Armistice Day in French Class: 3 Songs for November 11
On November 11, France marks the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I in 1918. It is a public holiday, and towns across the country hold ceremonies at their war memorials. For many students, it is also a holiday they have never heard of in French class.
Songs give you a way into the day that goes beyond a reading passage. They carry history and emotion, and some very useful grammar comes along for the ride. Below you will find three French songs for Armistice Day, ordered by level, plus a ready 30-minute lesson, key vocabulary, and a short FAQ.
If your class is already playing FrancoManie, the free French song bracket that runs through November 13, these songs also make a good change of pace between votes.
What Is Le 11 Novembre?
L’Armistice, or le 11 novembre, remembers the moment the guns went quiet on the Western Front: 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. Today the day is less about victory and more about memory. Towns gather at the monument aux morts, the names of local soldiers are often read aloud, and many people wear le bleuet de France, a small blue cornflower.
For students, it is a chance to see how a country talks about its own history. It also connects to days they may already know, like Veterans Day in the United States or Remembrance Day in Canada and the UK, which fall on the same date.
3 French Songs for Armistice Day
All three songs are on Roxxem with French lyrics, the music video, and games like Whac-a-Word, Vocab Harvest, and Quiz Ninja, so there is nothing to prep beyond pressing play.
1. "L'oiseau et l'enfant" by Kids United (A2)
A cover of Marie Myriam's song that won Eurovision for France in 1977. It is gentle and hopeful, which makes it a soft entry point for younger or novice classes. Use it to talk about peace and the world students want to live in, with simple vocabulary like la paix, le monde, and le rêve.
🔗 Explore "L'oiseau et l'enfant" on Roxxem!
2. "La Marseillaise" by National Anthem of France (B1+)
Written in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle, the French national anthem is often sung at commemorations, including on November 11. The lyrics are intense and belong to a very different era, so frame them historically before you play it. Words like la patrie, les citoyens, and aux armes open up a good discussion about why a country keeps singing a song this old.
🔗 Explore "La Marseillaise" on Roxxem!
3. "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" by Jean-Jacques Goldman (B2)
A thoughtful song by Jean-Jacques Goldman, Carole Fredericks, and Michael Jones that asks a hard question: if I had been born in 1917 in a German town, would I have made different choices? Leidenstadt is a fictional town, and the song moves through other moments in history too. It is also a strong model for si clauses in the past: si j'étais né..., aurais-je été...?
🔗 Explore "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" on Roxxem!
A 30-Minute Armistice Day Lesson Plan
- Warm-up (5 min): Show the facts image and ask, Qu’est-ce qui s’est passé le 11 novembre 1918 ? Students can guess in French or English.
- First listen (5 min): Play L’oiseau et l’enfant or La Marseillaise, depending on level. Students write down every word they recognize.
- Vocab game (5 min): Run Whac-a-Word on Roxxem with words like la paix, la guerre, and le souvenir.
- Grammar focus (10 min): With upper levels, play Né en 17 à Leidenstadt and do the si clause activity below.
- Closing (5 min): Hold a minute of silence, then collect an exit ticket: one sentence in French about what peace means to you.
Key Vocabulary for Le 11 Novembre
- la paix: peace
- la guerre: war
- le soldat: soldier
- le souvenir: memory, remembrance
- se souvenir de: to remember
- le monument aux morts: war memorial
- une minute de silence: a minute of silence
- le bleuet: the cornflower, France’s symbol of remembrance
Quick Activity: Si J’étais Né(e)...
After listening to "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt," ask students to write three sentences that start with "Si j’étais né(e)..." about a different time or place. Share a few aloud. It is a natural way to practice the plus-que-parfait and the conditionnel passé, and the answers are often more thoughtful than you might expect.
FAQ
What is Armistice Day called in French?
Most people say le 11 novembre or l’Armistice. It is a public holiday in France, so schools and most offices are closed.
Is La Marseillaise appropriate for class?
It can be, with context. The anthem started as a war song in 1792 and some lines are violent, so present it as a historical text. Many teachers focus on the chorus and the story behind it rather than every verse.
What level are these songs?
On Roxxem, L’oiseau et l’enfant is tagged A2, La Marseillaise B1+, and Né en 17 à Leidenstadt B2. The first one works with novice classes, and the Goldman song is best saved for upper levels.
Armistice Day can feel distant to students, but a song can bring it closer. To turn one of these songs into a full class period, see how to build a full language lesson around one song.
🔗 Find all three songs, with French lyrics, games, and ready-to-teach activities, on Roxxem.
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