Elementary

Ciao, campers! In Week 2 (June 15-19), our Elementary explorers will journey to Italy for a week filled with history, art, food, music, and fun. We’ll discover the wonders of Ancient Rome, learn about the Colosseum and Roman roads, and meet famous figures like Julius Caesar, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Through stories such as Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, classic Italian folktales, and This Is Italy by Miroslav Sasek, students will experience Italy’s rich culture past and present.

Stories & Culture: Italian folktales, This Is Italy; explore Ancient Rome, Roman roads, and famous figures like Leonardo da Vinci
Art & Creativity: Mosaic art, watercolor Venetian canals, and Roman Colosseum drawings
Music & Movement: Italian folk songs, tarantella dance, rhythmic clapping
Gross Motor Activities: Bocce ball, soccer, Italian freeze dance, and charades with Italian foods or landmarks
Food & Taste: Pasta, pizza bagels, focaccia, mozzarella & tomato skewers, gelato, and fruit pops
STEM Fun: Build towers inspired by the Colosseum, explore balance and motion in games, measure and compare ingredients, and create repeating patterns

Campers will experience the sights, sounds, flavors, and playful discoveries of Italy while building creativity, movement skills, and hands-on STEM thinking.

2026 MSOW Summer Program Enrollment Form

Children's House

A Sprinkling of Italy: Our Children’s House campers will enjoy a gentle “sprinkling” of Italy Week 2 (June 15-19) woven into the rhythm of a typical Montessori Children’s House classroom's morning work cycle. Through simple stories and beautifully illustrated books children will be introduced to Italy’s landscapes, cities, and culture in an age-appropriate way.

Art choices include creating small mosaic-style pictures with paper tiles, watercolor painting inspired by the canals of Venice, and collaborative ceiling-style artwork (created on paper at table level). Children may explore images of famous landmarks like the Colosseum and notice that Italy is shaped like a boot on the map.

Music and movement will include listening to cheerful Italian folk songs, trying simple tarantella-inspired steps during circle time, and enjoying rhythmic clapping games.

Practical life experiences will feature child-friendly tastings such as pasta with olive oil, small pieces of focaccia bread, mozzarella and tomato bites, or a cool fruit pop reminiscent of Italian gelato.

Dress-up scarves, simple laurel wreath headbands, or festive masks in the dramatic play area will allow for imaginative exploration. Throughout the week, cultural experiences will be presented in a hands-on, sensory-rich way supporting language development, fine motor skills, movement, and joyful discovery within the familiar Montessori environment.