A review of Russian history, society, and culture, government and economy. Students also investigate the history of the Silk Road.
Russia and the Republics unit contains 6 learning experiences.
Learning Experiences (Lessons) in Russia and the Republics Each learning experience takes about 45 minutes to teach in the device-enabled classroom.
Russia and the Republics: Geographic Passport
Students are introduced to the physical geography of Russia. They create a geographic passport of the country. Then they identify and compare features of Russia with the United States by creating a map. Finally, students create a poster that presents the climate, terrain, and natural resources of Russia.
Russia and the Republics: History and Its Influence
Students learn about three important eras in Russian history: the origins and distant past, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union. Then they identify important events and figures and create a timeline and explanation of these events.
Russia and the Republics: Government and Economy
Students are introduced to the fall of the Soviet Union through a song. Then they explore more about the events of 1991. Next, they learn about the presidency of Vladimir Putin. Finally, in small groups, students research the current government and economy of one of the former Russian states and compare and contrast that state with others in the Russian Federation.
Russia and the Republics: Society and Culture
Students explore a range of examples of Russian art: architecture, music, visual and folk art, literature, and ballet. Then, they learn about Soviet defectors and analyze the influence of totalitarianism on the arts.
East and West: History of the Silk Road
Students learn about the Silk Road and how the connection between the East and the West contributed to civilization. They use an interactive map to explore how the Silk Road affected the development of the cities along the route. They learn about the Mongolian Empire and state an opinion about whether the Mongols should be remembered as barbarians or as contributors to civilization.
