This week Mrs. Ranney's class continues with their unit on incredible stories that are too wild to be believed.
The story of the week is called The Mysterious Giant of Barletta by Tomie dePaola.
The story takes place in the real-life town of Barletta, Italy, located on the Adriatic Coast.
In the middle of the town square of Barletta stands a giant statue.
Every night Zia Concetta tells the statue, "Buona notte, Colosso!"
According to the story, the statue comes to life and saves the city from an attack. When he goes out to confront the army, Zia Concetta sends him off by saying, "Buono fortuna!"
Colosso fools the army into thinking he is just a
minuscolo debole!
After the giant returns to the city, all the towns people shout,
"Grazie!"
Finally they throw him a bella festa!
**************
During the story, we learned some Italian words and phrases.
Do you know the meanings of the ones used in this post?
Can you share any other Italian words or phrases?
Can you share any facts about Italy?
(Here is a link to a very special post on Mrs. Yollis' Blog about
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteThese are some facts about Italy that we found on World Book Online.
Italy is a country in southern Europe. It is next to Austria, France, Slovenia, and Switzerland. It is a landform that is shaped like a boot. It is a peninsula that stretches into the Mediterranean Sea. A peninsula is a landform that is surrounded by water on three sides. Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy.
One of the mountain ranges in Italy is called the Alps. The Alps formed Italy's northern border. Italy also has many valleys and plains. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Mount Etna, one of the largest active volcanoes in the world.
I hoped you liked our information.
Grazie,
Charlotte and Alexandra
Hello Charlotte and Alexandra,
DeleteThis is a good collection of geographical information about Italy. Looking back through time, Rome was once the centre of a great empire covering all lands around the Mediterranean and much of Europe and Great Britain. What fascinating history there would be to see if you were able to visit.
Arrivederci.
@RossMannell
Teacher (retired), N.S.W., Australia
Dear Mrs . Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI found some amazing facts about The Mysterious giant of Barletta on Wikipedia.
The "Mysterious Giant of Barletta" is a large bronze statue of an Eastern Roman Emperor, located in Barletta, Italy. It is about three times the size of an average human. It is 16 feet 7 inches tall.
The statue was washed up on a shore after a Venetian ship sank in 1204.
No one knows the name of the emperor the staute is dedicated too.
Did anybody else find some interesting facts about "The Mysterious Giant of Barletta" ?
Cheers,
Lia
Dear Lia,
DeleteZachary and I know the names of some roman emperors.There is Julius Caeser,Nero, Hadrian ,and Trajan.
Emperor Hadrian was known as an architect an traveled a lot.
Ciao,
Zachary and Aidan
Dear Lia,
DeleteZachary and I know the names of some roman emperors.There is Julius Caeser,Nero, Hadrian ,and Trajan.
Emperor Hadrian was known as an architect and traveled a lot.
Ciao,
Zachary and Aidan
Dear Lia,
DeleteTo be an Eastern Roman Emperor, he would have ruled at the time the Roman Empire had been divided into two parts. The western had its base in Rome and the eastern in Constantinople (now the city of Istanbul in Turkey).
Here is a link to a list of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperors. I wonder which the statue was?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_emperors
Ciao Lia, Zachary and Aidan.
@RossMannell
Teacher (retired), N.S.W., Australia
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI remember that "Buona notte, colosso", means good night big one.
One fact that I know about Italy is that it borders The Mediterranean Sea and The Adriatic Sea which are the main bodies of water near Italy.
A word that I know in Italian is ciao wich means good-bye.
Ciao,
Jackson
Dear Jackson,
DeleteItalian is a fascinating language yet I only can say a few words. I find it easier to understand if written because, if you look carefully, many words are similar to English as English borrowed words from many languages.
Ben fatto! (I checked to make sure this means "Well done!")
@RossMannell
Teacher (retired), N.S.W., Australia
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Italy.:( I know a word in Italian! It is forza!It means strength!
I would love to go to the town of Barletta, Italy!
Ciao,
Jules
Dear Jules,
DeleteWhat a wonderful word to know. Forza, as you write, means strength. Can you see how similar it is to "force" in English? Force also means strength.
English has borrowed many words from Italian and other languages including the language of Ancient Rome, Latin.
@RossMannell
Teacher (retired), N.S.W., Australia
Dear Mr. Mannell,
ReplyDeleteWe didn't know that force meant strength.
I (Jules) love Italian!
I (Cinthia) Love Italian,too!
Your comments are spectacular! You've left a lot of comments, so people comment to you all the time! Do you love Italian?
Hope you'll comment back!
Cheers,
Jules and Cinthia