Reading children's stories in Italian

Students will read children's books in Italian, write short book reviews, and discuss the elements of a good story.

Task Description:

To get a better idea of the genre of children's books in Italian, students will read a few childrens' books. They will be provided with a variety of types of books to choose from, including stories and picture books in both traditional format and a variety of digital formats. 

They will then choose the book they prefer and write a short book review.

These book reviews will be discussed in small groups in class, followed by a discussion about the elements that make up a great book and those that might distract the reader from the message.

Task Type:
scaffolding
Task Focus:
content
Task Time:
2 hours (in class)
Potential Hurdles:

It may be difficult to find a variety of digital sources, though they are particularly relevant to what students might produce in the end, and would therefore be important to the project.

Students may struggle enough with the language in the books that the task could seem overwhelming.

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Drafting interview questions for Sarah

Student groups plan questions for both Sarah and her parents.

Task Description:

After having chosen a main topic, and created their own driving question, students brainstorm questions to ask Sarah and her parents. These questions will be centered around gathering as much information as possible about Sarah's preferences and experiences.

Task Type:
driving question
Task Focus:
content
Task Time:
1 hour

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Entry event: Chi è Sarah?

Students will watch a short recorded greeting from Sarah to the class.

Task Description:

In collaboration with Sarah's parents, I will record a brief video greeting from Sarah to the class.

I will then show this video in class.

After watching the video, students will write their impressions about what kind of child she is and what more they might want to know about her.

Task Type:
driving question
Task Focus:
content
Task Time:
30 min.
Technology Tips:

Use a good microphone when creating the video. A cell phone video may be difficult for students to understand.

Potential Hurdles:

Producing the video in a way that will be interesting for students.

Students may have a difficult time understanding Sarah when she speaks in Italian.

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Interview with Sarah

Students interview Sarah in class.

Task Description:

Sarah and her parents will visit our class in person. Students will interact with Sarah and her parents in small groups, asking them questions to get to know Sarah better and find out what kinds of things she is interested in. 

Task Type:
driving question
Task Focus:
interaction
Task Time:
1 hour
Potential Hurdles:

Students may be nervous to communicate with native speakers.

We will need to plan Sarah's visit far in advance, and students may not be ready for the interview on the scheduled day.

Files