Take the example of the four-colour BIC pen. It was invented in 1970 by Marcel Bich, a French entrepreneur, and is found everywhere in the world – in 160 countries to be precise.

Many Australian students use it, but little of them know of its French origins.

So, when launching into a project looking at schooling in France and stationery vocabulary, I had this funny idea to start with this simple pen.

I contacted the BIC company in Melbourne, more precisely Katarina Marshall, a brand manager. She, along with Christelle Fourcade, a planning manager, were as excited as my students to kick off work on the project.

First, the students had to research BIC and the company's trajectory to what it is today.

Among other facts, they discovered that the first BIC pen was released in 1950 and was officially named BIC Cristal. It helped to change the pen market from fountain pens to ballpoint.

They also found that a regular BIC ballpoint pen can draw a line that's about two kilometres long before running out. Finally, they discovered that a BIC pen is sold every three seconds around the world!

Bich had a genius idea when inventing the pen, 'le BIC 4 couleurs', in that he designed one pen with the option to use four colours.

This pen is still very trendy in France and in the schoolyard among students, who start collections or exchange them with their friends.

The second part of the project honed in on developing my students' creativity. Tney were given a real template of a BIC pen and they needed to create their own pattern.

'Et si c’etait votre stylo?' I told them.

Designs came with geometrical patterns, others with floral ones, film characters, dots, Australian animals, environmental themes and AFL logos, to name a few. 

A selection of the most creative ones have been sent to BIC Melbourne.

Naturally, all students were rewarded with the famous four-colour BIC pen at the end of the project.

I did not teach anything about this French company, but still my students learnt a lot about it and developed much cultural awareness.

They also understood that many French companies are located in Australia and in Victoria in particular, so, why not learn French?

There will now be a final winner named who will have their own pen created as a unique sample.

Sometimes in the French classroom, great things come from the simple things!