Italy Integrated Unit Grade 2 By Tamra Green. Rationale for Theme The reason I chose Italy is because it fits closely to Wiley Elementary School’s focus.

Italy

Integrated Unit Grade 2

By Tamra Green

Rationale for Theme

The reason I chose Italy is because it fits closely to Wiley Elementary School’s focus on international interdependence. Each grade is assigned an in depth study of a country and Italy is 2nd grade’s country of focus.

Some ideas that worked well with this theme are the following: Leonardo DaVinci, Strega Nona, Pinocchio, opera, and Italian foods.

Key components to unit

• Diversity – A lesson was developed for students to compare their personal travel experiences or going to a new place. Many lessons incorporate individual interpretations to share with others in class.

• Technology – In each lesson I listed websites for enrichment. I also incorporated technology by asking students to create a digital storyboard. The internet is consistent resource throughout the unit.

• Differentiation – Each lesson has a section that includes modifications, accomodations, and tiering for higher critical thinking.

??? Essential Questions ???• Math – Why is it important for us to use problem solving skills to find answers

to math? How can math be taught to be meaningful to everyday lives?

• Literacy – How can reading and writing be incorporated in all content areas?

• Science – Is learning about sound relevant and how can it be made relevant?

• Social Studies – How can diversity be implemented so that it can be effective for students to learn about multiculturalism?

• Art – How can art be integrated so that it makes an impact on students culturally while not taking away from time from other standard content?

Math

Fraction Pizza

Graphing Pasta

Mosaic Tiles(growing patterns)

Roman ColosseumPlace Value Game

Spaghetti Measurement

Italy – Integrated Unit Web

Math – Italian Style

Problem Based (Spaghetti buffet, Pizza party)

• Can you draw or construct a different model?

• Is there a better solution to this problem?

• Can you tell in your own words how you solved this problem?

Direct Instruction(pasta graphing, mosaic

tiles, Coliseum games)• Can you propose an

alternative method of finding the cost?

• Can you think of another type of model to use?

• What are other ways to tell your number?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

Three people, huddle and plan a 3 digit number, decide how you want us to guess what the number is. Hint: Place values (hundreds, tens, ones)

Literacy

Writing (friendly letter, inventions)

• What are examples of a friendly letter?

• How would you use your invention? Why is it valuable?

• What are the pros and cons of you invention?

Reading (fiction, non fiction, retelling)

• Why is a graphic organizer valuable?

• How would you compare these two characters?

• Why is telling a story in sequence important?

Social Studies: family experiences

• What was the importance of Marco Polo’s journals?

• What are some similar feelings between your experiences and others you have heard?

• Why do you think people write journals?

Science: sound, changes

• What would happen if there was a hole in the balloon?

• Can you think of another way we could see sound?

• What do you think would happen if the chocolate was heated again?

• What is another example of a solid turning into liquid?

Italian Art and Music

ArtMona Lisa smile/symmetryStrega Nona Reader’s theater

MusicTortoise and Hare opera (Rosinni’s William Tell

Overture)Listening to opera while painting upside down

(Michelangelo)

P.E.Dancing to tempo – Rossini (Lone Ranger song)

http://www.classicsforkids.com/composers/bio.asp?id=45

My goals for this unit

• My goal for integrating Italy as a theme for this unit is for students to think globally and consider how the country has impacted our lives culturally and academically.

• I want students to make connections to artists, inventors, composers, explorers, and literature that originated from Italy or from its culture.

Reflections

What was easy? Italian art, music, Leonardo DaVinci.

What was difficult? Making sure the Italian theme was relevant and meaningful.

What I would do differently? Spend less time researching Italy and spend more time on looking up learning strategies.

How will this inform future lesson planning? This experience has taught me how to ask deeper and more thought provoking questions, I will consider incorporating global topics to my lessons, and I will know how to integrate across content curriculum. I don’t see myself working with themes.

Grazie! Ciao!

Other Italian Words

Good morning-buon giorno Tomorrow-domaniHello (phone)-pronto Car-macchinaExcuse me-scusi How are you? Come stai