Alberta · Grade 5
Core French 5
Alberta’s Grade 5 French course, from La boîte à outils — Grade 5 Grammar Concepts to La culture francophone — Notice the French around you.
- Units
- 5
- Lessons
- 14
- Skills
- 22
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Alberta Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 8 skills
La boîte à outils — Grade 5 Grammar Concepts
Les articles et l'accord des adjectifs
The little words: un/une/des and le/la/l'/les
I can name the little words un/une/des and le/la/l'/les, and I know they change to match a noun (and that l' comes before a vowel).
Skill 1.1
Describing words change to match (+e, +s)
I can explain that a French describing word changes to match its noun — add "e" for a girl-word, add "s" for many.
Skill 1.2
À qui c'est ? La possession
"His / her": son, sa, ses
I know son, sa and ses all mean "his" or "her", and the form matches the thing owned, not the owner.
Skill 1.3
Saying who owns something with de
I can say who owns something using de — le crayon de John (John's pencil).
Skill 1.4
Les pronoms personnels
The quick stand-in words: je, tu, il… nous, vous, ils
I can name the French subject pronouns and sort them into singular (one) and plural (more than one).
Skill 1.5
Picking il / elle / ils / elles — and vous for grown-ups
I can pick il/elle/ils/elles to replace a name, and I know vous is for a grown-up or more than one person.
Skill 1.6
Les verbes, les questions et la négation
What an infinitive is, and how verbs change
I know an infinitive names a verb (sauter, être), and that a French verb changes its form to match its subject pronoun.
Skill 1.7
Questions, commands and saying "no"
I can spot question words (qui, quand, comment), and tell a command, a statement, and a "no" sentence apart.
Skill 1.8
The official wording · 8 outcomes
- 1.1
- name the three indefinite articles (un, une, des) and the four definite articles (le, la, l’, les) state, orally in their own words, that the article changes according to the gender and the number of the noun
- 1.2
- that the form of the adjective may change according to the gender and the number of the noun described state, orally in their own words, that the addition of an “e” changes a masculine adjective to a feminine adjective in most cases state, orally in their own words, that the addition of an “s” changes a singular adjective to a plural adjective in most cases
- 1.3
- that the possessive adjective changes according to the gender and the number of the noun state, orally in their own words, that there are three words to indicate ownership for “his/her” (son, sa, ses)
- 1.4
- that the preposition de can be used to indicate possession (e.g., C’est le crayon de John.)
- 1.5
- that personal subject pronouns replace a noun name all of the personal subject pronouns identify the singular (je, tu, il, elle, on) and the plural (nous, vous, ils, elles) personal subject pronouns
- 1.6
- a masculine name or noun is replaced by the pronoun il a feminine name or noun is replaced by the pronoun elle two or more masculine names or nouns are replaced by the pronoun ils two or more feminine names or nouns are replaced by the pronoun elles explain that the vous form of the verb is used when addressing an adult or two or more people
- 1.7
- that the infinitive is a word that names an action verb (e.g., sauter) or a state of being verb (e.g., être) state, orally in their own words, that every verb in French changes its form according to the personal subject pronoun used
- 1.8
- identify words that are used to formulate a question (e.g., qui, quand, comment) distinguish a command from a statement distinguish between affirmative and negative sentences state, orally in their own words, how to formulate a question using the question words
Key ideas
French has two families of little words: the "a/some" ones — un (a, boy-word), une (a, girl-word), des (some) — and the "the" ones — le (boy-word), la (girl-word), les (plural). You learn the little word WITH the noun.
French has three "his/her" words: son (boy-word thing), sa (girl-word thing), ses (many things). Son chien = his OR her dog; sa maison = his OR her house; ses amis = his OR her friends.
Subject pronouns are quick stand-ins for a name: je (I), tu (you), il (he/it-boy-word), elle (she/it-girl-word), on (one/we-casual), nous (we), vous (you-polite/plural), ils/elles (they). They save you from repeating the name.
The infinitive is a verb's "name tag" — the plain to-form: sauter (to jump), parler (to speak), être (to be). It can name an action (sauter) or a state of being (être).
The little word matches the noun's gender (boy/girl) and number (one/many). And before a word starting with a vowel sound, le and la both squish to l': l'école (the school), l'ami (the friend).
Watch out for
- Thinking gender comes from meaning ("a dog is a boy so it must be un") — it is just part of the word; une girafe stays a girl-word even for a male giraffe.
- Reading son as only "his" and sa as only "her" — both cover his AND her; it is the OWNED thing that picks the form.
- Thinking il and elle only mean "he" and "she" for people — they also replace boy-word and girl-word THINGS (le livre → il).
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 8 skills
Les mots en action — Using Words and Verbs
À l'école : les matières et l'heure
School subjects, people and places
I can name school subjects, school people and school places in French.
Skill 2.1
Telling time and parts of the day
I can name the parts of the day and tell a simple time on the 12-hour clock in French.
Skill 2.2
Le monde des animaux
Kinds of animals: farm, wild and pets
I can name kinds of animals (farm, wild, pet) and some common animals in French.
Skill 2.3
Describing animals: bodies, size, colour, habitat
I can describe an animal in French — its body parts, its size or colour, and where it lives.
Skill 2.4
La maison et ma chambre
Homes, rooms and what's in a room
I can name types of homes, the rooms of a house, and the furniture in a room in French.
Skill 2.5
Saying where things are and whose they are
I can say whose something is and where it is in French, using son/sa/ses, de, and location words.
Skill 2.6
Les verbes du quotidien et les questions
Everyday verbs and eating/drinking
I can use the singular forms of everyday French verbs, including manger, boire, avoir and être.
Skill 2.7
Asking questions and saying "no" in a message
I can ask a simple question with a question word and say "no" with ne… pas in a real message.
Skill 2.8
The official wording · 8 outcomes
- 2.1
- the names of elementary school subjects (e.g., les sciences, les mathématiques) the position titles of school personnel (e.g., le directeur adjoint, la directrice adjointe, le concierge, l’aide enseignant) the names of locations inside and outside the elementary school (e.g., le gymnase, le bureau, le terrain de jeux)
- 2.2
- vocabulary for time of day (e.g., matin, après-midi, soir, pendant la récréation) vocabulary for time using the 12-hour clock (e.g., Il est huit heures trente.)
- 2.3
- vocabulary associated with categories of animals (e.g., les animaux de compagnie, les animaux de ferme, les animaux sauvages) the names of common farm animals (e.g., une vache, un cochon) the names of common wild animals (e.g., un tigre, un ours)
- 2.4
- vocabulary related to animal anatomy (e.g., le bec, la queue, les pattes) adjectives related to size and colours of animals (e.g., gros, petit, roux) the names of habitats of common wild animals (e.g., la forêt, la prairie, les montagnes, un marécage, la mer, le désert)
- 2.5
- names of main types of dwellings (e.g., une maison, un appartement) names of the main rooms of the house (e.g., la salle de bains, une chambre à coucher) names of the main interior parts of a room (e.g., un mur, le plancher, une fenêtre) names of objects and furnishings in a student’s room (e.g., une affiche, un lit, un tapis)
- 2.6
- the possessive adjectives son, sa, ses the preposition de + noun to indicate possession (e.g., C’est la chambre de Kristi.) prepositions and prepositional phrases of location (e.g., Le bureau est en face de ma salle de classe./Le salon est à côté de la cuisine.)
- 2.7
- singular forms of the verbs aimer, porter, se trouver, parler, détester, travailler, faire, étudier, aller, habiter singular forms of the verb manger (e.g., Je mange une pomme.) singular forms of the verb boire (e.g., Je bois du lait.) all forms of the verbs avoir and être
- 2.8
- questions such as Combien de…?/Qu’est-ce que…?/Où se trouve(nt)…?/ Comment…?/Qui…?/Où est/sont…?/Quelle heure est-il?) singular forms of the verbs aimer, porter, se trouver, parler, détester, travailler, faire, étudier, aller, habiter the negative structure ne… pas
Key ideas
Subjects: les sciences (science), les mathématiques (math), le français (French). Many are cousin-words to English — use that clue.
The three groups: les animaux de compagnie (pets), les animaux de ferme (farm animals), les animaux sauvages (wild animals).
Homes and rooms: une maison (a house), un appartement (an apartment); la salle de bains (the bathroom), une chambre à coucher (a bedroom), la cuisine (the kitchen).
Everyday verbs (singular je/tu/il forms): aimer (to like), parler (to speak), travailler (to work), aller (to go), habiter (to live), manger (to eat), boire (to drink). Je mange une pomme (I eat an apple); Je bois du lait (I drink some milk).
People and places: le directeur adjoint (the vice-principal), le concierge (the caretaker); le gymnase (the gym), le bureau (the office), le terrain de jeux (the playground).
Watch out for
- Saying "le math" — it is les mathématiques (plural) in French, a small surprise for English speakers.
- Guessing gender from the animal ("a bull is male so un... a cow so une") — gender is part of the word, not the animal (une souris is a girl-word for any mouse).
- Assuming every home word is a girl-word or every one a boy-word — they vary (un appartement vs une maison); learn each with its little word.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 2 skills
À l'école — Understanding French
J'écoute — Listening for key words
Listening for key words and ideas
I can catch key words in short spoken French and show I understand — by pointing, giving a yes/no, or answering in English.
Skill 3.1
Je lis — Reading short texts
Reading short familiar texts
I can read a short French note, label or timetable and show what I understand — by matching, highlighting, drawing or answering in English.
Skill 3.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 3.1
- demonstrate understanding of key words and ideas contained in simple, concrete oral texts by responding with physical actions; by answering in English; by using graphic representations, yes/no statements, simple identification at the word level or global expressions
- 3.2
- demonstrate understanding of key words and ideas in simple, concrete adapted or authentic written texts by responding with physical actions or by underlining, highlighting, matching, drawing or using English
Key ideas
Hunt for the key words you already know — they carry the main idea. You do NOT need every word; tolerating the fuzzy bits is a skill, not a failure.
Written French waits for you: you can re-read, underline the words you know, and let titles and pictures anchor the meaning before you read a single word.
Free clues are everywhere: cognates (la musique, la classe sound like English), the speaker's tone, and what makes sense in the situation. Use them to fill the gaps.
Cognates and word-families are free wins: la classe, le gymnase, la musique look like English cousins. Circle those first and the rest gets easier.
Watch out for
- Freezing on the first unknown word and giving up, instead of riding the known words to the meaning.
- Skipping the pictures, titles and layout that would give away the meaning before reading.
- Trying to translate word-by-word in your head — listen for the shape of the message, not a perfect English copy.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 2 skills
Les animaux et la maison — Producing French
Je parle — Saying short messages
Expressing simple oral messages
I can say a short French message about something familiar — using a word, a memorized phrase, or a short sentence from a model.
Skill 4.1
J'écris — Writing short messages
Expressing simple written messages
I can write a short French message about something familiar — by labelling, copying, swapping a word, or writing a short sentence from a model.
Skill 4.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 4.1
- express simple oral messages by using gestures, one word utterances, memorized global expressions or simple, concrete sentences based on available models
- 4.2
- express simple written messages by copying, labelling, substituting words or using simple concrete sentences based on available models.
Key ideas
You have three easy tools: a gesture, a single word (un chien — a dog), or a sentence you copy from a model and swap one word in (C'est un chat → C'est un chien).
Writing starts with copying and labelling: put une fenêtre (a window) and un lit (a bed) on the right parts of a room picture. Copying accurately IS a writing skill.
Start from a model and change one thing. J'ai un poisson (I have a fish) becomes J'ai un chien just by swapping the animal — you don't build from scratch.
Level up by swapping one word in a model sentence: "Mon chien est grand" (My dog is big) → "Mon chat est petit" — same frame, your words.
Watch out for
- Waiting until you can say a whole perfect sentence before speaking — one brave word IS a message at this level.
- Leaving off the little word when copying ("chien" instead of un chien) — the article travels WITH the noun.
- Building English word-order and dropping in French words ("un petit is my chat" ✗) — lean on the model's order instead.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 5 · 2 skills
La culture francophone — Notice the French around you
Le français autour de nous
Francophone things at school and how to reach francophones
I can spot francophone things around my school and name ways to connect with French speakers.
Skill 5.1
Les conventions du français
French accents on the keyboard and time/number conventions
I can find the French accents on a keyboard and notice French conventions for time and big numbers.
Skill 5.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 5.1
- recognize elements of Francophone cultures in the school (e.g., French posters, a French section in the school library) identify a variety of ways for enhancing contact, directly or indirectly, with people of Francophone origin (e.g., penpals, e-pals, radio, television) seek out information about Francophones from authentic sources
- 5.2
- recognize that the French accents are accessible on a French keyboard or through the use of specific computer commands identify, with teacher assistance: that the terms a.m. and p.m. are not used in French to express “before noon” and “after noon” spacing of four digit numbers (e.g., 1 000) the abbreviation for hour (h)
Key ideas
Francophone culture is close by: French posters, a French section in the school library, French labels. Notice them — that's recognizing culture around you.
The accent marks (é, à, ç) are accessible on a French keyboard or with special computer commands — they're part of writing French correctly, not decoration.
You can reach further, too: penpals and e-pals, French radio and television, and authentic sources like a school timetable from Québec or France — real ways to meet real French.
French "house rules": no a.m./p.m. (French uses a 12- or 24-hour style), the hour is written with an "h" (huit heures = 8 h), big numbers are spaced (1 000, not 1,000), and titles are abbreviated M. (Monsieur), Mme (Madame).
Watch out for
- Thinking French only exists in France or in class — it's in the school, on labels, and a penpal away.
- Thinking accents are optional decoration — in French they can change a word's sound and meaning, so they belong on the keyboard.
- Assuming you need to travel to meet francophones — radio, TV, and e-pals bring French to you.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Alberta’s own curriculum for Core French 5.
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches Core French 5 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Core French 5 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 33
- Fillable fields
- 1,348
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about Core French 5
What is Core French 5?
Alberta’s Grade 5 French course: 5 units and 22 skills, from La boîte à outils — Grade 5 Grammar Concepts to La culture francophone — Notice the French around you.
What units are in Core French 5?
1. La boîte à outils — Grade 5 Grammar Concepts, 2. Les mots en action — Using Words and Verbs, 3. À l'école — Understanding French, 4. Les animaux et la maison — Producing French and 5. La culture francophone — Notice the French around you.
Is there a provincial exam for Core French 5?
No. Alberta gives no provincial exam for Core French 5.
What comes after Core French 5?
Core French 6.
Can MapleMind help with Core French 5?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Core French 5, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for Core French 5
Practise every skill of Core French 5 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
