European Geography & Cultures Lesson Plan 11 ~ Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria

This post is part of the European Geography and Cultures Series. Please the Introductory Post for a list of countries covered with links to all of the blog posts of this series.

This is a Geography Lesson Plan for Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria. However, if you would like to teach Greece in a separate lesson, some suggestions are provided below. We ran out of weeks in our coop!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.

You can download this lesson plan (including checklists) as a PDF file. Click on the thumbnail below and open the PDF file in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the image above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

Introduction to Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria

Read

Galloping the Globe page 81
Italy (A to Z) (The images in the PDF file provided below and my sample cards are based on this book.)
Greece (True Books: Countries) or Greece (A to Z)
Children Just Like Me page 32

Map Folders and Stamp Albums (Follow General Instructions.)

Pass out Folders and Stamp Albums.
Pass out postage stamps from Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, San Marino, Monaco, and Vatican City, and stamp hinges.

Physical Geography of Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria

1. Where on Earth?

Find the continent of Europe and Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, San Marino, Monaco, and Vatican City on a globe. Have students color these countries on the map on their folder.
Find Europe and these countries in the Atlas: start on page 76 of Where on Earth? Atlas, then find the countries on page 78. Move on to page 80 to view the landscape, and to page 94 to see it by night.

2. Climate, Population and Wildlife

Review Europe’s overall climate on page 90 of DK Where On Earth? Atlas.
To see pictures of some of the animals living in the Italy visit http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/blog/beautiful-wild-animals-italy/
Read pages 60 – 61 of the DK Children’s World Atlas about Italy, then read pages 66 – 67 about Bulgaria and Greece. Find out about agricultural products, major landforms, and water

3. Card File (Follow General Card File Instructions.)

Listen to a Around the World Stories from Italy or Greece while working (subscription required).
Flag and Map Country Cover Card PDF File (see below)
Country Information Card PDF File (see below)
Category Cards – plain index cards or pre-printed PDF File (you may want to provide samples for students to copy)
Images PDF File for Category Cards (see below)

PDF Files to Download for Card File

Click on the thumbnails below and open the PDF files in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the images above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

People

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities. Listen to related music and/or stories while doing projects if possible.

1. Artists

* Michelangelo * Leonardo da Vinci * Raphael * Giotto

Where in the World? Around the Globe in 13 Works of Art: read about Canaletto on page 27 and look at his painting on page 26.
Look at Italian and Greek art on the iPad or in a library book.
Make Art and Listen: paint or sculpt and listen to Around the World Stories from Italy or Greece.
Draw while lying on your back: http://mrswebersartclass.blogspot.com/2010/04/michaelangelos-sistine-chapel.html
Watch Leonardo da Vinci for Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm0qszPJnc8

2. Authors & Poets

Read or listen to an Italian story or poem (list on page 82 of Galloping the Globe).

3. Composers

* Verdi * Vivaldi * Corelli

Listen to the Story of Verdi in Words and Music (VOX Music Masters CD)
Listen to the Story of Vivaldi and Corelli in Words and Music (VOX Music Masters CD)
Listen to The Four Seasons by Vivaldi

4. Scientists

* Galileo

Read or listen to a story about Galileo
Or, watch a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5vezYaOpC4.
Do an Astronomy project: Discovery Space Projector.

Places & Food

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities.

1. Landmarks & Attractions

* Leaning Tower of Pisa * Colosseum in Rome * Pompeii
* Ancient Greek Ruins
* Piazza San Marco * Venice Canals * Mt. Vesuvius

Watch A Photo Tour of Italy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LwkxIFzn1U
Make a Roman mosaic: https://www.ehow.com/how_7761919_make-roman-mosaics-kids.html

2. Festivals & Events

* Milan Fashion Week * Mardi Gras * Ash Wednesday * Bocce Ball

Play Bocce Ball: http://www.kids-sports-activities.com/bocce-rules.html

3. Food

Read page 52 – 54 of Eat Your Way Around the World Cookbook.
Make Pizza, Minestrone, and Panna Cotta.

Find more ideas on my Italy Pinterest Board!

Find more ideas on my Greece Pinterest Board!

Checklists

Checklist for Basic Materials:

- - - Globe
    - Galloping the Globe
    - Children Just Like Me
    - DK Where On Earth? Atlas
    - DK Children’s World Atlas
    - Italy (A to Z) (or similar book)
    - Greece (True Books: Countries) or Greece (A to Z) (or similar book)
    - Map Folders, Stamp Albums, Stamps & Hinges
    - Card File materials including printed PDF files (see general instructions)
    - Music and/or Story CDs
    - iPad or Computer with internet connection for research (optional)

Checklist for Projects:

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Checklist for International Food Dishes:

- - - - Eat Your Way Around the World Cookbook or Recipes
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Please comment below with your questions and suggestions – I will respond as soon as I can! Thank you for visiting Cotton Ridge Homeschool!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.