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.
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.
Students read an introduction to the experience and its objectives, then view historical images related to Russian history. They contribute prior knowledge about Russia’s past to a shared table and, after examining a Russian timeline, add questions about what they would like to learn about Russian history.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson overview and objectives, noting that the content may span several class periods. Facilitate a brief discussion of students’ initial ideas about Russian history, then guide students in examining the timeline and surfacing questions. Clarify that later scenes will address the origins of Russia, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union, and unlock the next scene when the class is ready.
Students read A Brief History of Russia, focusing on early Russian history through the section “Noble revolt to serf freedom,” and use a graphic organizer to take notes on key periods and figures such as Kievan Rus, the Tartar invasion, Ivan the Terrible, Peter and Catherine the Great, Napoleon’s invasion, and steps toward revolution. They answer multiple-choice questions about the origins of Russia’s name, Ivan IV’s accomplishments, and the role of a tsar. Students then post synonyms for “serf” in a word cloud and write a brief description of the Romanov period on a class wall.
Teacher MovesSupport students as they read and complete the organizer, checking for understanding of major eras and leaders. Review responses to the multiple-choice questions to clarify key concepts and vocabulary. Discuss the word cloud to emphasize that serfs were laborers with very limited rights. Highlight exemplary or interesting descriptions of the Romanov period, introduce the idea of a “Golden Age” in Russia, and connect it to developments in arts and education and to the persistence of feudalism. Address student questions about early Russian history and, for interested students, recommend the video Where did Russia come from? before unlocking the next scene.
Students watch Soviet Union to learn what happened after the 1917 Revolution, including the creation of the Soviet Union and its Cold War relationship with the United States. They summarize these developments in a class wall post and then discuss their summaries with a nearby classmate.
Teacher MovesBriefly review the 1917 Revolution and Lenin’s role, then set a purpose for viewing the video. After students post their summaries and discuss with peers, lead a whole-class conversation to clarify the formation of the Soviet Union and its Cold War dynamics with the United States. For students who want to go deeper, suggest the video History V. Lenin as an additional resource, and unlock the next scene when ready.
Students watch Joseph Stalin to learn about Stalin’s leadership and its impact on the Soviet Union. Drawing on what they have learned across the experience, they identify what they consider the ten most important events in Russian history and create a visual timeline, either digitally on the canvas or on paper and uploaded. They then choose one event from their timeline and post an explanation of why it is especially important, using evidence from the lesson, and respond to at least two classmates’ timelines or posts with questions or positive comments.
Teacher MovesIntroduce Stalin’s role in shaping the Soviet Union and set expectations for note-taking during the video. Provide guidance on selecting and sequencing key events for the timeline, prompting students to consider continuity and change from early Russia through the collapse of the Soviet Union. Encourage students to justify their chosen “most important” event with specific historical evidence, and facilitate peer feedback by modeling constructive questions and comments. Circulate to support students’ reasoning and historical accuracy, and highlight strong examples of timelines and explanations.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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