Green

B
Blue, White and Red


Did you Know?
France has five overseas regions. Guadeloupe and Martinique are located in the Caribbean, Mayotte and Réunion are located in the Indian Ocean and French Guiana is located in South America.

Neighbouring Countries
Click or hover over a country name below to see it on the map.
DID YOU KNOW?
France is the largest country in Western Europe. It is located between the northern and southern regions of the continent of Europe and shares land borders with 11 countries.

REGION
DID YOU KNOW?
The capital of France is Paris. It is located in the region of Ile-De-France. The Palaise Bourbon, also located in the capital, is the meeting place of the French Government’s National Assembly.


France is divided into 13 regions. Drag and drop the major cities into their correct region on the map of France.
CLIMATE
DID YOU KNOW?
There are four distinct climatic regions in France. Oceanic, continental, Mediterranean, and mountainous. Overall, the climate is temperate, with mild summers and warm winters.

France has four seasons. Select from the boxes below to see Paris in each season.
Summer
June to August
Autumn
September to November
Winter
December to February
Spring
March to May





FAMOUS LANDMARKS OF FRANCE

Eiffel Tower
Located on the Champ de Mars in Paris and named after engineer Gustave Eiffel. It was built for the World’s Fair of 1889, to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the French Revolution. The Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure in France with a height of 324 metres (1063 feet).


The Louvre Museum
Located on the Right Bank of the River Seine, Le Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums and art galleries. The original building was home to the French royal family before being opened to the general public as a museum in 1793. The pyramid structure was added in 1989.


Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint Michel is a medieval village built on a rocky outcrop off the coast of Normandy. At high tide, it is cut off from the mainland. During the early 1800s, the site was used as a prison, before being restored to its original purpose as a monastery.


Arc de Triomphe
Located at the Place Charles de Gaulle on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe was originally commissioned by Napoleon I, in 1806, to celebrate the victory of the French army. In 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed beneath this monument.

NATIVE FRENCH ANIMALS

Lynx

Marmot

Wolf
Name the animal
Drag and drop the correct name onto the correct animal image
Marmot
Flamingo
Chamois
Wolf
Lynx
Roe Deer
Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Roe Deer

Flamingo

Chamois
NATIONAL ANTHEM, FLAG AND CURRENCY

‘La Marseillaise’ is the official national anthem of France.
Play Anthem
Play Anthem


The official flag of France was adopted in 1794, after the French Revolution. It symbolises the unity of France as a nation.
The flag is ‘Tricolore’, the French word for ‘three colours.’ The blue, white and red are symbols of liberty, equality and fraternity.
The colour white, represents the French King, while red and blue are the colours that represent Paris.

DID YOU KNOW?
The currency in France is the Euro (€). There are 100 cents in one Euro. Notes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
There are eight different denominations of coins, ranging in value from 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins to the more valuable 1 and 2 euro coins.


CAN DO KIDS BAND HIGHLIGHTS
Click on one of the Can Do Kids
to hear more about their experience in France.

The food in France is amazing. The French are known for making great cheeses and croissants. I also ate crepes and a few snails. Yes, snails! Can you believe it?

I loved listening to stories about famous painters, scientists and musicians. Watching the cyclists in the Tour de France speeding past us was an awesome experience.

I was very surprised at the way the French remember history. We saw fields of crosses in a place where many people visit to show their respect for the soldiers who died in World War 1 and 2. I also learnt some great folk songs from the local people.

Celebrating Bastille Day, France’s national holiday, with new friends was so much fun. We watched the parade marching along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. It is an impressive monument that took 30 years to build.

I loved visiting the little villages in France. Paris is such a beautiful city. Going all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower was so exciting. I could see the River Seine, Notre Dame and many other famous landmarks.