The International School of Denver’s Upper Primary French students have once again stepped boldly into the world of creativity, language, and imagination. They've done it this time through their participation in the Ministère de la Culture’s international initiative, Dis‑moi dix mots d’un monde à venir (“Tell me ten words about a world to come”).

Each year, this program invites French speakers and learners around-the-globe to explore ten carefully selected words through artistic or literary expression. The goal is to celebrate the richness of the French language from its nuance, its evolution, and its power to describe the complexities of our contemporary world. 

Exploring the 2026 Theme: A World to Come

The 2026 edition challenges participants to reflect on the future taking shape around us. Through words such as alunir (to land on the moon), sidéral, humanoïde, transmuter, and anticipation, students are encouraged to consider both the hopes and uncertainties of tomorrow.

The theme invites learners to grapple with big questions:

• What responsibilities do we hold in shaping the future?
• How might artificial intelligence transform our world?
• What happens when technology outpaces humanity?
• How do ecological, social, and scientific shifts redefine what it means to be human?

By engaging with these ideas, students not only imagine distant galaxies and speculative futures but they can also reflect on the choices we make today and the continuum that links present to future.

ISDenver Students Create “The Time Travel Log: Archives of 3075”

Our 4th and 5th-Grade French program students embraced this challenge with curiosity and flair. Their collective creation, “The Time Travel Log: Archives of 3075,” is a vibrant scrapbook that blends science fiction, humor, linguistic play, and thoughtful reflection.

Using the ten featured words as creative constraints, students:

• Alunir imagined lunar landings and extraterrestrial expeditions
• Explored sidéral landscapes filled with mystery and wonder
• Programmé futuristic technologies and speculative theories
• Transmuté classic literary references into new, imaginative forms
• Considered the role of humanoïdes in future societies
• Wove together scientific ideas, ethical questions, and storytelling craft

The result is a work that feels both playful and profound and is a testament to how language learning can open doors to creativity, critical thinking, and global awareness.

This project from Ministère de la Culture represents a linguistic and cultural continuum between today’s classroom and the world our students will inherit. By imagining the future, they deepen their understanding of the present and their role within it.

I was truly inspired by how this project transformed French from a classroom subject into a vibrant playground for the imagination. By using ‘Oulipo’ games, 5th garde students didn't just memorize new vocabulary; they 'lived' it, playing with words like clay to shape their visions of the future. Seeing them tackle complex ideas like continuum or dystopie with such humor and artistic flair was a joy. They’ve shown that when you give children the tools to play with a language, they think as global citizens, proving that their creativity and questions are the very things that will define the next century.

- Marion Hiruois, ISDenver French Faculty

We are incredibly proud of our young authors, illustrators, visionaries, and global citizens. Their work reminds us that the future is not predetermined but rather shaped by the ideas, questions, and creativity of the next generation.