During the first weeks of January, French and Francophone communities around the globe indulge in a time-honored treat: La Galette des Rois, or “King’s Cake.” Originally part of the Epiphany celebration, which honors the visit of the three wise men to baby Jesus, the modern galette has transcended its religious roots to become a cultural ritual filled with joy, storytelling, and playful customs.

While we don’t focus on the religious origins of the tradition, the customs that surround it make for an opportunity to connect students with French culture while blending math, science, art, and language into a single, unforgettable week of interdisciplinary learning.
A Tradition with a Twist
In the classic French version, a small trinket, or fève, is hidden inside the cake before baking. When it’s time to eat, slices are distributed with a playful ritual: the youngest member of the group hides under the table and calls out who will receive each piece. The person lucky enough to discover the fève is crowned king or queen for the day and can even choose a partner to share their reign.

While galettes with almond frangipane are the classic French version, variations of La Galette des Rois exist worldwide. In New Orleans, the King Cake is brightly decorated with sugar in the colors of Mardi Gras, while Mexico’s rosca de reyes is a wreath-shaped cake often paired with hot chocolate. At the FAA, we adapted the tradition with nut-free fillings like apple and custard, ensuring that everyone could join in the fun.
Learning Through Celebration
This year, our PK2 through Kindergarten classes embraced the galette not just as a treat but as a gateway to learning. Here’s how this celebration became a week-long interdisciplinary exploration:
In the Kitchen: Cooking and Baking as a Learning Tool
- Math Concepts: Measuring ingredients helped students practice counting, volume, and proportions.
- Science in Action: Watching the dough rise and brown led to discussions about heat, reactions, and how ingredients transform.
- Language and Expression: As we named ingredients and utensils, students worked on comparative grammar and sentence-building. They practiced forming sentences to describe the recipe steps, strengthening their oral expression and comprehension.
- Teamwork and Motor Skills: Rolling dough, spreading fillings, and hiding the fève helped students refine fine motor coordination while working collaboratively.



In the Classroom: Art, Literacy, and Play
- Crafting Crowns: Students decorated their own crowns, engaging their creativity and attention to detail. As part of this activity, they also practiced drawing horizontal lines on their galettes, a fundamental pre-writing skill that helps develop hand-eye coordination and early handwriting readiness.
- Language Practice: Learning to spell GALETTE with movable letters brought the French language to life. Singing Roule Galette and reciting poems introduced new vocabulary in an engaging way.
- Storytelling and Cultural Exploration: Reading books about the galette allowed students to discover new linguistic structures while immersing themselves in a cherished French tradition.
- Music and Dance: Students are learning a traditional dance from this festive time in France, connecting movement with cultural expression.
- Social-Emotional Growth: Sharing the galette and celebrating others reinforced lessons on patience, fairness, and the joy of community.



A Sweet Taste of Culture
The joy of La Galette des Rois goes beyond the pastry itself. It’s in the laughter of students hiding the fève, the pride in crafting something from scratch, and the connections made while sharing a slice of French culture. For many of our teachers, it’s also a chance to share personal stories of growing up with the beloved tradition, deepening the cultural exchange that defines our school’s mission.
A Celebration That Brings It All Together
Through La Galette des Rois, our students experienced a unique blend of cooking, science, math, art, and history, wrapped up in the flaky layers of a sweet tradition. At the French American Academy, we believe that cultural celebrations like these not only enrich language learning but also create lasting memories for our students. We also invite parents to share their own family traditions in the classroom, adding to the rich tapestry of cultural experiences that bring our community closer together.
Whether it’s the classic almond galette, an apple-filled twist, or a crown-decorating session, the galette des rois is a reminder that some of the best learning happens when we come together to share, create, and celebrate.