Counting Family Members

Year Level

Years 5-6

Duration

60 minutes

Subject

Languages — Italian

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Lesson Overview

Unit: Exploring La Famiglia in Italian
Lesson: 4 of 6
Title: Counting Family Members
WALT (We Are Learning To): Count and describe family members in Italian. Learn to ask "Quante persone ci sono nella tua famiglia?" and practice counting family members.
Success Criteria:

• Students can ask and answer questions about the number of family members in Italian.
• Students use correct counting vocabulary and numbers up to at least ten in Italian.

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Western Australian Curriculum Alignment

Content Descriptions (Years 5-6):

• AC9LIT6C05: Create and present spoken and written texts using modelled sentence structures appropriate to the text type, including describing family members and counting.
• AC9LIT6C02: Participate in negotiating and planning activities using language expressing information and preferences related to family and social contexts.
• AC9LIT6U02: Use modelled grammatical structures to compose and respond to texts using appropriate punctuation and formulaic expressions, including numbers and family member descriptions.

General Capabilities

• Literacy: Reading and writing numbers and family vocabulary.
• Intercultural Understanding: Awareness of Italian family terms and cultural practices.
• Personal and Social Capability: Sharing personal information about family to build communication confidence.

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Resources and Materials

• Large print number cards 1–10 (Italian and Arabic numerals) – dyslexia-friendly
• Visual aids: pictures of family members with labels (madre, padre, fratello, sorella, nonni, etc.)
• Chart paper and markers for family tree activity
• Whiteboard and markers
• Audio recordings of Italian family vocabulary and numbers
• Worksheets with counting exercises and family member names
• Counters or physical objects for counting support

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Lesson Procedure

Time	Activity	Description	Differentiation & Support
0–10 min	Introduction and Hook

• Greet students in Italian.
• Recap previous family vocabulary briefly.
• Introduce the key question: “Quante persone ci sono nella tua famiglia?” (How many people are in your family?)
• Listen to and repeat the pronunciation of this question.
• Model answers using numbers and family terms, e.g., “Nella mia famiglia ci sono cinque persone.” (In my family, there are five people.) | Use large print and clear audio. Use gestures and pictures to support understanding. Give extra time for repetition. | | 10–20 min | Number Review and Practice |
• Review Italian numbers 1 to 10 using song or chant for engagement.
• Use number cards to play a quick game “Number Match” — Students match Italian numbers with Arabic numerals.
• Use counters to support physical counting practice aligned with number words. | For students struggling with numbers, use fingers, counters, and visual aids to support learning. | | 20–35 min | Question and Answer Pair Activity |
• In pairs, students practise asking and answering: “Quante persone ci sono nella tua famiglia?”
• Each student shares their number of family members in Italian, using the formula:
  Nella mia famiglia ci sono [number] persone.
• Teacher models and monitors paired practice, providing feedback. | Allow sentence starters written on cards for students needing support. Encourage higher-level students to add family member names, e.g., “Ci sono due sorelle e un fratello.” | | 35–50 min | Extension – Family Tree Diagram |
• Students create a simple family tree diagram showing their family members.
• They label each member in Italian and include the total number of people.
• Share family trees in small groups, practising saying family vocabulary and numbers aloud. | For students who need extra support, provide a template family tree with spaces to fill in names and numbers. Use digital tools or drawing depending on student preference. | | 50–60 min | Class Reflection and Assessment |
• Class group activity: Each student shares a sentence about their family size using the question and answer.
• Teacher uses this as a formative assessment to gauge success criteria achievement.
• Summary of WALT and Success Criteria; praise effort and participation. | Provide oral feedback and encouragement. Use peer support to boost confidence. Include positive affirmations for all learners. |

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Differentiation Strategies

• Visual aids: Use large print, colour-coded number cards and labelled family images.
• Hands-on learning: Counters and physical objects for one-to-one correspondence with numbers.
• Sentence starters and frames: For emerging learners, provide fixed phrases and vocabulary lists.
• Peer support: Pair stronger and emerging learners for cooperative learning in speaking activities.

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Extension Activities

• Create a more detailed family tree including extended family members (zii, cugini, nonni).
• Write short descriptive sentences about family members, combining counting with adjectives (e.g., "Ho due sorelle giovani.").
• Create a digital or print multimodal poster about “La mia famiglia” using images and phrases.

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Dyslexia-Friendly Options

• Use large font size and clear, sans-serif fonts in all printed materials.
• Include pictorial supports alongside text for comprehension.
• Allow extra time for reading materials and oral instructions.
• Provide oral instructions and prompts alongside written ones.
• Use repetition and multi-sensory approaches: singing numbers, clapping syllables.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment through listening to student responses during pair and group activities — checking for correct use of question, number words, and family vocabulary.
• Observation notes to identify students who need extra support or extension.
• Review completed family tree diagrams for accuracy in family vocabulary and counting.

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Teacher Notes

• Encourage cultural discussion about Italian family size and compare with Australian families to enrich intercultural understanding.
• Use positive reinforcement to build student confidence in speaking Italian.
• Integrate technology if available: an Italian counting app or digital family tree creator can complement activities.

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This lesson carefully aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum for Languages at Years 5 and 6, focusing on oral communication, language structures, and intercultural understanding in Italian, particularly family-related vocabulary and numbers. The lesson structure balances language input, guided practice, and creative output to maximise engagement and language acquisition.