In the Italian Room… (Nella classe Italiana)
Mamma mia — Term 1 has flown by! It has been a lively and productive start to the year, with students across all levels enthusiastically engaging in their Italian learning.
Our Prep students began by exploring la famiglia through the delightful story of Il Pappagallo (the cockatoo). This term, they are meeting Pinocchio and his friends, il gatto (the cat) and il topo (the mouse), as they learn about il corpo (the body) in fun and interactive ways.
In Grade 1, students have been busy counting, building vocabulary related to il mare (the beach), and enjoying a variety of word games. They have created their own memory games, which will soon be coming home to share with their families. Later this term, students will “travel” in their macchine (cars), exploring Italian landmarks and learning about different forms of trasporti (transport) through cultural activities.
Grade 2 students have been revising i colori, practising their colour vocabulary through songs and creative tasks. They particularly enjoyed designing their own gelato and writing about their colour choices. This term promises to be delizioso as students dive into the humorous story Mangia, Mangia, about a boy who loves Nutella a little too much!
In Grade 3, students discovered that the days of the week are named after planets—can you guess which one mercoledì (Wednesday) comes from? Through songs, recitation, and spelling practice, students have built confidence with using the days and months. They will soon begin exploring the fairy tale Giacco e il fagiolo, an Italian version of Jack and the Beanstalk.
Grade 4 students have been learning about objects found in la classe, writing sentences to describe the colours of their belongings and what they keep in their astuccio (pencil case). For the rest of the semester, the focus shifts to il corpo, where students will expand their vocabulary while enjoying songs like ‘Testa, Spalle, Ginocchia e Piedi’ (Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes).
In Grade 5, students explored some of Italy’s most influential figures, including Guccio Gucci, Enzo Ferrari, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. A particular highlight was creating their own modern interpretations of the Mona Lisa. This term, students are diving into the topic of animali, revising familiar vocabulary and extending their skills by writing descriptive sentences about their chosen animals, incorporating adjectives and opinions to add depth to their work.
Understanding culture is an important part of language learning. Grade 6 students explored the famous Carnevale of Venice, a vibrant festival celebrated each year before Easter. Inspired by this tradition, they designed and painted their own maschere (masks), which look absolutely magnifico!
As part of our Italian program, Grade 6 students also participate in a pen pal exchange program. For the remainder of the semester, students will focus on learning common phrases to introduce themselves and share information about their interests, families, and daily lives. Using modelled texts as a guide, they will develop their confidence in writing engaging and well-structured letters to their new amici di penna (pen friends).
It has been a fantastic start to the year, and we look forward to another term of engaging language learning ahead!
Tanti saluti,
Signora Perrone, Signora Camilla e Signora Langley.