Hands-On Heritage: ISDA’s Classroom Italian Club Connects Young Minds to Culture, Cuisine

By Joe Cirillo, La Nostra Voce 

Middle school is the perfect time to spark curiosity about new cultures, especially through hands-on experiences that are both enjoyable and educational. One fantastic way to do this while advancing the mission of the ISDA is by starting an Italian Club at your local school that introduces students to rich culinary and cultural traditions of Italian America. More than just a language or geography lesson, this club can bring Italy to life — one bite at a time.

Launching such a club is precisely what we did at St. Ann Academy in Raritan, N.J.

The heart of the Italian Club is the food. Cooking allows the kids to get involved and to experience Italian culture in an engaging and memorable way. On day one, we dove right in the deep end, learning how to roll meatballs. Students learned about the importance of Sunday family meals in Italian American homes, how recipes are passed down from generation to generation, and the effort their parents and grandparents put forth to provide them with the joy of a home-cooked meal.

Making pizza is another exciting highlight. Students could create personal pizzas from scratch — kneading dough, spreading sauce, and choosing toppings. Along the way, they explored the history of pizza from its roots in Naples to how it became a beloved dish worldwide.

To tie in seasonal traditions, the club celebrated spring with the baking of Italian Easter cookies, sometimes known as iced “Anginetti” cookies. Students rolled and shaped the dough, glazed the cookies, and decorated them with colorful sprinkles. It’s a delicious way to explore the symbolism of Easter in Italian culture and learn how food plays a major role in religious and family celebrations. One student shared that her grandmother used to make Anginetti cookies and this year they are going to restart the tradition together!

A particularly meaningful cultural tradition to explore is the St. Joseph’s Table. Celebrated on March 19th, this feast honors St. Joseph. Students learned how this tradition began in Sicily to thank St. Joseph for ending a famine. As part of the club, members prepared a symbolic “St. Joseph Table.” Non-meat dishes were made in the club, reflecting the Lenten season, and we had the table blessed by our local priest.

The Italian club is not merely about cooking — it fosters teamwork, curiosity, and respect for other cultures. Students laughed and played as they cooked and listened to Italian music. By engaging all the senses, students would come away with more than just recipes, they’d gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and warmth of Italian heritage.

After the five weeks were over, the St. Ann Academy Italian Club was a smash hit! While some students were of Italian heritage, many were not. They were simply Italophiles looking for a good time, and though I may be biased, I’d propose that Italians are among the best at having a good time! For the student who wishes to go deeper than spaghetti and meatballs, the Italian club is a critical first step into the world of La Dolce Vita!