Durante l’intervallo bevo acqua e faccio due passi nel cortile della scuola.

Because intervallo is a masculine singular noun, and here it needs the definite article il: il intervallo.

But Italian does not like il before a word starting with a vowel, so il becomes l’:

• il intervallo → l’intervallo

This is called elision. It is very common:

• l’amico
• l’albero
• l’intervallo

So l’intervallo means the break / recess.

Italian often leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

Here:

• bevo = I drink
• faccio = I do / I take

The -o ending tells you the subject is I, so io is unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Bevo acqua. = I drink water.
• Io bevo acqua, lui beve succo. = I drink water, he drinks juice.

So omitting io is normal and natural.

In Italian, when talking about something in a general, non-specific way, you often do not use the article.

So:

• bevo acqua = I drink water
• mangio pane = I eat bread
• compro latte = I buy milk

Using l’acqua would usually make it sound more specific, like the water in a particular context.

So in this sentence, bevo acqua is the natural general statement.

Durante means during.

It is a preposition followed by a noun:

• durante l’intervallo = during the break
• durante la lezione = during the lesson
• durante l’estate = during the summer

It works very similarly to English during.

Literally, yes, faccio due passi is I do/make two steps, but idiomatically it means:

• I take a short walk
• I go for a little walk
• I walk around a bit

This is a very common Italian expression.

Also, due here does not always mean exactly the number two in a strict mathematical sense. Very often it just suggests a short amount.

So fare due passi is an idiomatic way to say to take a brief walk.

Yes, you could, but the meaning and tone are slightly different.

• cammino nel cortile = I walk in the courtyard
• faccio due passi nel cortile = I take a little walk in the courtyard

Camminare is more neutral and direct.
Fare due passi sounds more natural when you mean a short, casual walk, especially during a break.

So both are possible, but faccio due passi is a very idiomatic and natural choice here.

Because nel is the contraction of:

• in + il = nel

Italian often combines prepositions with definite articles:

• in + il = nel
• in + la = nella
• di + la = della
• a + il = al

So:

• nel cortile = in the courtyard

This kind of contraction is extremely common and usually required.

Because della is the contraction of:

• di + la = della

Here, della scuola means of the school:

• il cortile della scuola = the school courtyard / the courtyard of the school

Italian often expresses this kind of relationship with di:

• la porta della classe = the classroom door
• il libro della ragazza = the girl’s book

So della scuola is the normal way to say of the school.

Yes, effectively.

• il cortile della scuola literally = the courtyard of the school
• In natural English, that is often simply the schoolyard or the school courtyard

Italian often uses structures with di + article + noun where English may prefer a compound noun.

The Italian present tense can express both:

• something happening right now
• something that happens habitually / regularly

So this sentence could mean either:

• During the break, I’m drinking water and taking a short walk in the school courtyard
• During the break, I drink water and take a short walk in the school courtyard

Without more context, the simple present in Italian often sounds like a routine or habitual action.

Because the sentence has two coordinated actions joined by e:

• bevo acqua
• faccio due passi nel cortile della scuola

This is perfectly normal. Italian, like English, does not need to repeat extra words when the structure is already clear.

So the sentence flows naturally as:

• Durante l’intervallo bevo acqua e faccio due passi nel cortile della scuola.

It is the same idea as English:

• During break I drink water and take a short walk in the schoolyard.

A few useful points:

• l’intervallo: the stress is on -val- → in-ter-VAL-lo
• bevo: BEH-vo
• faccio: the cc before i/o sounds like ch in church → FAH-cho
• passi: PAHS-see
• cortile: cor-TEE-le
• scuola: SKWOH-la

A key pronunciation point is:

• ci / ce often sound like ch
• faccio is not fak-io or fat-see-o, but roughly FAH-cho

The given order is very natural, but Italian word order is somewhat flexible.

Standard version:

• Durante l’intervallo bevo acqua e faccio due passi nel cortile della scuola.

You could also say:

• Bevo acqua e faccio due passi nel cortile della scuola durante l’intervallo.

But this sounds a little less neutral, because putting durante l’intervallo at the beginning sets the time frame right away, which is very natural in Italian.

So the original sentence is probably the best default version.