Project by: Ciara McNamara (10th Grade)
Project Advisor: Adele deBiasiPelz
Student(s)’s Advisor(s): Nick Wight

Description of the Project: 

This project is an advancement of my current French knowledge. Using Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince, and an accompanying “cahier d’exercices”, I am reading and annotating the famous French text and using the workbook to strengthen my reading comprehension and grammar skills. I decided to take on this project so I can stay engaged and challenged in my French class, and put to use my growing skills in French! I am also keeping a journal where I write analytical pieces after the completion of each chapter.

Final Product:

Here is my chapter analysis journal:

 

Final Reflection on Learning:

This project has heightened my French reading comprehension and writing skills more than I imagined. I was forced to think critically about the themes and topics present throughout the novel, then analyze them in a language in which I was still developing my skills. I loved learning the lessons the little prince had to share and following along his journey through the stars. I ended with about 18 pages of analysis, which is accessible for anyone to read!

Update on Progress from Weeks 1-3 (include any photos or video if relevant):

Read to chapter 17.

Update on Progress from Weeks 4-6 (include any photos or video if relevant):

Read to chapter 23.

Update on Progress from Weeks 7-9 (include any photos or video if relevant):

Finished the book! Read to chapter 27.

Trimester 1 Update

Final Product (e.g., documents, images, video, audio, poster, display, etc.):

See below to view a slide show featuring my chapter summaries and accompanying panels. Each panel has an image, the theme of the chapter, and a quote to support the theme.

Final Reflection on Learning:

This project has been amazing! I plan to continue reading Le Petit Prince into the second trimester, to finish the book. Reading Le Petit Prince and writing analysis has drastically strengthened my French vocabulary. While hard (and sometimes frustrating), reading in French and practicing comprehension skills has been very helpful to my evolution with the beautiful language!

Update on Progress from Weeks 1-3 (include any photos or video if relevant):

In weeks 1-3, I read through Chapitre 5. The election and some issues within my family have thrown progress off, and in the next three weeks, I plan to read more chapters per week. I have been keeping detailed annotations on new adjectives/verbs/verb tenses and questions I have throughout my reading. I have also completed many summaries and analytical paragraphs, tracking the theme of innocence and imagination throughout the book. In addition, I have been analyzing the symbolism of the sketches drawn by Saint-Exupéry and the ways in which “le petit prince” versus “les grandes personnes” view his drawings.

Update on Progress from Weeks 4-6 (include any photos or video if relevant):

In weeks 4-6, I have continued to read chapters and write analyses. I have read through chapter 9. I am continuing to expand my French grammar and comprehension through the identification of themes, symbols, topics, and character development throughout the novel. I look forward to continuing my work with Le Petit Prince!

Update on Progress from Weeks 7-9 (include any photos or video if relevant):

During weeks 7-9, I finished chapter 10. Additionally, I began to create my final project. I used watercolor paints and my (limited) artistic skills to create a visual element along with the written element of my project.