This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow French scheme of work. It introduces pupils to the phoneme k, which can be written in four different ways but always sounds the same. Pupils discover that although these spellings look different, they all make the crisp k sound, as heard in words such as quatre and un sac.

The video explores how this sound is produced, encouraging pupils to practise with “mouth mechanics” by clapping their hands while saying k, linking the clear, sharp sound to physical movement. A key reminder is that in French the letters qu together make the k sound, not qu as in queen. Pupils are then challenged to listen for the sound in short phrases such as Qu’est-ce que c’est? and Un carré à quatre coins?, clapping each time they hear it. The session finishes by highlighting that not every letter c makes the k sound, and pupils are prompted to notice when c is followed by another letter that changes it to a soft s. They are encouraged to think of more words from their French learning that use today’s phoneme.

French, key stage 2, Year 3, Unit 3: French playground games – numbers and age, Lesson 1: Let’s count in French