How to throw an Italy Themed Learning Week

If you’re a homeschooling parent, or just looking for a way to explore the world while travel isn’t possible, then Themed Learning Weeks or Days are a great way to do so. They’re an opportunity to try different foods, listen to themed music and try out new books for the whole family, not just the kids. 

Be warned though, Learning Weeks can mean a fair amount of preparation work. We’ve compiled some handy resources to help lighten the load!

Try cooking pizza, pasta, tiramisu…

There are plenty of Italian recipes to try making with kids. Lots of really easy, although might require a little specialist equipment.

  • Pizza is great to make with kids, and provides ample learning opportunities, both culinary and chemical. Making pizza dough demonstrates the properties of yeast - make sure to activate the yeast in luke-warm water before making the flour. It will guarantee that your dough will rise, and kids can see the yeast bubbling after a few minutes.

    There are plenty of different combinations of pizza toppings so kids can experiement with making their own. Here are some fun ideas to try if kids run out of ideas. Personally I’ve found the best way to have fun with pizza is by gathering a wide range of options and giving kids free rein.

  • Pasta can be great to make from scratch, if you have a pasta maker. Make the pasta dough in advance, preferably using 00 type flour. The pasta maker will have a variety of settings to make anything from linguine to ravioli. Here’s a basic recipe…

  • Tiramisu is absolutely delicious - traditionally it’s made with alcohol, so not suitable for kids. But we’ve found a great alcohol-free version, ideal for cooking with kids. Plus, you don’t even have to bake it!

Recreate Galileo’s Pisa experiment

The story of Galileo dropping objects of the top of the Tower of Pisa is compelling, but probably not true. Regardless, if you have the space available you can try out a similar experiment yourself.

This online experiment talks you through re-creating a version of Galileo’s work with two water bottles, although you can substitute with different objects depending on your opinions about mess. Remember to make sure the kids document their experiment - it’s the cornerstone of scientific method.

This experiment is significantly enhanced if you can film the impact with a camera phone with slow-motion settings!

Try some Italian  artworks

Try developing some artistic sensibilities in the style of the Italian masters. Sculpting is a possibility, although probably better with play-dough than Plaster of Paris or marble. Try to mimic MIchaelangel’s David or create a statue of a pet or family member.

Kids can also try recreating famous Italian paintings. After all, the Italian masters learned by being apprenticed to professional artists and spent years and years copying the work of their masters to develop a sense for shape and colour.

Train like a Roman

The Romans were renowned as warriors, although generally for their teamwork rather than as individual fighters. There are some suggestions that the game of hopscotch was invented by Roman soldiers as a way of maintaining fitness and ordination.

Try re-creating a hopscotch game with chalk or tape and take turns to play. You can even label it with Roman numerals rather than numbers. Remember, Roman soldiers trained freely at first, then eventually fully dressed in armour with weapons. Kids can always substitute weapons with backpacks for an added kick.

Try some books & Films set in Italy

There are plenty of books and some films for kids set in Italy, including some very recent ones.

  • Lucca, the latest offering from Disney/Pixar, this animated film is set in Cinque Terre and is about Lucca, a young merman.

  • Roman Holiday, perhaps a little old for some children it’s nevertheless a classic about a young princess having an adventure in Rome.  

Here are some great books for kids, largely written by Italians. Those at the end are non-fiction.

Make an exploding Mount Vesuvius

Who doesn’t love this experiment? This works best if you take time to design a great volcano to go around the erupting bottle. Here’s a simple version although there are plenty to be found online.

Remember you can use this experiment as a jumping off point to talk about plenty of things - from the geography of volcanoes to the chemistry of the experiment or the history of Vesuvius itself (including Pompeii and Herculaneum) or even the danger Vesuvius currently presents.

Want to learn more about Italy?

Try our free Italy Activity Pack.

It’s got information for parents, activities to try with kids and some colouring pages for the younger ones.

The best part is, it will give you a little taste of our Italy workbook and how it works for kids aged 6-12.

Laura Curtis