October is Italian American heritage month!
Few cultures have influenced the world like Italy. From politics to pasta, music to Michelangelo, Italy has contributed so much to the rest of the world. Whether you have Italian ancestry or not, this is a great time to take a closer look at the history and culture of this fascinating country.
There are so many videos about the history of Italy on YouTube! A simple search will turn up hundreds of options for you to choose from, so it’s always a great resource. But if you don’t want to preview a dozen videos for content appropriateness, then this is a fun and informational video [1] that’s a great place for kids to start!
Resources and ideas
There are a great many books for kids about Italy and Italian immigration to America! Here are a few of our faves!
All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel [2] – Dan Yaccarino (picture book, ages 4 and up)
The Renaissance Thinkers: With History Projects for Kids (The Renaissance for Kids) [3] – Diane C Talyor (chapter book, ages 10 and up)
Ancient Rome for Kids through the Lives of its Heroes, Emperors, and Philosophers [4] –
You can also check out this free Italy unit study [5] for Italian American Heritage month from Peanut Butter Fish Lessons!
Life Beyond the Lesson Plan also has a fascinating (and free) unit study about Michelangelo [6] to download and print!
Italian classical music has had a huge impact on American culture in entertainment and media! Check out this fun video about 10 Italian songs [7] you didn’t know you knew!
And for the food lovers in your house, get in the kitchen [8] and cook some delicious Italian-inspired dishes this month! Happy Italian-American Heritage Month! While you’re there, try our recipes for gluten-free alfredo [9] sauce and homemade zoodles [10]!
***Be sure to join our How To Homeschool For Free Support Group [11] for daily encouragement and more great resources for your homeschooling journey!***