Italian Greetings & Manners

Overview

This 45-minute lesson introduces Year 3 students to basic Italian greetings for different times of the day, essential classroom manners (like asking to go to the toilet or for help), incorporating cultural context through songs and games. The lesson follows the Western Australian Curriculum for Languages (Italian) and uses interactive, multimodal learning strategies with differentiation and dyslexia-friendly options.

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WALT

• We Are Learning To greet in Italian according to time of day and use polite classroom phrases for daily needs.

Success Criteria

• I can say "Buongiorno," "Buon pomeriggio," and "Buonasera" correctly.
• I can ask politely for help or to go to the toilet using simple Italian phrases.
• I can participate in a class song and a game in Italian.
• I show respect using correct classroom manners in Italian.

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Curriculum Links

Western Australian Curriculum – Languages: Italian, Years 3–4

• AC9LIT4C05: Create and present spoken texts using simple phrases and formulaic expressions (e.g., greetings and requests).
• Use polite formulaic expressions to interact in classroom routines (asking permission, help).
• Engage with songs and games to reinforce learning through oral language practice and cultural understanding.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Greet the class in Italian using “Buongiorno” (Good morning), “Buon pomeriggio” (Good afternoon), “Buonasera” (Good evening).
• Briefly explain when to use each greeting linked to times of day. Use a simple clock visual showing morning, afternoon, evening.
• Engage students with a quick "repeat after me" approach, modelling pronunciation carefully.

Differentiation: Provide printed flashcards with words plus images and audio playback from a device for independent practice. Dyslexia-friendly fonts and coloured backgrounds on flashcards.

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2. Teaching Key Phrases for Classroom Manners (10 minutes)

• Introduce polite phrases in Italian for common classroom needs:

  • “Posso andare al bagno?” (Can I go to the toilet?)
  • “Mi può aiutare, per favore?” (Can you help me, please?)
  • “Scusi” (Excuse me/Sorry) – for polite interruption.

• Use role-play to demonstrate these phrases. Teacher acts as a student asking to leave or for help; volunteers respond.

Success Check: Students practice in pairs, taking turns asking politely in Italian.

Extension for advanced learners: Encourage students to respond using “Sì, certo” (Yes, of course) or “No, mi dispiace” (No, sorry).

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3. Song: “Buongiorno” Greeting Song (10 minutes)

• Teach a lively Italian greeting song that incorporates the above greetings and classroom manners phrases. For example:

  • “Buongiorno, buongiorno a te!
    Buon pomeriggio, buon pomeriggio!”
  • Insert polite phrases into the song verse (e.g., “Posso andare?”).

• Use hand gestures and call-and-response singing to enhance memory and engagement.

Resource: Adapt from Languages Online Italian beginner song resources with printable lyrics and audio support (as per reference material)【4】.

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4. Game: “Charades – Classroom Manners” (15 minutes)

• Prepare cards with different classroom scenarios in Italian (e.g., “ask for help”, “ask to go to the toilet”, “say good afternoon”).
• Students take turns picking a card and act out the scenario silently while others guess the phrase in Italian.
• After guessing, the student or teacher verbalises the correct Italian phrase with the class repeating it.

Differentiation: Provide picture clues on some cards for students requiring support.

Extension: Students create their own scenario cards in Italian to challenge classmates.

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5. Consolidation & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Recap the greetings and polite phrases learned with a quick quiz style call-out from teacher: “Come si dice ‘Excuse me’ in italiano?”

• Encourage students to reflect:

  • What greeting would you say in the morning?
  • How do you ask to go to the toilet politely in Italian?

• Assign a simple take-home activity: practice greeting family members in Italian or drawing a picture of a polite request using a phrase learned today.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Use multisensory learning: visual (flashcards), auditory (songs/audio), kinaesthetic (role-play, games).
• Simplify language for EAL/D learners, focusing on repetition and clear pronunciation.
• Provide peer support and paired activities for confidence building.
• Use dyslexia-friendly materials: clear sans-serif fonts, coloured paper backgrounds, audio supports for reading.

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Extension Activities

• Create a simple digital or paper “Italian Manners Poster” collaboratively to display in the classroom.
• Advanced learners can write a short dialogue incorporating greetings and polite requests to perform for the class.
• Introduce simple Italian cultural notes about classroom routine and respectful behaviour integrated with language.

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Resources Needed

• Visual clock or time-of-day chart
• Printed flashcards with phrases and images
• Lyrics and audio of Italian greeting song from Languages Online materials
• Scenario cards for charades game
• Whiteboard/chalkboard for modelling phrases

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This lesson plan aligns closely with the Western Australian Curriculum for Languages – Italian for Year 3, focusing on creating and presenting simple formulaic spoken texts, engaging students through culturally relevant greetings, classroom manners, song, and play-based learning, and supporting diverse learners including those with dyslexia.

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If you want, I can also generate the Italian greeting song lyric text and suggested music actions for the teacher!