How does Italy sound this summer?
Written by Daniela Cima Usher of Taste of Italy
Disaster.
The flight from our home in Italy to Cairo was at 7am the next morning, and we’d just been buried under 1 meter of snow! The next day, we were supposed to be standing in the desert in front of the pyramids and now our family holiday was ruined…
Or was it?
“Hey boys,” my husband suggested. “Let’s make a SNOW pyramid!”
“Yay!” they screamed.
After a fun and successful day building white pyramids in our courtyard, the snow melted just enough to begin our journey to Egypt – only 24 hours behind schedule.
But an amazing thing happened in the years after that fantastic adventure.
The snow pyramid became one of our boys’ top three memories from the trip! And it didn’t even happen in Egypt! It happened right in our very own home.
That fact has stuck with me over the years.
As we all know, our kids learn more by doing.
I ran an art restoration school and museum in Italy for twenty years. We taught some theory, but mostly, we taught via hands-on methods. We were always in the lab or the field. That’s what made all of my students, young and old, Italian and international, enjoy what they were learning and be successful!
As an Italian homeschooling mother of two now living in the U.S., so many people have told me about their dreams of visiting Italy.
After all, Italy is art. Italy is history. Italy is a cultural experience that families would like to share. But taking the time or finding the funds to make that happen can be really difficult!
And…we all learn the most by doing.
That’s why I created “A Taste of Italy!”
It’s a unique, virtual experience you and your kids can enjoy from the comfort of your very own home.
I’ve created a program that teaches the art, the history, the culture and the cuisine of the Romans, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern Italy that your family can enjoy rain or shine (…or snow)! (Check out a sample here.)
For four weeks (beginning July 1st) we’ll make art like the ancient Italian masters, we’ll cook healthy and delicious meals from each historical period, and we’ll share real life stories from the past.
We will experience Italy. We will be Italian.
And I’ll be with you online (and onsite!) from places all over Italy that typical tours don’t reach. I’ll share my Italy with you.
And if you’re busy in July, don’t worry! You’ll have access to the program for an entire year.
The Giveaway
This giveaway has ended; thanks for your interest!
One lucky reader of Simple Homeschool will win full access to my Taste of Italy e-course for their family this summer! ($247 value)
Note: This prize is available to international readers, yay!
How to Win
This giveaway has ended; thanks for your interest!
To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post answering this question: How old are your kids and what would your family like to learn about Italy?
(If you’re reading this via email, or reader, you must click here to leave your comment on this post. Comments or emails elsewhere won’t count as entries!)
For an extra entry, use the buttons below to share about this giveaway on Facebook. Then leave another comment below letting me know you have done so!
Special Offer
Right now readers of Simple Homeschool can receive 10% off A Taste of Italy! No discount code is needed–just head here for more information and to register.
Remember: The e-course begins July 1st, so if you’re interested don’t wait.
A note from Jamie: How perfectly does Daniela’s e-course line up with both Give Your Child the World and our upcoming Read the World Summer Book Club? What a fun way to take your family’s global learning to the next level, all from the comfort of home this summer!
This giveaway has ended; thanks for your interest!
This post contains affiliate links.
i have 2 girls ages 8 & 11. My 11 year old loves to cook so I think they would love to learn about the cuisine!
Great! Food is such a big part of our culture. Every week we will cook (and eat!) meals from different periods of history! There are so many interesting historical facts related to food!
My boys are 9, 8 and 4. We would love to learn everything about Italy!
I have boys too and they always love the hands-on projects!
My kids are 11,10,7, and 3. We love anything Middle Ages and Renaissance related. My kids love artists (Michaelangelo is a favorite!). We also love to travel, but international travel is way out of our budget. Thanks for the giveaway!
That is exactly why I created the program! Travel and the experience of another culture from your very own home!
My kids are 6, 4, and 1 and they would love to learn about food and history.
My kids are 7 and 9. We live in Europe at the moment, but haven’t made it to Italy yet. We just had to cancel a trip to Nove and Venice due to a health issue. Their wish was to get a chicken pitcher and a mask. They also want to go to Pompeii, Rome, and Pisa.
Sorry you had to cancel. The program would be a great intro for the time when the trip will happen!
I shared on facebook and pinterest. Thank you for the chance to win!
My kids are 10, 4, and 1. I think they would probably enjoy learning about authentic Italian foods the most.
Authentic Italy is what I aim to introduce! Away from stereotypes and tourist traps we will discover the real Italian flavors!
My daughter is 11 and we have not studied Italy so I would like to learn everything!
Hi Susan, Italy is a fascinating place, I would be honored to be a guide for your daughter!
Hi Daniela! I have a son (14), and daughter (15) and we would love to know about art history and particularly the role the Catholic Church played in it’s development.
Great Cathy! We will explore art history, the science behind the art and even venture into art restoration!
My son is 6. We would like to learn about the Romans so we can understand more of our Bible studies. We would also like to become more familiar with cultures different from our own. Thank you for offering this giveaway!
Aimee, it will be fun to discover everyday Roman life and compare it with life in Italy today!
My kids are 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1, and would love to learn about the food and art of Italy.
My girls are 9 and 12. We would love to learn all that we can about Italy: the food, the art, the history, everything!
My boys are 14 and 10. We would love to learn all about Italy, but especially artists and food prepared during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Thanks!
My daughter is 11. We have delved into the Renaissance these past few months and the places, people, and art that we have encountered in books would really come to life with this experience.
Hello! My children are 12, 10, and 7. To see and experience the landscape and architecture of Italy would be an amazing learning opportunity!
My kids are 12, 11, 9, 7, and 2. We all love cooking (and eating!) and we love looking at real estate in America, so I imagine we’d all enjoy learning about the buildings and the history. Thanks for the giveaway!
Our kids are 10, 12, and 14. They often ask to visit Italy, and they would enjoy learning about Italian food, cooking and eating Italian dishes.
Oh how fun. My kiddos are 6, 10, 14 and cooking and history would be lovely!
My daughter is 5 years old. We want to visit the Vatican and learn about religion in Italy.
My kids are 9, 6 and 4. We would enjoy learning about the food and the history of Italy. We love stories of all kinds!
My boys are 10 and 13 years old. We love to ‘travel around the globe’. Since my brother taught us to make homemade pasta this previous weekend, we would love to learn more about Italy, the food, culture and people’s life stories!
My kids are 8 and 10. They love History and the Roman Empire is one of the favourites, as well as classical music like Vivaldi. It would be great to explore more about this country.
Brenda, classical music is a big part of an Italian summer, with many outdoor concerts. I can’t say much, but I have a big surprise during the program! Music in a very special location!
My boys are 11 and love to cook, create and learn about cultures. I just found out through 23 & Me I am 28% Italian ( I am adopted) when all my life I though I was just English and German. My adoptive parents were 100% Italian and would have loved to know this if they were still alive! It would be wonderful to” travel” to Italy and give my boys a piece of our newfound heritage!
My kids are 5,3, and 2 – and I’d love for us to learn more about Italy’s history and landscapes!
I have five kids – 14, 10, 8, 4 and 2. I would love for them to gain a better understanding if the depth of history in Italy and how artifacts from all these different historical periods exist together, sometimes even side by side. I’d love for the, to experience the beauty of Italy too – the incredible views and the beautiful sunshine. I was fortunate enough to visit Italy twice in my 20s and I hope to go back someday…