What If We Lived in Italy?

Mary and Pam’s Big Idea eUNIT

Why Big Idea Units?Big ideas are questions that do not have a quick and easy answer. Organizing your curriculum around big ideas is very beneficial and engaging to all students for these reasons:1. Students make connections across subject areas. 2. Vocabulary is repeated naturally across the curriculum. 3. Big ideas lend themselves very easily to differentiation. One big idea can be taught at several different levels.4. Struggling students learn best when they recognize and understand the big picture then study the parts. 5. Big idea learning makes sense to students. They under-stand WHY they are learning something.

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1. Big Idea question2. Purpose or expected outcome3. Step-by-step cross curricular lesson plans4. Leveled activities for different grades and abilities5. Examples of student projects6. Blackline masters to copy7. Valuable Internet resources8. A wealth of children’s literature suggestions

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What If We Lived In Italy?

Purpose: Students will learn about the customs and culture of Italy. They will identify similarities and differences of life in Italy and their own lives in the USA.

Lesson 1 Introduction

Lesson 2 A History Mystery

Lesson 3 Pizza Math

Lesson 4 Pasta, Pasta!

Lesson 5 Pinocchio

Lesson 6 Medieval Castles

Lesson 7 Coat of Arms

Lesson 8 Festivals

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Books: Kids Europe: Italy Discovery Journal by P. L. Byrne Italy ABCs by Katz Cooper Gabriella's Song (fiction) by Candace Fleming Discussion: Ask students the following questions: What do you know about Italy? What do you think it would it be like to live in Italy? How might life in Italy be different from life in the USA? Show students where Italy is located on a map or globe. Read to students one of the suggested books or another book about Italy. Explain to students that Italy is shaped much like a boot. Some special things found in Italy are famous around the world. Have students cut out the pictures of famous things from Italy on the following page. Use these maps as resources for the following activities: Italy Outline MapColored and Labeled Map of Italy

Italy: The Big Boot

Level 1 - Provide students with a large drawing of Italy on butcher paper or poster board. Have students attach pictures of famous things found in Italy to corresponding cities or regions on the map. Discuss each famous thing with students.

Level 2 - Have students draw a boot-shaped map of Italy on poster board, then attach pictures of famous things found in Italy to corresponding cities or regions on their map. Discuss each famous thing and have students write about their favorite famous thing.

Level 3 - Have students draw or paint a large boot-shaped map of Italy. Students can choose one famous thing, and then research and write a report about that thing and its corresponding city or region in Italy. They can add a picture to their map that represents their choice.

Lesson 1 Introduction

What If We Lived in Italy?

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Venice: Many of the roads in Venice Sicily: The lemons from Sicily are are actually canals. Famous water so large that some are as big as “taxis” in Venice are called small melons. In summer Italians gondolas. They are black in color. eat a frozen lemon dessert called lemon granite.

Milan: Famous for being Pisa: The Leaning Tower of the fashion center of the Pisa began to lean soon after it was world. Designers hold built because the ground important fashion shows under it on one side is sinking. here each year.

Naples: The first real pizza was invented here in the 16th century. Cheese wasn’t added until 1889!

Maranello (near Bologna): Ferrari is one of the most famous and fast cars in the world. Most Ferraris are red.

Rome: The coliseum is world famous for gladiator fights during Roman times. Many sports arenas today are built using this design.

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Lesson 2 A History Mystery

What If We Lived in Italy?

The Mysterious Etruscans:The Etruscans were a group of people who lived in Italy before the Romans, nearly 3,000 years ago. The Etruscans seem very mysterious because very little is known about them. Although their alphabet and written language has been discovered, only some has been translated. Most of what is known about the Etruscans comes from their beautiful artwork and tomb paintings. Sometimes people living in Italy find Etruscan treasures buried on their land!

Etruscan Tomb

Websites: History of Etruscans Etruscan Timeline History of Romans for Kid Fiction: On Etruscan Time by Tracy Barrett

Discussion: Using one of the Internet resources, discuss with students how mysteries are buried beneath the cities and countryside of Italy. Examples: Etruscan tombs and treasures, Roman ruins, medieval castles.My Life in a PictureShow students pictures of ETRUSCAN TOMB PAINTINGS. Explain that these paintings depict Etruscans doing what they enjoyed most in their lives: singing, playing music, dancing, hunting, eating, fishing, sailing, etc.Level 1 - Have students draw themselves doing something they like very much. Examples: participating in a sport, playing a musical instrument, reading a book, etc. Display drawings.Level 2 - Have students study the Etruscan style of drawing. Using art paper, ask students to use this Etruscan style of drawing to depict themselves doing something they like to do, or have a passion for. Drawings should show action and can be displayed around the room, or bound together in a book titled: Our Life in Pictures.Level 3 - Have students study pictures of Etruscan language and paintings. Using art paper, ask students to use this Etruscan style of drawing to depict themselves doing something they like to do, or have a passion for. Using the ETRUSCAN ALPHABET, have students sign their drawings with their names written in Etruscan. Drawings should show action and can be displayed around the room, or bound together in a book titled: Our Life in Pictures. MaryandPam.com 2009

Lesson 3 Pizza Math

What If We Lived in Italy?

Italian pizza is one of the most popular foods in the world, but who invented the first pizza? Food historians agree that pizza-like dishes where eaten for centuries by many people in Italy and other countries, like Greece and Egypt, but the first “modern” pizza seems to have been invented by a baker, Raffaele Esposito, in Naples, Italy in 1889. He served this first pizza to a king and queen! Go to this Web site to learn more about THE FIRST PIZZA.

Books: Pizza Counting by Christina Dobson. Pizza Parts: Fractions! By Linda Bussell A Remainder of One by Elinor J. Pinczes

Level 1 - Read to students a book about pizza fractions (see titles above). Cut the pizza on the following page into fourths, then eights. Have students practice fractions by counting the slices, removing slices, etc.

Level 2 - Read to students A Remainder of One by Elinor Pinczes (above). Ask students to form groups of odd numbers - 3 or 5 works best. Give each group a picture of one pizza andhave them practice dividing their pizza until each person has the same number of slices. When the pizza won`t divide evenly, have students brainstorm ways to solve the problem so that each student gets an equal amount of pizza. After students have created a solution, have them draw and cut out extra toppings for their pizza slices.

Level 3 - Have each student make a list of pizza toppings, (example: cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.). Using grid paper, have each student create a Pizza Toppings Chart and then share their list of toppings with the class. To chart the popularity of toppings, students can color in a square on the grid that represents each time that topping was placed on someone's list. For extra challenge, have students create a pie chart.

EXAMPLES OF CHARTS AND GRAPHS MaryandPam.com 2009

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Lesson 4 Pasta Pasta

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What If We Lived in Italy?

Pasta Shapes: Go to GOOGLE IMAGES to see many pasta shapes Have students imagine, and then draw a new pasta shape. They can create a name for their pasta that matches the shape.

Estimation:Fill a glass jar with a small pasta shape such as, shells, bows, or penne. Have students estimate the number of pieces of pasta in the jar.

Spaghetti Math:Supply students with dried spaghetti for the following math activities.Level 1 - Subtraction/Place Value Have students get into small groups, and take turns placing 10 pieces of spaghetti in each of 10 paper cups. Ask students take away one cup at a time and record the remaining number of pieces.

Level 2 - Multiplication Have students get into small groups and place an equal number of pieces of spaghetti in 2 cups and then record the total number of pieces. Have students add a third cup (of the same number of pieces), a fourth, fifth, and so on, recording the total number of pieces each time.

Level 3 - Division Have students get into small groups to divide an entire package of spaghetti. Students may choose the number that they will be dividing by, and then place equal number of pasta pieces in paper cups as they divide. They will probably have a remainder.

Web sites: Types of Pasta Pasta Recipes and Crafts

You are probably very familiar with one type of pasta - spaghetti - but the list of types of pasta found in Italy is nothing short of amazing! Most pasta is named for its shape. Here are a few examples:Faralle - Butterflies Linguine - Little Tongues Orecchiette - Little Ears

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Lesson 5 Pinocchio

What If We Lived in Italy?

Pinocchio was made very popular in the United States when Walt Disney made his first film about the puppet in 1940. But the story of Pinocchio was actually written by Italian author, Carol Collodi in 1883. Pinocchio is a very famous puppet throughout Italy. Each year puppeteers travel from town to town with wooden puppets to perform the story of Pinocchio to school children. Books: The Story of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi (primary) The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi (intermediate)

Discussion: Read one of the original Pinocchio books to students. Discuss why this version might seem a little different than the version they are familiar with. Have students learn these Italian words found in the original Italian version of Pinocchio.

burattino di legno - wooden puppetbalena - whalepadre - fatherragazzo - boyamici - friends

String Puppet Pinocchio: DIRECTIONS HERE

Level 1 - If necessary, pre-cut the puppet pieces for students before assisting them with assembly. Hang finished puppets to display.

Level 2 - Have students cut and assemble their Pinocchio puppets. When puppets are finished, have students perform one event from the story.

Level 3 - Have students create puppets for different characters from the Pinocchio story and perform events from the story.

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Lesson 6 Fairy Tales and Castles

What If We Lived in Italy?

Books: Navigators: Knights and Castles by Miranda Smith Castle (DK Eyewitness Books) Illustrated Fairy Tales by Sarah Courtauld The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairy Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka

Writing A Fairy Tale: Level 1 - Read to students one of the books about how castles were designed and built. Also read a fairy tale to students. Have students draw a castle on construction paper, then write their own fairy tale. Attach fairy tales to the castle drawings to display.

Level 2 - Read to students one or more of the books about how castles were designed and built, then read one or more fairy tales and a fractured fairy tale such as, The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka. Have students write their own fairy tales (or fractured fairy tales) to accompany their castle drawings.

Level 3 - After reading to students one or more of the books about how castles were built, have students get into small groups and design a castle on a large piece of butcher paper. Each student can design and cut out their own castle section; drawbridge, tower, moat, courtyard etc. Students can then write their own traditional or fractured fairy tale.

Discussion: The country of Italy is filled with hundreds of castles. Towns were built around castles during medieval times (about 500BC - 1500BC). Children who live in these towns today often grow up playing near, or even inside, a castle! Castles were built very strong to keep the townspeople safe and to make it difficult for enemies to invade the castle during a battle. Castles in Italy typically have drawbridges, towers and dungeons. Ask students the following questions: Why do you think fairy tales often take place during medieval times? Why arecastles often the setting in fairy tales? For more images of castles go to GOOGLE IMAGES.

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Lesson 7 Coat of Arms

What If We Lived in Italy?

Making a Personal Coat of Arms:Level 1 - Give each student a copy of the coat of arms form on the following page. Ask students to draw or paint one of the following into each of the four sections of their shield (in no specific order):- An object that reflects their hobby or interest (example: baseball, paintbrush, puppy)- A person who is important in their life- A favorite food- A drawing that reflects a good deedLevel 2 - Have each student trace the coat of arms shield from the following page onto a piece of construction paper. Students may choose the color or their paper based on the following medieval color chart: Gold (Yellow): Generosity White: Peace and Sincerity Red: Military Strength Blue: Truth and Loyalty In each of the four sections of the coat of arms have students use crayons, paint, colored paper, yarn, glitter, etc. to represent the following:- An object that reflects their hobby or interest (example: baseball, paintbrush, puppy)- A person who is important in their life- 2 symbols of their choice (see list below)

Level 3 - Same as level two with the addition of decorative symbols on the following page.

Discussion: During medieval times, knights rode out to battle to defend their castle. They wore a coat of arms (family crest) that was used to identify warriors dressed in armor. On a coat of arms, symbols and colors were used to represent royal families and things that were important to the families.

Green: Hope and Joy Black: Steadfastness Purple: Royal Majesty and Justice Orange: Worthy Ambition

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Decorative Symbols for Coat of Arms

Acorn: Antiquity and strength.Ant: Great labor and wisdomAntlers: Strength and fortitude Bear: Strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindredBull's Horns: Strength and fortitudeCandle (Lamp): Light and life Camel: Patience and perseveranceCastle (Tower): SafetyCat: placeCityLiberty, vigilance and courageClouds: Mystery, obscured truthDog: Courage, vigilance, and loyaltyDolphin: Swiftness, diligence, salvation, charity, and loveDove: Constancy and peace, a harbinger of good tidingsDragon: Valiant defender of treasure; valour and protectionEagle: Person of noble nature, strength, braveryElephant: Strength, wit, longevity, happiness, royalty, good luck, and ambitionFlowers: Hope and joyGlobe: Worldliness and world travelGrasshopper: Noble Hand: Pledge of faith, sincerity, and justiceDeer: Peace and harmonyLamb: Gentleness and patienceLightning Bolt: Swiftness and powerLion: Dauntless courageMermaid: EloquenceMusical Pipes: Festivity and rejoicingOak Tree Leaves: Great age and strengthOtter: One who lives life to the fullest Owl: One who is vigilant and of acute wit Ox: Valour and generosityPanther: Fierce, but tender and loving to childrenPeacock: Beauty, power, and knowledgePillar: Fortitude and constancyRainbow: Good times after badRock: Safety and protection; refugeSalamander: ProtectionSea horse: Power of the waterSnake: WisdomSun: Glory and splendor; fountain of lifeSwan: Light, love, grace, sincerity, perfectionTorch: ZealousnessUnicorn: Extreme courage, virtue and strengthVine: Strong and lasting friendshipWings: Swiftness and protection MaryandPam.com 2009

Lesson 8 Festivals

What If We Lived in Italy?

Carpet of Flowers: All LevelsMaterials Needed for Each Student:- 1 Piece of light colored construction paper- Tissue paper - various colors, cut into 1 inch squares- #2 pencil with eraser- glue

Have students draw a design on light colored construction paper and follow the directions below.

Discussion: Festivals are very popular in Italy and include the whole family. Italians hold festivals (local celebrations) for many things including, holidays, seasons and different kinds of foods. A popular medieval celebration in springtime is infiorata, the festival of flowers. Local families draw beautiful designs on the streets and then stay up all night placing flower petals in the designs to create a carpet of flowers! The next day they dress up like knights and ladies and hold a medieval parade. To see more photos of infiorata go to GOOGLE IMAGES

Directions: Using a #2 pencil, wrap one square of tissue paper around the eraser end, as shown. Place one drop of glue on the base of the square and press tissue paper “flower” into one section of the design. Continue with the same color, completely filling the area of the design.

Choose a different color tissue paper and repeat process, filling another section of the design. When designs are completed (the paper must be filled completely!) display end to end on the floor, or on the wall, like a long carpet of flowers.

MaryandPam.com 2009