Italia

This month we are studying 4 countries for school - one a week.  I picked 4 countries I have been to so I can show the kids pictures and tell them personal stories.  We are starting with Italy.  I had so much fun finding as many fiction and non-fiction books at the library for us.  Honestly, people always give me 2nd looks when they see the stacks and stacks of books I check out from there.  I used to feel a little self-conscious about it like I was doing something wrong, but last week the librarian told me - "we love it!  it's job security to us!"  great!

Anyway, I made sure to check out some cookbooks too and yesterday Addison helped me go through them and create our menu for the week.  Here it is:
Tuesday - Risotto and Salad
Wednesday - Bruschetta and Fruit Salad
Thursday - We are doing a full blown Italian Dinner...  (serving sizes will be very small!)
     L'Antipasto - tomatoes and mozzarella
     Il Primo - Ravioli
     Il Secondo - Fish and Potatoes
     Il Contorno - Salad
     Cheese platter
     Il Doce - Lemon Granita
Friday - Homemade Pizza
Saturday - Frittata
Sunday - Lasagna and Salad

We started a couple of books right away.  I wasn't sure what I would find for fictional children's books but the 2 we have read already have been EXCELLENT!  Pippo the Fool is about how Fillipo Brunelleschi ignored ridicule when he came up with "crazy" plan for building a dome on top of Florence's Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.  It is a story of determination, imagination and perseverance and well as a children's book that tells the remarkable true story of the cathedral so well.  


I was excited to find out that this is what the story was about since I have been to that Cathedral many times myself and was taught the story, however in a less appealing way!  I was able to show Addison pictures of it and a video that Justin and I took standing in front of it and other landmarks of Florence.  It was great!


The other one we have already done that I was similarly excited about is Michael the Angel.  This is a story about Michelangelo from boyhood to adult.  Obviously a very brief biography, but so fitting to introduce young children to this amazing artist.  One of my favorite books is The Agony and the Ecstasy, an adult biography of Michelangelo.  Addison was enthralled with learning about frescos and how marble was chiseled out of mountains for sculptors to use.

This month for Co-op, we are focusing on different artists, so I was happy to see how our lessons will coalesce.

It is so exciting to teach your child and see them get excited and want to learn more!  Next week we're off to Japan, but we still have a lot of fun in Italy left to have before then!!