HISTORICALLY SPEAKING ITALY PATCH PROGRAM
complete 3requirements to earn this patch
you can print this page and share it with others

1. Italy is located on a boot-shaped peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. Locate Italy on a map. Find the Capital. What continent is located on? Identify Italy’s flag and the type of currency used there.

2. The official language of Italy is Italian. Learn how to say Hello or other simple words and phrases in Italian. Listen to Italian language tapes or recite simple words or phrases in Italian. www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/italian.shtml

3. Meals in Italy are a social part of the day. Do you know how pizza originated? Did you know there are over 50 types of pasta? Learn more about the foods they eat and discover other Italian foods America has adapted. Have a pizza party or a potluck pasta social. Some food examples are: Macaroni and cheese, fried potatoes, lasagna, olives, grapes, etc.

4. Some of Italy‘s most recognizable landmarks are the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum. Choose an architectural marvel located in Italy to learn more about. Find out where it is located, it’s origin and age. Create a diorama or model of an Italian structure or a flat map with the structure’s location on it.

5. Paintings and Sculptures have contributed to the beauty of Italian homes and towns for generations. One form of art is called mosaic. Mosaics were used as borders on walls and floors to enhance certain areas in a home. Research some of the artists, sculptors, or other artists of Italy. Such as : Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Donatello. You may also want to create an art project or painting using free expression or mosaic tiles.

6. Italy has two famous volcanoes. Research where they are located and whether or not they are active or dormant. Learn more about some of the other terrains in Italy, which countries border it, and its two major rivers. (Create a simulated volcano or explore similar terrains in your area.)

7. The Roman Empire can be traced to 753B.C. The Empire lasted for centuries. Rome, at one point and time, ruled most of the known world. Research why Rome was called the “City of the Seven Hills” and choose two important people or events in Roman history to learn more about. You may also create a timeline.

8. The holidays in Italian culture usually celebrate a religious theme or national event. Some examples are: Christmas, Epiphany, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and National Holiday. Visit a cultural celebration or recreation of one of these events OR learn why they celebrated the holiday. You may also create an art project, build a manger scene, or enjoy a food such as bombe, (ice cream).

9. Soccer is Italy’s national sport. Some other traditional games or sports are: racing bikes, bocce ball, swimming, and automobile racing. Learn about other sports or pastimes in Italy OR participate in a sport they play in Italy.

10. In 55AD, the first Pompeii Open Air Theatre was built. Plays, storytelling, and operas became very famous as a result of this. Do one of the following: Create your own song or poem, make masks, read a traditional story or myth from the Italian culture.

11. Italian children enjoyed a variety of games such as hide and seek, marbles, tombola, hopscotch, and knucklebones. Learn about other games or toys in Italy OR play a game they might play in Italy OR create a traditional game or toy to share with others.

12. The most common style of ancient Roman dress is a simple tunic, toga or stola. Modern Italian folk costumes consist of blouses, skirts, breeches and vests. Learn more about traditional shoes, headdresses and clothing. Draw a picture of the clothing, or design your own tunic.

13. A typical town was planned on a grid pattern. Fresh water was brought into the towns through a system of channels called aqueducts. People use gondolas for transportation. Research how an aqueduct works, what a gondola is, or what an atrium or hypocaust are used for. For extra you may design your own ancient town or construct a aqueduct, gondola. or house. http://www.squero.com/faq.html

This patch program will help its participants learn more about the history and sites in this country. If you have the privilege of visiting this country, you can complete some of these requirements there. It would be helpful to learn more about the country prior to your visit. Use the library and the internet to research more.