Description

What our All about Russia lesson plan includes

Lesson Objectives and Overview: All about Russia introduces students to key historical events in Russia’s past. Students will understand how these events shaped the nation’s political and cultural identity. They will explore how Russian leaders, citizens, and cultural movements influenced global history. Finally, they will learn to distinguish between historical facts and common myths or legends associated with the country’s past. This lesson is for students in 5th grade and 6th grade.

Classroom Procedure

Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the orange box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand.

Options for Lesson

You will find several additional ideas and activities to incorporate into the lesson in the “Options for Lesson” section of the classroom procedure page. To help students understand Russia’ size, have them use a blackline master map of Russia and draw the 8 biomes that are inside the borders, using a different color for each biome: tundra, forest tundra, taiga (boreal forest), mixed/broad-leaved forests, forest steppe, steppe, semi-desert, and subtropics. Additionally, Russia contains vast wetlands, peatlands, and a long coastline with various marine ecosystems.

Teacher Notes

The teacher notes page includes a paragraph with additional guidelines and things to think about as you begin to plan your lesson. This page also includes lines that you can use to add your own notes as you’re preparing for this lesson.

ALL ABOUT RUSSIA LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES

Introduction to Russia

The All about Russia lesson plan includes five content pages. Russia has a long and storied history. It is the world’s largest country by landmass. Its history dates back to the medieval state of Kyivan Rus’. The capital, Moscow, is the political and cultural heart of the country.

Its famous landmarks include the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral. Along with rivals China and the United States, Russia is a pivotal player and global power in political affairs. It is a nuclear power with an estimated 6,000 nuclear warheads. By most counts, it is the largest nuclear power in the world. The leadership of the nation has long perplexed Western democratic countries. Sometimes friend, sometimes rival, and very unpredictable, Russia has long frustrated European and American governments’ preference for diplomacy and negotiations over trade issues and provocative threats to nearby countries.

Geography

Popular culture often depicts Russia as cold and dark. That is the case for only a small part of the Russian geography. It is the world’s largest country in land size, spanning two continents and bordering three oceans. It accounts for one-tenth of all the land on Earth. There are eight distinct biomes within its boundaries. Russia is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean reaches the country near its northwest corner. Several European and Asian countries border Russia to the west and south, including Norway, Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, China, Mongolia, North Korea, and Poland.

The country boasts a wide range of landscapes, from deserts to a frozen coastline, and from tall mountains to giant marshes. Siberia, a region of Russia which occupies about three-quarters of the country’s landmass, is covered by pine forests called taigas. Much of Russia is also made up of steppes, which are rolling, treeless plains and large areas of grasslands. There are more than 100,000 rivers in Russia. The largest is the Volga River at about 2,300 miles long. The deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal, is located in Siberia near the border with Mongolia. The Ural Mountains of Russia extend over 1,200 miles north to south from the Arctic Ocean to the Caspian Sea.

Russia has two main seasons, summer and winter, with only brief intervals between spring and autumn. The average winter temperature between late November and early April in the European part of Russia is about 14°F. The summer average is between 68°F and 77°F, but temperatures can reach highs of 98°F in Moscow, Russia’s capital city. In the south, you will find the steppe. It is hot and dry in the summer, but the winter is short and cold. On the other side of the Ural Mountains in Siberia (part of Asia), the temperatures may drop below zero, but summer highs often reach the sixties. In the far east of Russia, inland temperatures soar above 100°F during the summer.

History of Russia

Moscow is Russia’s most populous city. It is also the country’s major political, economic, scientific center, and the largest city on the entire continent of Europe. It is well-known for its architecture and historic buildings. Moscow is one of the world’s largest cities in terms of population as well. St. Petersburg, a port city and Russia’s cultural center, is located nearly 450 miles north of Moscow near the coast of the Baltic Sea.

The history of Russia is long, and it would take volumes of books to cover its entirety! Russian history began with a group of people called the Slavs. In the 9th century, these people were organized into a powerful state called Kyivan Rus’, centered around Kyiv (now the capital of Ukraine). Varangians—traders from Scandinavia—played a significant role in shaping early Russian culture. Around 988, Prince Vladimir the Great adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire. For centuries, this moment helped shape Russia’s relationship with Eastern Europe and its connection to the Orthodox Church.

In the 1200s, the Mongols invaded, led by the grandson of fierce warrior Genghis Khan. The Mongols ruled for over 200 years, collecting taxes and controlling trade. By the 1400s, Mongol influence waned, and Moscow became independent. A leader named Ivan III, also known as Ivan the Great, ended Mongol control. His grandson, Ivan IV, became the first ruler to refer to himself as “Tsar,” the Russian word for emperor.

Ivan and Peter

Ivan IV was known for his violent rule and cruel treatment of nobles. This earned him the name Ivan the Terrible. He expanded the country’s borders and built beautiful buildings, including the famous St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square in Moscow.

After Ivan’s death, Russia experienced a period of turmoil with no clear leader. Then, in 1613, a young man named Michael Romanov became tsar, marking the beginning of the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for over 300 years. The Romanovs gradually brought stability to the country, setting the stage for powerful rulers like Peter the Great to implement bold reforms and reshape Russia’s future.

Peter the Great ruled from 1682 to 1725. He wanted Russia to be more like countries in Western Europe. He traveled to Europe in disguise and learned about shipbuilding, government, and various scientific disciplines. When he returned, he implemented numerous changes, including new schools, modern armies, and improved cities. He even built a brand-new capital called St. Petersburg, Russia’s “window to the West.”

Catherine, Alexander II, and Nicholas II

Later, in the 1700s, Catherine the Great became empress. She supported education, the arts, and new ideas while also expanding the country’s borders. Catherine read books by famous European thinkers and believed in Enlightenment ideas—freedom, reason, and fairness. However, she still ruled as a powerful monarch. Under her leadership, Russia became one of the strongest empires in Europe.

By the 1800s, many Russians were unhappy. Most people were serfs or farm workers who had little to no freedoms. In 1861, Tsar Alexander II freed the serfs, but life remained hard for most. Some people wanted a more equal society, while others wished to preserve the old ways.

Though Alexander II’s reforms brought some change, unrest continued to grow under his successors, including his grandson Nicholas II, whose reign would eventually end in revolution. The Russian Revolution of 1917 forced Tsar Nicholas II, the last Romanov ruler, to give up power. Soon after, Vladimir Lenin led a group called the Bolsheviks to power. The Bolsheviks wanted to build a country where everyone shared wealth and power. Lenin’s rule began a new nation, the Soviet Union.

Russia and the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union, or USSR, was a union of 15 republics governed from Moscow under a single government. Lenin died in 1924, and Joseph Stalin became the next major leader. Stalin ruled with fear, sending millions to prison camps and controlling nearly every part of Russian life. The USSR became a powerful force, especially after playing a major role in helping Allied forces win World War II.

From 1945 to 1991, the Soviet Union was in a protracted, tense conflict with the United States and other Western-style democracies. This period became known as the Cold War. Both sides had nuclear weapons, but they never fought directly. Instead, they competed in space, sports, and technology. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet, made history by becoming the first human in space.

In 1991, the Soviet Union came to an end. Russia became its own country again, with Moscow as its capital. Since then, it has faced many changes. It now has presidents, elections, businesses, and challenges such as political conflict and economic struggles. As stated earlier, Russia is a global world power. Though its politics and goals vex the leaders in the United States and Europe, nearly every decision involving global trade or economics anticipates Russian participation to bring the nation into the world community.

Government of Russia

The Russian Constitution, adopted in 1993, outlines a democratic framework. Like most democratic-styled countries, there is a separation of powers and protections for civil liberties. That is where the similarity between Western-style democracy and what Russian politicians call democracy ends. Russia’s government is complex. Most Westerners believe Russia is a communist country, and in practice, the political system has become increasingly centralized. However, Russia’s system of government has not been communist since 1991.

While the government retains some elements of its communist and socialist past, power is concentrated in the presidency with limited checks from the judiciary or the legislative checks. The country holds elections, and multiple political parties exist. However, there is little or no genuine opposition. Russia practically runs as a dictatorial state with the power of governance in the hands of its president.

The president is the head of state and holds significant executive authority, including appointing the prime minister (with approval from the state duma), commanding the armed forces, and shaping foreign and domestic policy. The prime minister, in turn, oversees the day-to-day operations of the government and leads the cabinet of ministers. There is a bicameral legislature known as the Federal Assembly, which consists of the state duma (lower house) and the Federation Council (upper house).

Economy

Again, in the traditional sense, Russia is not a communist country. Its economic and political systems are primarily shaped by state-controlled capitalism. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia transitioned from a centrally planned economy to a market-based one. The state dominates and controls key sectors like energy, defense, and banking. Some political scientists describe Russia’s system as oligarchic capitalism, where a small group of elites controls much of the country’s wealth and industry. Like its government, the economic realities of Russia are complex.

Russian Culture

A long history, its diverse geography, and influential leaders have shaped Russia’s cultural identity. From folk stories to famous ballets, and from ancient churches to space exploration, Russian culture is filled with symbols of pride, creativity, and resilience. This cultural richness helps people understand how a national identity forms and changes over time.

One key part of Russia’s cultural identity is its Orthodox Christian faith. Since Prince Vladimir adopted Christianity in 988 CE, religion has played an important role in Russian art, holidays, and traditions. Golden onion-domed churches, such as those found in the Kremlin in Moscow, are symbols of the country’s rich religious heritage. Although leaders limited the practice of religion during the Soviet era, many Russians still hold these traditions dear today.

Russia is also known for its language and literature. People worldwide celebrate Russian authors such as Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky for their deep and thoughtful books. Arts and performance are another essential part of the country’s identity. Russian ballet is celebrated worldwide, particularly the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, where talented dancers perform iconic stories like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake annually.

Today, Russians take great pride in their numerous historical achievements. They view these accomplishments as proof of national strength and determination.

Modern Russia

Russia is a much different country today compared to its past. Globally, due to the country’s vast natural resources, it is a major supplier of oil, coal, iron ore, gold, timber, and aluminum. As a nuclear superpower, it greatly influences global trade and economies. Though rivals with the United States and Europe, their mutual interests sometimes intersect, requiring negotiations and the need to form alliances. For example, America ships agricultural products to Russia, and they ship precious metals to the United States. Russia supplies Europe with natural gas and oil. Europeans export technology. While relations with the country are complicated, there is hope that one day Russia will be more open to working with other countries it considers rivals.

ALL ABOUT RUSSIA LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS

The All about Russia lesson plan includes three worksheets: an activity worksheet, a practice worksheet, and a homework assignment. You can refer to the guide on the classroom procedure page to determine when to hand out each worksheet.

RUSSIAN HISTORY TIMELINE ACTIVITY WORKSHEET

For the activity worksheet, students will read the events listed. They will cut them out and order them correctly by placing them next to the correct dates.

FACT OR MYTH PRACTICE WORKSHEET

Students will read through each of 10 statements about Russia. They will decide whether the statement is a fact or a myth and circle their answer. They may have to conduct research to find some of the answers.

ALL ABOUT RUSSIA HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

The homework assignment requires students to match information with the correct place or term in the right-hand column of the worksheet.

Worksheet Answer Keys

This lesson plan includes answer keys for all three assignments. If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.