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.
Students read a brief introduction to the Soviet Union and the focus of the lesson, then watch the video song Fall of the Soviet Union, paying attention to both lyrics and graphics. They record three facts they learned from the video in a table.
Teacher MovesPreview the experience by outlining how students will study the fall of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Putin’s presidency, and current conditions in former Soviet states. Review the lesson objectives. After students watch the video and complete the fact table, lead a class discussion to surface key facts and invite students’ questions, turning these into guiding questions for the rest of the lesson before moving on.
Students read a structured overview titled “The Fall of the Soviet Union,” tracing key events and concepts such as central planning, glasnost, perestroika, the fall of the Berlin Wall, independence movements in the republics, the 1991 dissolution of the USSR, and Boris Yeltsin’s economic reforms. They answer several multiple-choice questions to check understanding of Gorbachev’s reforms, the independence demands of republics, and the outcomes of the Soviet collapse. Students are also directed to view photographs in 20 Years Since the Fall of the Soviet Union to visualize the period.
Teacher MovesEnsure students understand the causes and sequence of events leading to the fall of the Soviet Union. Ask probing questions about key people, policies, and turning points, and invite students to pose their own questions. If helpful, co-construct a brief class timeline of major events before transitioning to the next scene.
Students read selected sections of Vladimir Putin Biography (“Who Is Vladimir Putin?”, “President of Russia: 1st and 2nd Terms,” and “Third Term as President”) to learn about Putin’s background and political career. Using a three-part graphic organizer, they take notes on who Putin is and the main features of his first, second, third, and fourth terms. Then they write a brief paragraph describing Putin, using their notes and, if needed, additional online research.
Teacher MovesGuide students as they take notes in the organizer, clarifying key aspects of Putin’s rise to power and his terms as president. After students post their descriptive paragraphs, facilitate a discussion comparing their characterizations. If desired, extend learning by assigning small groups to research more controversial aspects of Putin’s leadership (such as actions in Ukraine and Crimea, use of chemical weapons, treatment of Chechens, or support for Bashar al-Assad) and report back. Before moving on, organize students into small groups and assign each group one of the listed former Soviet states for the next scene.
In small groups, students investigate the current government and economy of their assigned former Soviet state within the Russian Federation by reading the relevant country section in Post-Soviet world: what you need to know about the 15 states. They use a graphic organizer to record findings about population, elections and fairness, government structure, and the economy. Afterward, groups review notes from other countries and discuss similarities and differences among the former Soviet states.
Teacher MovesSupport groups as they locate and read the section on their assigned country, prompting them to capture specific, relevant details in the organizer. Once groups have completed their research, facilitate a whole-class discussion comparing and contrasting the 15 former Soviet states, highlighting patterns and differences in government types, electoral fairness, and economic conditions. Prepare students to complete the evaluation individually in the next scene.
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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