France

Did you know that the French version of the Fourth of July celebrates a spectacular jailbreak? On July 14, 1789, the people of Paris revolted against the oppressive reign of King Louis XVI by storming the state prison, the Bastille. Thus began the French Revolution, which resulted in France becoming a democracy marked by Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite (Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood). Explore French’s exciting history and rich culture through the direct links on The Times Launch Point Web site, https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/

Level 1

Embassy of France: Just for Kids: Did you know the French National Anthem was written one night during the French Revolution in 1792? Listen to “La Marseillaise,” and learn about life in France including its history, geography, economy, daily life and culture which ranges from the cave paintings in Lascaux to the artistic masterpieces in the Louvre Museum.

https://www.info-france-usa.org/kids/

ZipZap France: The flat, round cap called a beret was originally worn only by the Bearnais and the Basques in southwestern France but later became worn by students, farmers and even the French regiments. Discover interesting facets of French life ranging from croissants and snails (escargot) to sports and Paris landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe.

https://www.zipzapfrance.com/anglais/constellation.html

Show and Tell from France: Meet three French students and find out what their lives are like through photos and stories of their families, their schools and their favorite activities. https://www.gakkos.com/silent/culture/paris/index.htm

Level 2

Paris: Tours: The Eiffel Tower originally was considered unsafe and ugly when it was first built in 1889 for the International Exposition, but the French decided not to tear it down when it was found it made a good antennae for radio transmissions. Wander the streets of Paris and learn about its history through two guided photo tours.

https://www.oir.ucf.edu/wm/paris/

Embassy of France: France’s gift of the Statue of Liberty to the United States symbolized the long-term friendship between the two countries. Learn about France’s past and present through timelines, biographies, maps, photos and articles.

https://www.info-france-usa.org/profil/glanc.htm

Louvre Museum Official Web Site: Travel to the City of Lights and view artistic masterpieces including Islamic art, Renaissance paintings and Greek and Roman antiquities.

https://mistral.culture.fr/louvre/louvrea.htm

Level 3

A History of France: Primary Source Documents: “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights,” begins the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen written in 1789. Travel back in time and read important documents in French history ranging from ordinances from the time of Charlemagne and accounts from the Hundred Years’ War to agreements leading to the liberation of France during World War II.

https://library.byu.edu/~rdh/eurodocs/france.html

Profile of France: France is roughly the size of Texas and ranks fourth in the world in automobile production. Get acquainted with present-day France by learning about its government, educational system, culture, geography, and economy.

https://www.france.diplomatie.fr/france/index.gb.html

Treasures From the Bibliotheque Nationale de France: Besides “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Victor Hugo wrote a novel called “Les Miserables,” which dramatized the poverty and harsh working conditions of French women and children during the 1800s. See 13 centuries of French history and culture come to life through photos of original manuscripts, artwork and artifacts.

https://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/bnf/bnf0001.html

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

Who has the most famous face in the Louvre Museum in Paris?

CLUE: See ZipZap France

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point now covers more than 100 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: A magnet is strongest at its ends--its north and south poles. A magnet is weakest in the middle.

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Lauri Resnikoff, A.K. Subramanian, Joe Anthony Wilson and Anna Manring.