Social Studies - Standard 7, 8, and 9 On a map of the world, locate the continent, regions, and then the countries from where students, their parents, guardians, grandparents, or other relatives or ancestors came. Describe traditional food, customs and traditions, landmarks, sports and games, and music of the place they came from. Created by: Erica Tetreault Charlton Street School Big Six Research Project

Where in the World is Ms. Tetreault’s Class

The Adventure Begins…. Buckle up boys and girls we are about to go on an adventure across the globe. We are going to visit a country to the east of us. We are heading to the Continent of Europe. We will be visiting a country that looks like a boot. Do you know what country this is?

Italy Europe

Italy at a Glance Capital: Rome Population: 57,800,000 Official Language: Italian Money: Euro Climate: Italy’s climate varies depending on where you are. The northern areas are cold in the winter and hot in the summer. As you travel south, the temperature becomes more mild. National Emblem of Italy Symbols: Olive Wreath Folk Dance: Folklore claims the Tarentella dance received its name from its ability to cure the deadly bite of the tarantula spider.

Italian Flag The Italian flag has three colors. The colors of the Italian flag represent three virtues: green (hope), white (faith), and red (charity). The national anthem of Italy is Inno de Memeli.

Famous Landmarks One famous landmark in Italy is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is the bell tower at Pisa’s Cathedral. It famously tilts to one sidebecause the soil on which it was built was too soft and the foundation tipped. Another famous landmark is the Colosseum. It was the largest outdoor theater of ancient Rome. It can hold up to 50,000 spectators. Inside the arena, spectators cheered gladiator and animal fights, chariot racing, and even mock sea battles.

Famous Landmarks One of the most famous fountains in Rome is the Trevi Fountain. It is said that if you throw a coin in the fountain before leaving Rome you are sure to return.

Places to Visit Venice is made up of hundreds of little islands. It has canals instead of streets. People travel around by boats called gondolas. Mount Etna is the highest volcano in Europe and is located on the island of Sicily.

Landforms The Po River is the longest river in Italy. It is 405 miles long. Three large northern lakes, named Maggiore, Como, and Garda are popular vacation areas. Mont Blanc is the largest mountain range in Italy. It is located in the Alps. Italy has two islands. The largest is Sicily. The other island is Sardinia.

Italian Cuisines Italy’s national dish is pasta. There are many different types of pasta named after their shape. Did you know that pizza also comes from Italy? It originated in the city of Naples. Gelato Cannoli Panettone Italian ice-cream Italian pastry Italian dried fruit cake

Other Foods Half of Italy’s usable land is used for farming. In the south, olive trees grow on the mountainsides. Olive oil is a very important ingredient in Italian cooking. Italy is also famous for grapes used to make wine. Italian cheeses like parmesan and mozzarella are also popular around the world.

Children in Italy Children attend school six days a week including Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. until around 1:30 p.m., from September until mid- June. The children go home for lunch. There is no school in the afternoon, but there is homework to do every day.

Sports and Leisure The national sport of Italy is football (known as soccer in America) A leisure sport to play is called bocce ball.

La Befana On the twelfth day of the holidays, January 6, a kindly old witch known as “La Befana” brings gifts to the children. Legend has it that every Christmas, she wanders in search of the Holy Child, leaving gifts at each home in hope of finding him inside. La Befana is often shown as being old and ugly, but the children of Italy love her very much. That is, unless they have been naughty, for then she will fill their shoes with coal and ashes instead of candy and gifts.

Famous Italians Mona Lisa is a famous painting by Italian artist Leonardo di Vinci. Another famous artist is Michelangelo who sculpted the famous statue of David and painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Christopher Columbus is a famous Italian explorer. The famous children’s story, Pinocchio, was written by an Italian.