- Women and Revolution: Women's Political Activism in Russia from 1905 to 1917
This lesson focuses on how people with different values worked together toward similar goals and how identity informs social and political movements. The module includes background for educators, a full lesson plan, and follow-up resources.
https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/teach/teaching-resources/curricular-modules/women-and-revolution
Age range: 7th-12th grade
Author: The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University
- Art in Context: Exploring Nonconformist Art in the Soviet Union
This lesson provides an introduction to Soviet nonconformist art and how Soviet artists worked within and responded to strict government censorship. The lesson teaches students how to interpret imagery and its creation through a historical context. It includes background information for educators, classroom prompts and activities relating to artworks and videos provided, a glossary of terms, and extension resources.
https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/resource/art-context
Age range: 7th-12th grade
Author: The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University
- Soviet Propaganda
This lesson looks at Soviet collectivization in Central Asia and how the Soviet government used propaganda techniques to sway political beliefs.
https://slaviccenter.osu.edu/sites/slaviccenter.osu.edu/files/Outreach-teacher-training-neh-ca-soviet-propaganda-cara-pryor.pdf
Age range: 7th-9th grade
Author: Cara Pryor
- The Cold War
This high-school-level resource can give students a solid foundation in the Cold War, featuring key events and catalysts for the war. Educators or administrators must create an account (free) to access the lesson plan. Contains PowerPoint, student materials, original documents, and teacher's guide.
https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons/cold-war
Age range: 9-12th grade
Creator: Stanford History Education Group
- Breaking Stalin's Nose
This lesson is centered around the novel Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin and its accompanying interactive website. The novel tells the story of a boy, Sasha, growing up in Moscow during the Great Terror with his father, a member of the secret police. On the eve of Sasha's initiation into the Young Pioneers of the Communist Party, a moment for which he has waited his whole life, his father is arrested. Sasha's world and views are turned upside-down. Students are invited to consider issues of indoctrination and political culture, as well as gain insight into everyday life in the Soviet Union under Stalin. To access UIUC's free lesson plans, you must fill out the form on-screen and you will then be directed to the materials via link.
https://publish.illinois.edu/reeec-curriculum/breaking-stalins-nose-form/
Age range: 6th-9th grade
Author: Andrew Dolinar, BA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
- Capitalizing on Geography
This lesson plan aims to show students that geography is not only a subject that studies landmasses and borders, but also cities, ethnic groups, and other boundaries. The lesson connects with several curriculum standards and helps students answer the question: Where would you build a city? By using the Russian landscape to answer this question, students will sketch maps, analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments, and learn to acquire, process, and report information based on the tools available to them.
https://www.learner.org/workshops/geography/pdf/6wareles.pdf
Age range: 6-8th grade
Creator: Judy Ware
- Webquesting Around the World: Tuva
In this lesson plan, students use the internet to answer questions about an area they may know little about, Tuva, a republic of Russia. This lesson plan can either be led by an educator or be self-led by students, working along a worksheet to find information for themselves. Questions address the geography, culture, and history of the region.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/christian_lucy.pdf
Age range: 6-8th grade
Creator: Lucy Christian
- Landscape Painting to Music: Tuva
During this two-part lesson, students learn about the culture and landscape of Tuva, a republic of Russia. While listening to traditional throat-singing, students draw, and later paint, the landscape they hear, following the flow of the music.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/heather_olson.pdf
Age range: 6-8th grade
Creator: Heather Olson
- Deconstructing Architecture: A Look at the Avant-Garde in Russian Architecture
This lesson plan takes images inspired by El Lissitzky and has students create geometric figures from one image to a new image. Students identify geometric shapes from an existing building and create a new picture with previously cut-out shapes. This plan provides multiple resources for further study and offers a picture of one class' final project.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/Pamela_R_lesson_plan.pdf
Age range: 6-8th grade Special Education, self-contained classroom
Creator: Pamela Rohlfing, Special Education Teacher, Maple Park Middle School, Gladstone, MO
- A Selection of Russian Avant–Garde Art and Architecture 1890-1934
Introduce students to Russian/Soviet art and architecture with this lesson plan. Following this lesson, students should be able to identify art movements and important figures from those movements. Internet access can give students a wider variety of examples from each of the art movements.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/PA_AvantGarde_lessonplan.pdf
Age range: 9-12th grades
Creator: Paul Adams, Topeka High School
- Gulag: Soviet Prison Camps and Their Legacy
This extensive three-day module looks at one of the greatest crimes against humanity of the 20th century: the Soviet GULAG prison system. Each day’s plan revolves around a content essay that describes the history of the GULAG system from the establishment of camps through perestroika and its historical legacy and offers glimpses into daily life for the prisoners and Soviet citizens. The classroom activities are diverse and hands-on, including several roleplay scenarios based around detailed biographical sketches, worksheets, and class discussions. http://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/sites/daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/files/Gulag%20Final%20Draft.pdf#overlay-context=resource/gulag-soviet-prison-camps-and-their-legacy
Age range: 9th-12th grade
Author: David Hosford, Pamela Kachurin, and Thomas Lamont as a project of the National Park Service and National Resource Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, Harvard
- Voices from the USSR: Working with Oral Histories from the Harvard Project on the Soviet Social System Online
The module aims to show students how diverse life could be in the Soviet Union and teach students to investigate primary sources, using the Harvard Project on the Soviet Social System, a collection of interview transcripts on Soviet life in English. Student computer use is highly recommended for this module. Classroom activities include video clips and discussion questions. There are three lessons included: “Individual and Society,” “Soviet Education,” and “Soviet Subject.”
https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/resource/voices-ussr-working-oral-histories-harvard-project-soviet-social-system-online
Age range: 9th-12th grade
Author: The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University
- U.S.-Russia Relations: Trust and Decision Making in the Twenty-First Century.
This module is based on a series of videos featuring members of the Working Group on the Future of U.S.-Russia Relations, a group of experts from Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, and the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. In each video, American and Russian experts reflect on the idea of “trust” in bilateral relations and how trust and cooperation are built. Student activities require the student to react to the opinions given, reflect on values that inform the opinions of the experts, and consider means of reconciliation.
https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/resource/us-russia-relations-trust-and-decision-making-twenty-first-century
Age range: 9th-12th grade
Author: The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University
- The Origins of the Cold War, 1945-1949
This unit plan focuses on the origins of the Cold War from wartime cooperation between the US and Soviet Union through the Marshall Plan and strategies of containment to the establishment of NATO in 1949.
https://edsitement.neh.gov/curricula/origins-cold-war-1945-1949
Age range: 9th-12th grade
Authors: John Moser and Lori Hahn
- Anticommunism in Postwar America, 1945-1954: Witch Hunt or Red Menace?
This unit plan looks at the very real existence of Soviet espionage and resulting anti-communist fervor in America, beginning with the Rosenberg trial and the zealous activity of the House Un-American Activities Committee and Senator Joseph McCarthy in rooting out real and not-so-real threats to American democracy.
https://edsitement.neh.gov/curricula/anticommunism-postwar-america-1945-1954-witch-hunt-or-red-menace
Age range: 9th-12th grade
Authors: John Moser and Lori Hahn
- Rivers of Siberia and the Russian Far East
This unit plan of four lessons looks at the rivers that shape the geography of Siberia and the Russian East: the Ob-Irtysh, Yenisei, Lena, and the Amur. These river basins contain some of Russia's greatest cities, natural wonders, and economic powerhouses. The unit pays special attention to the importance of transportation to Siberia's socioeconomic and political development. To access UIUC's free lesson plans, you must fill out the form on-screen and you will then be directed to the materials via link.
https://publish.illinois.edu/reeec-curriculum/rivers-of-siberia-and-the-russian-far-east-form/
Age range: 9th-Community College
Author: Devon Lechtenberg, PhD in Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, UIUC
- Russia's Sakhalin Island: When Oil, Nature, and Politics Collide
While this unit plan was created in 2008, it is a great resource for teachers as the key components for the lesson plans (background knowledge for teachers, worksheets, readings, etc.) can be found within the plan, not solely through a variety of links. This unit plan was designed to cover Washington State's Classroom-based assessment (CBA): Causes of Conflict. The unit plan contains 3 parts with multiple handouts and links for more materials. The topic of the unit plan is multi-disciplinary, as geography, environmental science, political science, essay writing, and reading all makeup part of the plan.
https://jsis.washington.edu/ellisoncenter/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2016/09/Russia_Sakhalin.pdf
Age range: 9-12th grade
Creators: Allison Dvaladze, Austin Stockwell
- "Everyone has an Uncle Vanya": Understanding Character through Mimic Writing
Creative Writing and English teachers can use this two-week unit plan to engage students in writing about their own lives. By charting relationships within the play "Uncle Vanya" and then relationships within their own
families, students compare these relationships and mimic write one scene from the play as represented by their own family experience. Students will read the play, analyze it, and then mirror that process by analyzing their own lives and writing about it.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/Uncle%20Vanya%20Plan.pdf
Age range: 9-12th grade
Creator: Ken Willard
- Special Forces, The Cold War & The Future: How to use Special Forces in History and Current Events in the Classroom
Teachers can use this unit plan (at least 4 class periods) to familiarize students with the political and military tensions of the Cold War as well as tensions in current conflicts around the world. During the first class periods, students discuss and review Special Forces activities during the Cold War. Following this introduction, students form groups and research other events where Special Forces were active. Their research should culminate in a story board, video, or PowerPoint presentation to be shown to the class. This lesson plan contains elements which are not available through the link. Educators must contact Richard P. Wilds, the creator of the resource, for those materials.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/Special%20Forces%20_The%20Cold%20War%20_The%20Future1.pdf
Age range: 9-12th grade
Creator: Richard P. Wilds, MS Teacher, Capital City High School
- Ali and Nino, The True Story Behind the Fiction
This unit plan is for reading and literature classes at the middle and high school levels. The plan focuses on reading the book Ali and Nino by Kurban Said, which takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan between 1918 and 1920. The story explores themes of truth and reconciliation between several dichotomies – Islam and Christianity, East and West, age and youth, male and female, etc. The unit plan contains 30 lessons, 20 interactive activities, tests, quizzes, and more. This unit can take between one to eight weeks, depending on class goals, and is designed to be flexible.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.ku.edu/files/docs/ali-and-nino-lessonplans.pdf
https://crees.ku.edu/world-wednesdays
Age range: 7-12th grade
Compiler: Book Rags; Adrienne Landry, Outreach Coordinator at University of Kansas' Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.
- 100 Years Since World War I : The Making of Modern Europe (also featured in section on Southeastern Europe)
This resource guide contains lesson plans, articles, videos, and more on the events leading up to, during, and following World War I. Sections 1 & 2 contain information on the history and geography of World War I and section 4 contains resources on the war's effect on the creation of the Soviet Union in particular. All sections provide Washington state K-12 social studies learning standards, learning objectives, and guiding questions for educators’ convenience. The resource guide was compiled in August 2018.
https://jsis.washington.edu/ellisoncenter/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2018/08/Resource-Packet-100-Years-Since-WWI-Final.pdf
Age range: 7-12th grade
Compilers: Tobias Osterhaug and Ryan Hauck
- Glasnost and Goodwill: The Cold War, Washington State, and the Power of Citizen Diplomacy
This resource guide contains lesson plans, articles, videos, and more on US/USSR relations and the Cold War. Resources cover propaganda, the arms race, and alternative diplomacy (through sports, exchange programs, etc.), among other topics. The resource guide provides Washington state K-12 social studies learning standards, learning objectives, and guiding questions for educators’ convenience. The resource guide was compiled in October 2017.
https://jsis.washington.edu/ellisoncenter/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/07/Glasnost-Goodwill-Resource-Packet-Final.pdf
Age range: 7-10th grade
Compilers: Troy Lindell, Zuri Greene, and Ryan Hauck
- Coming to Terms with the Authoritarian Past in Europe & Russia (also featured in section on Eastern Central Europe)
This resource guide contains articles, videos, lesson plans and more on authoritarianism in Russia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and Spain. Significant portions of the packet focus on Russia/former the Soviet Union. The resource guide provides Washington state K-12 social studies learning standards, learning objectives, and guiding questions for educators’ convenience. The resource guide was compiled in August 2017.
https://jsis.washington.edu/ellisoncenter/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/08/Resource-Packet-Coming-to-Terms-with-the-Authoritarian-Past-in-Europe.pdf
Age range: 7-12th grade
Compilers: Yan Liang, Philip Lyon, Valentina Petrova, Tess Ames, Sarah Homer, Eileen Calderon, and Ryan Hauck
- From Conflict to Cooperation? Exploring US-Russia Relations
This resource guide contains STEM resources, folktales, and more on Russian area studies. While the title suggests a focus on US-Russia Relations, the guide examines Russian foreign relations, culture, history, and geography. A lesson plan on Russian folktales ends the guide, complete with several tales and activities for students, as well as common core standards. The resource guide was compiled in November 2015.
https://www.world-affairs.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Exploring-US-Russia-Relations-FULL-Packet-11.17.15.pdf
Age range: 9-12th grade
Compilers: Maggie Archbold, Lydia Hollingsworth, Amy Lutterloh, & Ryan Hauck
- New Frontiers: Contested Claims in Arctic Exploration
This resource guide is a great start for teachers wanting to find resources on the Arctic. The guide features a wide variety of activities and materials for all ages (K-14), though the majority of activities are aimed at middle schoolers. As the guide is an 2015 update from a 2011 version, several of the links are broken and pictures are missing. The first link is for the full resource guide and the second link is for the supplemental materials found at the end of the guide. This guide is truly multi-disciplinary and features the Arctic's connection with a number of countries, not just those with an Arctic border.
https://www.world-affairs.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FULL-Contested-Claims-in-Arctic-Exploration.pdf
https://k12studycanada.org/archives-on-the-arctic-lesson-plans/
Age range: K-14, most materials 6-9th grade
Compilers: Kaye Michalak, Lukas Shadair, Su Rim Han, Maggie Archbold, and Ryan Hauck
- CREES Resource Guide on Russia and the Arctic Ocean
This 5-page resource guide can serve as a starting point for educators and students wanting to learn more about ocean issues, particularly in Russia and the Arctic Ocean. The 2014 guide contains links and bibliographic entries to resources.
https://crees.ku.edu/sites/crees.ku.edu/files/docs/CREES%20HS%20Debate%20Topic%202014%20Resource%20Guide.pdf
https://crees.ku.edu/hs-debate-topic-2014
Age range: 9-12th grade
Compiler: The University of Kansas' Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (CREES)
- Reading List
Reading List from University of Kansas' Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
This list is divided into three age groups: 4-10 years, 9-13 years, and teens. Books are from all across Eurasia/East Europe/Russia and are available through inter-library loans or commercial publishers.
https://crees.ku.edu/literature-and-activities-russia-eastern-europe-and-eurasia
Age range: PreK-12th grade
Compiler: University of Kansas' Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
- Interactive Map
This resource is a map of European Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. By clicking on the region, then country below, those who interact with the map can learn about notable people from the chosen country, population, language, economy, and other facts. This resource can serve as a solid starting point for class projects on countries.
https://crees.ku.edu/interactive-map
Age range: 4-12th grade
Compiler: University of Kansas' Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
- 15 Minute History Podcast (also featured in other sections)
This podcast series covers World and US History topics drawn from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, Texas' mandated content standards. The series is part of a joint project with Not Even Past, a website produced by UT Austin's History Department. These podcasts can give educators and students a good overview of a topic and can serve as a supplemental resource. Below are links to all of the Russia/USSR related episodes:
Episode 1: The February Revolution of 1917
Episode 7: Russia's October 1917 Revolution
Episode 46: Ukraine and Russia
Episode 68: The Russian Empire on the Eve of World War 1
Episode 69: The Amateur Photography Movement in the Soviet Union
Episode 101: The Bolshevik Revolution at 100
Episode 111: The Legacy of World War I in Germany and Russia
Age range: 9-12th grade
Creator: History Department at the University of Texas at Austin
- Digital Speakers Bureau (also featured in other sections)
These short, animated videos cover various topics in Art, Music, Government, History and Literature. Videos are between 7 and 20 minutes long with faculty, graduate students, or visiting scholars discussing their topic of specialty. Links to articles support the videos and can be found along the right side of the web page. Episodes on Russia/USSR include:
Communism
Ukraine: 2015 Update
Age range: 8-12th grade
Creator: Center for European Studies at the University of Texas at Austin
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies