Integrating Research Projects into Core French: Templates for Meaningful Language Use

Looking for a way to bring student voice, inquiry, and deeper engagement into your Core French classroom? Research projects are an excellent way to do just that—while supporting vocabulary development, reading, writing, and speaking skills in a meaningful context.

Whether your students are learning about animals, people, places, or inventions, structured French research project templates can help them apply new language in a purposeful way. These projects are not only curriculum-aligned but also flexible for individual, partner, or group work.

In this post, you’ll discover five ready-to-use French research projects perfect for Grades 4–8 FSL students. These templates are designed for beginner and intermediate learners, and they’re easy to differentiate while keeping student choice and curiosity at the centre.


Why Use Research Projects in the French Classroom?

Research projects help FSL students:

  • Apply vocabulary in real-world tasks

  • Organize and structure written information

  • Develop reading comprehension through research

  • Practice speaking and presenting in French

  • Engage more deeply with Francophone cultures and communities

Plus, project-based learning is naturally motivating—it gives students a chance to create, explore, and share their learning with others.


1. Animal Research in French – Les Animaux



This graphic organizer guides students through researching an animal of their choice using structured prompts in French. Students explore:

  • Name and appearance

  • Habitat and diet

  • Life cycle or interesting facts

  • Personal opinion or reflection

This is a great first research project for younger students or those newer to French. It’s also ideal for science cross-curricular integration and works well in both Core and Immersion classes.


2. Biographie – French Biography Research Project



Have students dive into the life of a famous person—Francophone or otherwise—with this biography research template. It supports learners in organizing:

  • Basic background information

  • Life achievements

  • Timeline or important events

  • Impact or legacy

This project is excellent for integrating French into your language arts or history units, while also giving students speaking opportunities through oral presentations or mini posters.


3. French-Speaking Countries – La Francophonie



Introduce your students to the diversity of the Francophone world with this guided country research activity. Students explore:

  • Country location and map

  • Languages spoken

  • Cultural traditions

  • Landmarks and fun facts

Pair this project with lessons on Francophone culture or French language around the world. It’s ideal for International Francophonie Week or cultural awareness units.

Optional Extension: Use the companion Francophone Countries Maps & Flags Pack to support visual learning and compare countries.


4. Les Provinces et Territoires du Canada – Research Template


Perfect for teaching about Canada’s geography and culture in French. Students research one of Canada’s provinces or territories and share facts such as:

  • Location and capital

  • Symbols and landmarks

  • Key industries or attractions

  • Unique facts or traditions

This is an excellent cross-curricular resource for integrating social studies and French, while developing reading comprehension and presentation skills.


5. French Invention Project – Complete Unit


This project-based unit asks students to invent their own creation or research a real invention. It includes:

  • Brainstorming and planning sheets

  • Vocabulary support

  • Research prompts

  • Rubrics and checklists

  • Presentation templates

Great for intermediate learners, this unit integrates creative thinking with language use, while allowing for authentic communication. Students love designing and presenting their inventions in French!


Tips for Success with French Research Projects

  • Provide scaffolded templates with sentence starters or vocabulary banks

  • Allow choice in topic to boost engagement

  • Model each section of the template before assigning

  • Use bilingual or leveled French websites for research

  • Allow oral or visual presentation options for differentiation

  • Encourage peer sharing and feedback in French

With these tools, you’ll be able to integrate authentic French language use into your classroom while supporting student voice, creativity, and cultural awareness.


Check out these helpful blog posts:

Why you should use research projects with FSL students

 Graphic organizers for inquiry learning in the French classroom




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