Teaching la galette des rois in French class is one of the easiest ways to bring culture, vocabulary, and authentic traditions into your classroom in January. Whether you teach Core French or French Immersion, Epiphany offers endless opportunities for meaningful reading, conversation, and cultural learning. Below, you’ll find a structured approach to teaching L’Épiphanie with high-engagement activities, leveled resources, and ready-to-use ideas that work for any French level.
⭐️ Why Teach La Galette des Rois in January?
January is a rich month for French cultural traditions, but La Fête des Rois stands out because it blends food, history, tradition, vocabulary, and curiosity — all in a single lesson. Teaching la galette des rois allows students to explore:
French Epiphany traditions
Key vocabulary (fève, couronne, frangipane, pâtisserie)
Authentic customs in France and Francophone countries
Cultural comparisons between French and North American celebrations
Easy speaking and reading practice for all levels
It’s a perfect cultural lesson when students are still sleepy after winter break and need something fun, hands-on, and low-prep.
⭐️ Step 1: Start With a Clear Introduction to L’Épiphanie
Kick off the lesson by giving students a simple, structured introduction to:
What is L’Épiphanie?
Why French people eat la galette des rois
What happens on January 6th
What is the fève and why it’s important
A strong way to introduce the tradition is using a short reading — available in both English and French — so you can adapt it to your group’s level.
⭐ Resource Match:
L’Épiphanie Mini-Unit (English + French presentations)
Includes short readings, comprehension questions in both languages, a vocabulary section, and a recipe research task — ideal for differentiation.
Step 1: Start With a Clear Introduction to L’Épiphanie
⭐️ Step 2: Build Vocabulary Through Mini-Tasks
Once students understand the tradition, move into targeted vocabulary practice. Focus on essential words connected to la galette:
la fève
la couronne
la frangipane
une pâtisserie
les Rois Mages
tirer les rois
Here are quick activities that work at any level:
Label the parts of the galette
Match vocabulary to images
Use sentence starters: “Dans la galette, on trouve…”
Quick partner discussion: “As-tu déjà mangé une galette?”
⭐ Resource Match:
La Galette des Rois Chat Mat (No-Prep Speaking Tool)
Great for fast finishers, pair work, stations, or bell-ringers.
⭐️ Step 3: Add a High-Engagement Reading or Research Task
Students love learning the “why” behind traditions, and reading tasks help reinforce culture AND structures.
Try one of the following:
A short reading about the history of la galette des rois
A recipe-based research activity
A mini text about the fève tradition
A booklet project where each page introduces new facts
⭐ Resource Match:
La Galette des Rois Mini Research Booklet (in French)
Perfect for independent reading, comprehension checks, and cultural discovery in small doses.
⭐️ Step 4: Get Students Moving With an Interactive Activity
January can feel long, dark, and low-energy — so a movement-based activity is magic.
A French scavenger hunt on la galette des rois lets students:
Explore facts online
Answer leveled comprehension questions
Work in pairs or small groups
Build research and reading skills
It’s also a great option for sub plans or mixed-level classes.
⭐ Resource Match:
Galette des Rois French Scavenger Hunt
Includes 12 culturally rich questions, answer key, and a one-page student sheet.
⭐️ Step 5: End With a Creative Collaborative Project
Finish your mini-unit with a collaborative cultural display that reinforces vocabulary and celebrates student learning.
Options include:
A French Epiphany classroom quilt
A collaborative poster on la galette des rois
Royalty-themed idiom posters linked to the holiday
Crown-making or fève-design activities
These projects build community and turn your French January unit into a colorful visual celebration.
⭐ Resource Matches:
la Galette – Collaborative Poster
A student-friendly research + coloring activity available in English and French.
Galette des Rois Classroom Quilt
Includes 30 reading squares, coloring sheets, headers, and writing templates — a perfect January bulletin board.
Royalty-Themed French Idioms Pack
A fun vocabulary add-on that ties perfectly into the “royal” theme of Epiphany.
⭐️ Putting It All Together: Your January Lesson Flow
Here’s a simple, ready-to-use structure for your class:
Introduce L’Épiphanie (short cultural reading)
Teach essential vocabulary (visuals, chat mats, sentence starters)
Assign a reading or research activity (booklet or comprehension questions)
Do an active task (scavenger hunt, partner conversation)
Finish with a creative project (quilt, poster, idioms)
This flow works beautifully in:
Core French
French Immersion
Middle school
High school
Split classes
And you can stretch it across 1–5 class periods depending on the resources you choose.
⭐️ Final Thoughts: Why La Galette des Rois Makes January French Lessons Shine
Teaching la galette des rois isn’t just a fun cultural break — it’s a high-engagement way to blend reading, vocabulary, speaking, and cultural awareness. Students walk away understanding a real French tradition while using meaningful language in context.
If you're planning your January French culture lessons, these activities make your classroom feel lively, festive, and authentically francophone — even in the middle of winter.
👉 Click here to download 30 FREE activities to help your students speak more French!