City of Edinburgh
French Early Level
Numbers 1 - 10
Early Level Significant Aspects of Learning
• Use language in a range of contexts and across learning
• Develop confidence and enthusiasm to communicate using the
language being learnt
• Begin to develop an awareness of other countries, cultures and
languages
• Listen and join in with simple songs, stories and rhymes
• Explore and recognise patterns and sounds of language through
listening, watching and playing
• Understand, respond to and say simple greetings and personal
information (e.g. name)
• Repeat and understand simple familiar language from a familiar
source
• Actively take part in simple daily routine language
• Participate in familiar games including outdoor learning
• Begin to explore resources to support my learning e.g. picture
dictionaries
Vocabulary
4. Numbers 1 – 10
Combien?
un
deux
trois
quatre
cinq
six
sept
huit
neuf
dix
How many?
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
ten
Combien?
un
deux
trois
quatre
cinq
six
sept
huit
neuf
dix
Embedding the language
You can use numbers to count things throughout
your lessons.
Combien challenge!
Every time the teacher calls, “combien?” the
pupils have to count whatever they have in front
of them and then say it in French.
Using numbers and counting as a way of settling
a class, putting a time limit on tidying etc.
I have explored numbers, understanding that they represent quantities, and I can use
them to count, create sequences and describe order.
MNU 0-02a
Sample activities
You will find a bank of sample activities which you can use to
practice the vocabulary in the classroom.
This is not a prescriptive list of activities and you can use or
adapt them to suit the needs of your class.
Activité 1
Puppet numbers
French puppets for counting
• Using a French puppet and asking pupils
to teach him how to count in English.
• The puppet can teach them how to count
in French.
• This helps pupils to differentiate
between the two and can help enhance
their developing numeracy skills in
English.
I have explored numbers, understanding that they represent quantities, and I can use
them to count, create sequences and describe order.
MNU 0-02a
Activité 2
Il y a combien?
Il y a combien?
1. All pupils sit in a circle with 10 toys in the centre.
2. They then close their eyes and say the numbers
from 1 – 10.
3. Whilst they are counting, another pupil (or the
teacher) removes a number of toys from the
middle.
4. When they get to 10 they open their eyes and
have to say how many toys are in the centre (by
asking “Combien?”)
5. You could let whoever guessed it right take them
away/hide them afterwards.
I have explored numbers, understanding that they represent quantities, and I can use
them to count, create sequences and describe order.
MNU 0-02a
Activité 3
Compter, combien?
Compter, combien?
• Compter, combien means count, how
many?
• Show pupils the following pictures
and count up how many there are of
each item.
I have explored numbers, understanding that they represent quantities, and I can use
them to count, create sequences and describe order.
MNU 0-02a
Compter, combien?
Oui! Cinq! Bravo!
Compter, combien?
Bravo! Trois!
Compter, combien?
Oui! Deux!!!!
Compter, combien?
Super! Bravo! Six! 
Compter, combien?
Je suis impressionée! Quatre!

Compter, combien?
Cinq! Bravo tout le monde! 
Compter, combien?
Sept! Sept coccinelles.
Compter, combien?
Très bien! Huit ballons!
Compter, combien?
Dix! Génial!
Compter, combien?
Un! Oui, il y a un chien!
Ouaf!
Activité 4
Counting rhymes
Counting rhyme 1
Un, deux, trois,
Quatre, cinq, six
Sept, huit, neuf,
Dix!
Short counting rhymes are a really good way to help the pupils remember
the language. Rhythm and rhyme are both really effective in retaining
languages.
Ask pupils to march / walk about when saying the rhyme at the same
time.
Songs!
You will find a bank of sample songs which you can use to
practise the vocabulary in the classroom.
This is not a prescriptive list of songs and you can use or adapt
them to suit the needs of your class.
Chanson!
French numbers by chidren
1, 2, 3 allons dans les bois
This is a classic French nursery rhyme which is used to help learn
to count!
Un kilomètre á pied
This is another traditional French
counting rhyme.
ICT Resources online
You will find a bank of sample ICT activities which you can use to
practise the vocabulary in the classroom.
This is not a prescriptive list of activities and you can use or
adapt them to suit the needs of your class.
Each of the slides contains an image of the website page. If you
click on the image it will take you to the page. Alternatively you
can use a link address which you will find in the slide notes.
BBC French – Numbers 1 - 10
L’institut français
Au revoir!