Italy and the Italian school

system
Corinne Estes, Katheryn Hickey, Angela Scurti, and
Molly Skinner
 Learning Styles:
● We helped reach visual learners through the
pictures on the powerpoints, as well as the
videos.
● We helped reach auditory learners through the
videos we played.
Objectives
● Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the
Italian school system.
● Students will be able to compare and contrast the Italian
school system to the school system within the United
States.
Background
Geography...

● Italy is country located in

South-central Europe with 20 different
regions.
● This country’s mainland is a peninsula
which resembles a tall boot.
● The largest Italian city is Rome with
about 3 million people.
● Rome is also the capital of Italy and
heads the list of top Italian cities to
visit.
Background
Culture

● Italian culture is steeped in the arts, family,

architecture, music and food.
● They are famously known for their fashion and food.
● Examples of well known fashion are: Gucci, Valentino,
Prada, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana.
● Examples of well known food are:pizza, lasagna, risotto,
focaccia (and other bread), and gelato.
 Background
- Official language: Italian
- Official religion: none
- Common religions: Christianity,
Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism,
Sikhism, and Judaism
- Catholic Church plays a
significant role in society
- National sport: football
- National food: Ragu alla
Bolognese
Background
● Italy is known for their festivals, which they have at
least one a month.
● Most festivals are focused around religion.
● Two popular festivals: Carnevale & Feast of San Gennaro.
● Carnevale happens in February and is a seen as a final
celebration before Ash Wednesday. It is known as a
pre-Lenten Mardi Gras.
● The feast of San Gennaro happens in September and
originated in Naples Italy.
● It is the cities most religious festival.
● Thousands gather to see if the sacred blood will liquify
and if it does, San Gennaro is with them.
Video for background
Carnevale:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-fW1DpUdPI

Culture:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_f_U7XEhcc
Education
- Education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16

Levels of the School System

1. Kindergarten: ages 3-6

2. Primary School: ages 6-11
3. Secondary School: 11-14
a. Students studying music go directly to a conservatory instead
4. Postsecondary
a. Not compulsory
b. Wide range of traditions, trade, and technical schools
5. University
a. Diploma: 2-3 years
b. Degree: 4-6 years
c. Doctorate: 2-5 years of specialized courses OR 3-4 years of
doctorate courses
Kindergarten
● Ages 3-6
○ Nursery school
○ non-compulsory
○ Most families do send their children anyway, much like in the US
● Two teacher per class
● Start socializing
● Learning numbers and letters
● Hands on and activity based with real experiences
Primary School
- Five years - Subjects:
- Ages 6-11
- Italian
- Three main teachers per
- English
classroom
- Mathematics
- One English teacher to move in
- Natural Science
between many different
- History
classrooms
- Geography
- Social Studies
- Physical Education
- Arts: Visual and Musical
Education Fast facts
● Free state education is
available to children of all
nationalities that reside in
Italy.
● Italy has both public and
private school systems.
● Vocational schools last 5 years
in Italy.
● Some italians have school on
Saturdays.
● Teacher-Student relationships
are very formal and distant.
● Lunch is eaten at home for the
most part.
● Their grading system goes from
one to ten. Below a six is
failing and below four is a
zero.
● A school year is divided into
two terms: a fall term and a
spring term.
● School goes from September to
June.
Montessori Movement
- Started by Dr. Maria
Montessori, Italy’s first
female physician
- It is based on the belief that
children learn by discovering
the environment around them. It
allows for personalization of
education by letting students
choose what they want to learn
and how they want to learn it.
- The first school using this
method was founded by Dr.
Montessori in 1907.
- The Association Montessori
International was founded in
1929 to educate Montessori
teachers and provide guidance
to the Montessori schools
opening internationally.
- Today there are some Montessori
schools in Italy but it is not
a widely used method.
Video for education
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhdVVToDSho

Vincenza Elementary School

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsBdEr3q0bo

Cambridge Primary Elementary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwRTZXPeEkY
Venn Diagram activity
● Students will create a Venn Diagram on the similarities
and differences of the Italian School System and the
School System in the United States.
References
https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-geography-of-italy-4020744

https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/the-history-
of-the-montessori-education

https://www.tripsavvy.com/festivals-holidays-and-special-events-in-italy-1547324

http://www.mhsbroadcaster.org/2014/10/five-facts-about-italian-schools/
Kahoot !
https://create.kahoot.it/kahoots/my-kahoots
Worksheet:
WORKSHEET: The Background and the Education System in Italy

Name:___________________________________________ Date:_______________

Background

1. There are ___20_____ regions in Italy.

2. The largest city and capital of Italy is ____Rome____.

3. What kind of shoe does the mainland of Italy resemble?

a. Sneaker

b. Boot

c. Flip-flop

4. Italy has a national religion.

TRUE / FALSE
Worksheet:
5. The official sport of Italy is ______football______________.

6. The official food of Italy is _____Ragu alla Bolognese_______________.

Two other well known Italian foods are:

_____pizza___________________

________gelato________________

7. Name two famous fashion designers that have come from Italy.

__________Gucci_______________

______Dolce & Gabbana___________________

8. Two important festivals in Italy are _______Carnevale__________________ and ___________Feast of San

Gennaro_______________.
Worksheet
Education

1. Match the ages to the school level.

11-14 - Secondary Primary School

3-6 - Kindergarten Secondary School

6-11- Primary School Kindergarten

14+ - postsecondary Postsecondary/University

2. How is nursery school similar to Kindergarten in the U.S.A?

_____________________most families send their children even if its not mandatory

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Worksheet
3. Education is compulsory between the ages of ____6____ and ____16____.

4. At what level does school between NOT compulsory? _____postsecondary________________

5. Name three areas of study in primary schools.

________________italian__________________

____________english______________________

___________math_______________________

6. Free state education in Italy is only available to children of Italian heritage

TRUE / FALSE
worksheet
7. The Italian grading system goes from _____1___ to _10_______. Below ___6_____ is a failing grade. Below ____4____ is

considered a zero.

8. The school year is divided into ______2____ terms. The first term, called the _________Fall_______begins in

______September___________ which is the first month of the school year. The second term is called the ___Spring_____________

ends in ________June_______, which is the last month of the school year.

9. The Montessori Method was created in Italy. It was created by ____Dr. Maria Montessori__________________, who was Italy’s first

female physician______.