The works for this curriculum unit were chosen for their importance in terms of French civilization and for their ability to spark the curiosity and interest of beginning French students. Their strong graphic qualities will allow students to use images to support language learning and storytelling. Each work, with the exception of the cartoon albums, has elements of mystery and risk in its history, from the unknown artists who created them to their potential loss through exposure to harsh environments, even to their chance discoveries, especially in the case of the Lascaux cave paintings and the deteriorating and neglected unicorn tapestries in a château in central France. Students will learn about the importance of preservation techniques to guard the treasures of the past to enable us to learn about long-gone civilizations. This could also lead to discussions of what stories the students would tell and how they would preserve their history for future generations. Students will make connections to core curriculum, strengthening their understandings of geography, history, science, and language arts. The visual interest of this unit should help students be engaged and motivated in their language development, increasing their understanding, verbal expression, and interest in improving in the study of French.
