Sample Lesson Plans

Sample 1: Cultural exploration on the web

Adaptation: Similar activities can be conducted using culture sites in any language.
(See www.galleriaborghese.it/elinks.htm for annotated links to other languages/countries' online museums).

Objectives: In this Italian cultural exploration activity, students will use the Internet to gather, analyze, and report information on Italian art and artists. Through this exercise, students will also explore related disciplines such as Italian History and Mythology. This activity meets the Communication, Cultures and Connections goals of the ACTFL standards.

Description of the Activity: Take your students on a virtual fieldtrip to discover the artistic masters of Italy! In the following activity, students will collect information from the Galleria Borghese website to win a scavenger hunt, hold a class discussion, and give an oral report. The website was created by an official government cultural organization to showcase the most outstanding art museums in Rome. One of the museums featured on this site is the Museo e Galleria Borghese which highlights 18 works of art housed at the museum. Each work is shown in a photograph and identified by the artist and the title of the work. A short text describes the history of each work. The site's content focuses on Art History, mainly Italian and European Renaissance and Baroque art. URL: www.galleriaborghese.it/default.htm

Materials: Internet access, photos of artwork, a vocabulary list, comprehension and discussion questions.