Little Nino’s Pizzeria

If you’ve stumbled here from Pinterest, or some other site … welcome! While each of these books/lessons can stand alone, they are also a part of a year-long series that we have taught at our homeschool co-op. Each lesson builds in part on the one before. Some stories also have similar themes with the books that go before/after them. If you are interested in more information, or to see the complete booklist, check out our main page, More FIAR – Inspired Literature-Based Lesson Plans, especially for homeschool and homeschool co-ops. Thanks for looking around, and welcome to the site!

Little Nino’s Pizzeria

by Karen Barbour

Things I Need:

Little Nino’s Pizzeria by Karen Barbour
Little Nino’s Handwriting sheet (located here)
Pizza Geography Handout (located here)
World Map
Pre-made Pizza Dough
Pre-made Sauce
Grater
Block of Cheddar or Mozzarella
Toppings (or get the class to bring in)
Oregano, Parmesan, Salt, Pepper
Pre-make (or have the class make) chef’s hats
Flour
Cutting Boards or Mats
Rolling Pins or Something round to roll

Introduce the Book:

Do you like to eat pizza?

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Have you ever gone out for pizza with the family? Or do you get pizza delivered to your home?

If you go to the restaurant, what is the restaurant like where you order pizza?

Have you ever made pizza?

Does anyone have a funny story about pizza?

Get the class talking with these great pizza questions. Most everyone loves pizza and has a story to tell about a time when they have been out for pizza. What was it like? See if they can talk about the atmosphere of the restaurant, the tastes and textures of putting the pizza in their mouths.

Now …how often do you eat pizza? Once a month? Once a week? A few times a week?

(Find America on the Map). Now, in America – Pizza is really popular. Not every country is like this. You can’t get pizza everywhere. In some countries in Asia (find Asia, Africa on the map – you can mention that these are continents), you can get it – but it is very expensive. But it wasn’t always like this. So how did Pizza get popular in America?

(Let the class discuss how Pizza got here and how it got popular)

Late 1800’s, there was a man who lived in Naples, Italy (find Italy on the map – you could mention that Naples is the City, and Italy the country) named Raffaele Esposito, and he created what we know as Pizza today. Now, there had been flat breads around for hundreds of years – but this man, Raffaele Esposito, came up with the idea to add tomatoes and cheese on top … and voila … Pizza was born.

Over the next 50 years, gradually some Italian’s moved to the United States. And they began to bring their Pizza recipes and open up Pizza shops. But when the US Soldiers went to Europe (show Europe on the map, and Italy again) war during World War I and II, they came home and said, “we tried this thing called Pizza and it was yummy!” And more American’s tried it, and more and more and more … and pretty soon you could buy pizza everywhere.

Today in America, we can buy pizza anywhere or anytime. We can buy pizza frozen and cook it up in a few minute. You can get pizza delivered to your house. You can go to a restaurant and wait for a pizza. There are even some restaurants where you can drive through and get a Pizza without getting out of your car.

Our story today is about a family who makes pizza together in their own pizza shop. The Pizza shop is called, “Little Nino’s”

Read the Story

As you are reading, take a moment to discuss the beautiful themes shown in the pictures. Especially point out little Nino’s face – that he’s happy in the beginning to get to work with his dad and be with him, but his face gets sad as his dad gets a bigger shop and he can no longer be involved. Does he miss working with his dad? Is he sad? Why is he sad?

And as you continue in the story, is it worth it to have a lot of money if it is just going to make you sad? If you are going to lose your family? And not get to spend time with your kids?

And as Little Nino makes the decision to give up the big shop, was he going to be loosing a lot of money? Do you think this was a good decision? Why/Why not?

After you finish the Story

Does anyone want to make their own pizza like little Tony?

If you have pre-made hats, pass them out. If you have time, and want to make them with the class, there is a great video tutorial here:

and here … simpler, but much easier, faster, and cheaper for little fingers. The video doesn’t say, but after testing out various sizes around my 6 year old daughter’s head, I’m pretty sure the paper size needs to be at least 2 feet long. The height and length are a little bit flexible, but you need to be able to get it around their head, so make sure your paper is at least 2-2.5 feet long. I used an old ream of drafting paper. This roll from Melissa and Doug may work as well, or any type of easel paper.

For Step by Step Non-Video Instructions …

Fold in Half Lengthwise. This sheet is 20″ x 30″ inches.
This is old drafting paper

After the paper is folded lengthwise, make thin cuts all the way down the side (on the folded edge).
Leave about an inch or two of space on the edge

Once the paper has been cut all the way to the bottom, flip the paper inside out and
attach the edges with scissors, glue, or tape.

Happy to model a chef hats!
(this was an earlier one, before I got the sizes down better)

Then … make pizza! Be sure to bring plenty of flour for little hands to roll out the dough without getting it stuck everywhere.

While you’re Making Pizza …

Take a moment to introduce and discuss what a homonym or homophone is.

Example: You need to knead the dough when you make pizza.

You don’t need a whole lot of examples, this is just a simple introduction to the phrase.

While the Pizza is in the Oven …

Do some Pizza Geography! Using the handout (below) and the Italian Flag (further below), find Naples on the map and have your class draw the Italian flag underneath the word “Pizza” on the handout.