Bring the flavours and culture of Italy into your classroom with our engaging Italian language & cooking incursions for school students.
Combining hands-on learning with authentic cultural experiences, our language and cooking classes immerse students in Italian cuisine by teaching them how to prepare their own Italian meal.
How our Italian language & incursions work:
Start the Discussion
Get in touch with Luca to discuss your ideas and he’ll design a program to suit your needs, based around your schedule and requirements.
Duration
Our sessions typically run for one period (50–60 minutes), but we can customise them to be shorter or longer depending on your needs.
Setup Requirements
We require a hall space or multi-function room with access to a sink or kitchen. You provide the trestle tables. We bring everything else – all cooking equipment and ingredients.
Group Sizes
Programs are suitable for individual classes or larger group rotations, depending on school scheduling needs.
Equipment Provided
Yes – all equipment, ingredients, and materials are fully supplied by our team.
Food Allergies
We work closely with schools to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies, ensuring safe ingredient selection and preparation.
NSW Safety Compliance
All incursions are delivered in line with NSW school safety guidelines, including risk assessment processes, hygiene standards, and working-with-children requirements.
Testimonials:
“Our Year 8 students had a fantastic day preparing risotto with Luca. The day was extremely well-organised and ran very smoothly with four groups back to back! All of the students were able to get involved in the process and learn not only how to prepare the dish, but a bit of the history of the dish as well. The students also learned new Italian vocabulary which they were able to use throughout the session. We also really appreciated the fact that Luca made an effort to get all students involved, especially those with learning difficulties, to make sure they all had a role to play. Grazie mille!”
Elyse, Leader of Learning – Languages
St Mary’s Cathedral College
“Thank you for bringing such a wonderful crepe making experience today at The Scots College. The boys enjoyed learning how to make a new food, and ‘dipping their toe in’ to something they have not experienced before. Thank you for creating an event in our School Calendar that is very memorable and promotes meaningful and important messages for our boys, allowing them to recognise that our world is much bigger than our own immediate and familiar surroundings. Events, food, new flavours and exciting cultural experiences like this truly impact the lives of our young people.”
James, Head of International Students
The Scots College
“I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for the incredible fresh pasta making incursion you conducted for our students. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to experience authentic Italian cuisine firsthand. Your engaging and informative session was an excellent example of how we, as a PYP school, strive to foster open-mindedness and cultural appreciation among our students. The students were absolutely thrilled with the pasta making experience. Many of them were so inspired that they went home to try your recipe themselves. Thank you for making this incursion a memorable and educational experience for our students.”
Grace, Language Coordinator
Barker College
Italian language & cooking programs:
Pasta Fresca Incursions
A much-loved staple of Italian cuisine, pasta fresca is traditional fresh pasta made using simple ingredients and time-honoured techniques passed down through generations. Soft, delicate, and full of flavour, fresh pasta is an important part of Italian family cooking and is enjoyed across many regions of Italy.
Students learn:
- Italian food vocabulary related to ingredients, tools, and cooking actions
- Traditional pasta-making techniques including mixing, kneading, and shaping dough
- Sequencing and procedural language by following step-by-step instructions in Italian and English
- Collaboration and teamwork while preparing shared food tasks
- Sensory learning through touch, texture, and observation of ingredients transforming
- Cultural and linguistic connection of pasta as a staple in Italian regional cuisine and history
Perfect for:
- Year 2 to Year 12
- Italian language programs and LOTE curriculum support
- Cultural immersion and language experience days
- Food Technology and cross-curricular learning (CLIL programs)
Risotto Incursions
A classic dish from Northern Italy, risotto is known for its rich, creamy texture and comforting flavour. Traditionally made by slowly cooking rice with stock, risotto highlights the Italian approach to simple ingredients, patience, and careful preparation to create a delicious meal.
Students learn:
- Traditional Italian cooking techniques used in Northern Italian cuisine
- How risotto is prepared through the slow addition of stock and constant stirring
- The importance of patience, timing, and attention to detail in cooking processes
- How simple ingredients can be transformed into rich, complex flavours
- Food vocabulary related to ingredients, textures, and cooking actions in Italian context
- Teamwork and shared responsibility through rotating cooking roles
Perfect for:
- Year 4 to Year 12
- Italian language and LOTE curriculum programs
- Food Technology and practical cooking units
- Cultural immersion and experiential learning days
- Cross-curricular CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) programs
- School enrichment and hands-on culinary workshops
Salame di Cioccolato Incursions
A traditional Italian chocolate dessert, salame di cioccolato is a sweet treat enjoyed across Italy, often served during celebrations and special occasions. Made by combining chocolate and crushed biscuits before shaping the mixture into a salami-like roll, the dessert reflects the fun and creativity found within Italian “dolce” culture.
Students learn:
- Traditional Italian dessert-making techniques
- How to combine and transform simple ingredients into a structured dessert
- The cultural significance of “dolce” traditions in Italian food culture
- Food vocabulary related to ingredients, textures, and preparation steps in Italian
- Measurement, mixing, and shaping techniques used in no-bake dessert preparation
- Creativity and teamwork through collaborative food preparation and presentation
Perfect for:
- Kindergarten to Year 12
- Italian language and cultural immersion programs
- End-of-term enrichment and celebration activities
- Food Technology and hands-on cooking experiences
- Cross-curricular CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) programs
- School cultural days and special event incursions
Combining 20 years of teaching & cooking
Luca has been offering the Italian language & cooking incursions in Australian schools for over 20 years, bringing a depth of experience and passion to every session. With Italian heritage at the heart of the program, students receive an authentic cultural experience that goes beyond recipes – offering real insight into Italian family traditions, food culture, and language.
Whether supporting language studies, cultural programs, or wellbeing activities, our Italian language and cooking classes provide an educational experience students will remember for many years.
