Mona Lisa at Calvert!

8th Age girls took turns being the Mona Lisa with their own interpretations of her mysterious smile. In 1516, Francois I bought the Mona Lisa from the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. This painting hangs today in the Louvre Museum, in Paris. 8th age students have been learning about the Louvre and other famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, the Obelisque, the Metro, the Arc de Triomphe, and l'Opera.

Fondue Fun

What could be better than spending time together enjoying a delicious fondue spread?! French Club members dipped strawberries, bananas, and marshmellows into creamy, warm chocolate. Fondue, which originated in Switzerland, comes from the French word "fondre", to melt. Fondue can be made with melted chocolate, cheese, or oil. This must be why the restaurant in nearby Towson, "The Melting Pot", is all about fondue.

Smooth as Clockwork

Time was ticking away quickly as French Club members assembled their Swiss cuckoo clocks with precision and care. Each clock was in the shape of a Swiss chalet complete with shingles, fir trees, people, deer, and a clock. Adding to the charm of these replica masterpieces were wooden pinecones hanging on silver chains from the bottom of each clock. In Switzerland, where people speak French, German, and Italian, you can find beautifully handcrafted cuckoo clocks such as these.

French in Africa

French Club members beautifully painted and decorated frames for their handcarved masks from the Ivory Coast. The people of this country produce the largest variety of masks in Africa. The carvings below represent masks that symbolize tranquility with their half-shut eyes and lines drawn near the mouth. La Cote D'Ivoire, as it prefers to be called, is one of thirty one African countries that speak French as a first or second language. There are over 115 million French speakers in Africa.