My goal was to create a multisensory immersion inspired by my home country, sparking curiosity about a culture and language unfamiliar to them.
One particularly memorable moment of connection and laughter occurred when I showed the children images of the Bronzi di Riace and shared the thrilling story of how they were discovered. The excitement in their eyes when they learned that the statues were found by chance, in a dramatic and unexpected way, was priceless. Their reactions were a mix of awe and amusement, and it was a perfect example of how history can come alive when shared in an engaging way.
“Do you know the land where the lemons blossom?”
In 2022, I carried out a project during Foreign Language Day at an International elementary school in Berlin. I was assigned a second-grade class of 24 children, some of whom had a migratory background. I imagined a journey through Italy, inspired by Goethe’s famous book Italienische Reise.
I transformed the classroom into a small exhibition, showcasing photographs of iconic Italian places and works, and I displayed aromatic plants typical of the Mediterranean diet. I also set up a corner for refreshments with bread, olive oil, and oregano. I structured the project into different phases, starting with a circle time inspired by the Montessori approach.
The project struck a balance between theoretical learning through storytelling, creative workshops with meditative artistic activities, movement games, singing, and a screening of a cartoon by Emanuele Luzzati, the famous Italian illustrator and director, followed by a closing circle.
ValeTalea 