European Geography & Cultures Lesson Plan 10 ~ European Russia

This post is part of the European Geography and Cultures Series. Please the Introductory Post for a list of countries covered with links to all of the blog posts of this series.

This is a Geography Lesson Plan for European Russia.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.

You can download this lesson plan (including checklists) as a PDF file. Click on the thumbnail below and open the PDF file in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the image above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

Introduction to European Russia

Read

Galloping the Globe page 61
Russia (A to Z) (The images in the PDF file provided below and my sample cards are based on this book.)
Children Just Like Me page 37

Map Folders and Stamp Albums (Follow General Instructions.)

Pass out Folders and Stamp Albums.
Pass out postage stamps from Russia and stamp hinges.

Physical Geography of European Russia

1. Where on Earth?

Find the continent of Europe and Russia on a globe. Have students color the European Russia on the map on their folder.
Find Europe and European Russia in the Atlas: start on page 76 of Where on Earth? Atlas, then find the countries on page 78. Move on to page 80 to view the landscape, and to page 94 to see it by night.

2. Land, Climate, Population and Wildlife

The climate of Russia is mainly continental, with a big arctic section in the north. The east of the country experiences harsh, long, bitterly cold winters. The north of the country is always covered with snow and subject to permafrost. Southern Russia enjoys warm to sometimes hot summers with a lot rainfall, and very cold snowy winters. (https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-Russia)
To see pictures of some of the animals living in Russia visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/places/Russia.
Read page 72 – 73 of the DK Children’s World Atlas about European Russia. Find out about agricultural products, major landforms, and water

Card File (Follow General Card File Instructions.)

Listen to a Russian music CD while working
Flag and Map Country Cover Card PDF File (see below)
Country Information Card PDF File (see below)
Category Cards – plain index cards or pre-printed PDF File (you may want to provide samples for students to copy)
Images PDF File for Category Cards (see below)

PDF Files to Download for Card File

Click on the thumbnails below and open the PDF files in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the images above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

People

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities. Listen to related music and/or stories while doing projects if possible.

1. Artists

* Sonia Delaunay * Peter Carl Fabergé * Vasily Zvyozdochkin & Sergey Malyutin * Marc Chagall

Look at art from one or more of these artists on the iPad or in a book from the library.
Paint a picture inspired by Sonia Delaunay: https://artfulparent.com/2015/02/artist-study-kids-sonia-delaunay.html.
Make a decorated egg inspired by Peter Carl Fabergé: http://www.mykidsadventures.com/faberge-egg.
Make paper Matryoshka Nesting Dolls: http://dans-mon-bocal.over-blog.com/article-qu-est-ce-qu-on-fait-aujourd-hui-8-39606708.html
Color Matryoshka Nesting Dolls: http://chickeemama.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-01-19T18:09:00-08:00&max-results=1

(Vasily Zvyozdochkin & Sergey Malyutin are the creators of the Matryoshka Nesting Dolls.)

2. Authors & Poets

* Leo Tolstoy * Anton Chekhov * Fyodor Dostoevsky

Read or listen to a Russian story (list on page 62 of Galloping the Globe).
Find out more about one of the authors above.

3. Composers

* Sergei Prokofiev * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky * The Five

Listen to Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev.
Listen to Tchaikovsky Discovers America (Classical Kids Audio Series).
Listen to The Story of Tchaikovsky in Words and Music (VOX Music Masters Series).
Find out more about The Five (also known as the Mighty Handful).

4. Prominent People

* Catherine the Great * Peter the Great * Nicholas II * Yuri Gagarin * Valentina Tereshkova

Read or listen to a story about one of these prominent people.

5. Scientists

* Mikhail Lomonosov (Chemistry) * Sofia Kovalevskaya (Mathmatics) * Aleksander Stoletov (Physics) * Alexander Popov (Radio) * Vladimir Zworykin (TV)

Read or listen to a biography about a scientist from Russia.
Do a related experiment.

Places & Food

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities.

1. Landmarks & Attractions

* Trans-Siberian Railroad * Saint Basil’s Cathedral * Moscow Kremlin * Alexander Palace
* Catherine Palace * Peterhof Palace * Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum

Paint St. Basil’s Cathedral: http://www.paintedpaperart.com/2012/01/st-basils-cathedral/
Color St. Basil’s Cathedral: http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/st-basils-cathedral-moscow-coloring-page/
Create Onion Domes: https://creativefamilyfun.net/exploring-russia-creating-onion-domes/

2. Festivals & Events

* Russian Orthodox Christmas * Tatyana’s Day * International Festival of Snow & Ice Sculpture * Shrovetide * May Day * Sabantui * Ivan Kupalo Day

Learn about how to celebrate a Russian Orthodox Christmas: https://russian-crafts.com/russiantraditions/russian-christmas.html#/cmsPage/55
Make Ice Art: https://nurturestore.co.uk/ice-art-winter-craft-for-kids
Make Ice Balloons: http://queenvannacreations.com/blog//2012/02/01/ice-ballons/
Make a Flower Wreath: http://mamapapabubba.com/2015/05/15/cupcake-liner-flower-wreath/ or https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/printable-flower-wreaths/

3. Food

Read page 58 – 60 of Eat Your Way Around the World Cookbook.
Make Borscht (beet soup), Medianyky (honey cakes), Beef Stroganoff.

Find more ideas on my Russia Pinterest Board!

Checklists

Checklist for Basic Materials:

- - - Globe
    - Galloping the Globe
    - Children Just Like Me
    - DK Where On Earth? Atlas
    - DK Children’s World Atlas
    - Russia (A to Z) (or similar book)
    - Map Folders, Stamp Albums, Stamps & Hinges
    - Card File materials including printed PDF files (see general instructions)
    - Music and/or Story CDs
    - iPad or Computer with internet connection for research (optional)

Checklist for Projects:

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Checklist for International Food Dishes:

- - - - Eat Your Way Around the World Cookbook or Russian Recipes
      - Recipe ingredients: ______________________________
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Please comment below with your questions and suggestions – I will respond as soon as I can! Thank you for visiting Cotton Ridge Homeschool!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.