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RUSSIA
RUSSIA is a country spanning more than one continent, extending over much of northern Europe and Asia. Russia extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning 11 time zones and incorporating a great range of environments and landforms. Russia has the world's greatest reserves of mineral and energy resources, and is considered an energy superpower. It has the world's largest forest reserves and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's unfrozen fresh water.
LOCATION of RUSSIA
With a land area of 6,592,800 sq miles, Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of the Earth’s land area. With 142 million people, it is the ninth largest country by population. Russia is indeed the largest country in the world in terms of area, but Russia is unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world. In spite of its size, much of Russia lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture.
Flag of Russia
The flag of Russia is a tricolor of three equal horizontal fields, white on the top, blue in the middle and red on the bottom. The flag was first used as an ensign for merchant and war ships and first became the official flag in 1896. It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that the tricolor was brought back as the official flag of the new Russian Federation. The modern era flag underwent a slight change in 1993 and has been official since 2000. The flag of Russia provided the Pan-Slavic colors of red, blue and white that appears in the flags of Slavic countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Serbia.
Russia shares land borders with these countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (via Kaliningrad Oblast), Poland (via Kaliningrad Oblast), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Russia is a semi-presidential republic comprising 83 federal subjects. Russia established worldwide power and influence from the times of the Russian Empire to being the largest and leading constituent of the Soviet Union, the world's first and largest constitutionally socialist state and a recognized superpower. The nation can boast a long tradition of excellence in every aspect of the arts and sciences.
Red Square with St Basil's Cathedral on the left in Moscow, Russia
Colorful St. Basil the Blessed is a Russian cathedral that commemorates Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible’s victories over the Tatar khanates.
The Russian Federation was founded following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, but is recognized as the continuing legal personality of the Soviet Union.
Russia is the country of vast landscapes, vibrant life, beautiful contrasts, and interesting people. It is a nation of enormous diversity and tremendous vitality. Taking an immense space of 9000 kilometers from west to east and 5000 from north to south, being home to people of so many different nationalities and customs, Russia is often called a "bridge" between Europe and Asia, both geographically and sociologically. It is a country that spans eleven time zones and two continents, ending less than 50 miles from North America.
Small Village in Russia
Within this vast expanse lie the largest freshwater lake in the world, rivers and forests teeming with fish and wildlife, awe inspiring volcanoes, and towering mountains. Russia is the largest country on earth, with enormous tracts of land that have been opened to travelers only in the last few years.
Just as Russia's rich cultural heritage has once more come to life, its natural heritage too is a new country waiting to be discovered. From the ancient times up to now, Russia has been changing and re-shaping itself, its boundaries, its culture. In the ancient times, the Slavs, Finn tribes, Tatars, had made their way through Russia, and this mix of many different nations and their traditions has defined the unique Russian character and culture.
There are never- ending forests and lakes and scattered among them, gleaming little churches in Moscow and impressive Emperors’ palaces in St. Petersburg. Russia has a vast array of exciting and ancient cultures, from the glittering imperial Russia of St. Petersburg to the timeless village life of "Golden Ring".
It is a country with many cultural and historic treasures, unspoiled nature, and industrious, bright and hospitable people. Russia mothered Peter and Catherine the Great, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Tchaikowsky, Nabokov, among others, who have contributed to the rich cultural heritage.
The climate in Russia ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north. Winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia. Summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast.
The terrain of Russia ranges from a broad plain with low hills west of Urals to the vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia to the uplands and mountains along the southern border regions.
Russia’s wide natural resource base includes major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals; and timber. However, formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources.
Permafrost covers much of Siberia and is a major impediment to development. Volcanic activity exists in the Kuril Islands and there are volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires occur throughout Siberia and parts of European Russia.
Environmental issues in Russia include air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; and abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides.
Religions in Russia include Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%. Estimates are of practicing worshipers. Russia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of Soviet rule.
OBJECTIVES:
Students will:
- Understand how geography influences the development of a country
- Understand the complex nature of a given culture: its history, geography, politics, literature, art, drama, music, dance, law, religion, philosophy, architecture, technology, science, education, sports, social structure, and economy.
- Develop an awareness of place. There are reasons why events occur in certain places. Must understand the characteristics of a place to understand why events occurred there.
- Understand how the political system gains power over the people and land.
- Appreciate how cultures honor their heritage through their arts, architecture, literature and symbols
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
5.14 - reads and listens to increase knowledge of his/her own culture, the culture of
others, and the common elements of cultures
5.8 - understands the location and patterns of settlement and the geographic
factors that influence where people live
5.22 – understands the relationship between the arts and the times during which
they were created
5.1 -expresses and supports responses to various types of texts
5.25 - analyzes and critiques the significance of visual images, messages, and
meanings
5.10 - comprehends selections using a variety of strategies
5.15 - writes for a variety of purposes and audiences, and in a variety of forms
Standard 1 - How to use maps and other geographic tools to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective
Standard 3 - How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface
Standard 11 - The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on the Earth's surface
USD259 Social Studies Geography Standard 4 - students will use geographic tools such as maps, globes, and pictures to interpret the relationship between people, places, and environment
USD259 Social Studies Culture Standard 2 - students will recognize the differences and similarities among world societies
USD259 Social Studies Government Standard 1 - students will give examples of how national government does or does not provide for the needs and wants of all people, establish order and security, and manage conflict
USD259 Social Studies Research Standard 3 - students will collect, organize, and interpret information from appropriate sources and communicate their findings
USD259 Reading Standard 3 - students will read and respond to literature of different genres, cultures, and periods
USD259 Reading Standard 5 - students will organize information by note-taking, writing summaries, and making graphic aids
USD259 Reading Standard 5 - students will use reference materials
St. Petersburg, Russia
PRE-ACTIVITIES:
1) Teacher will ask these questions to students to introduce the study of Russia:
- What country has snow on the ground for six months of the year?
- What country is on two continents?
- What is the largest country in the world?
- What country is so large that it has problems transporting goods to all areas of the country?
2) Assign students to collect current events about Russia from major news magazines, on-line websites, and newspapers.
3) MAP ACTIVITY: Teacher will show a transparency of the map of Russia listing the geographic features and sites that students are to locate on their individual maps.
4) Give students a map atlas and an outline map of Russia and instruct them to put these on the map:
5) Have students use the atlases to mark features on their outline maps.
a. Moscow
b. St. Petersburg
c. Ural Mountains
d. Siberia
e. steppes
f. Volga River
g. Don River
h. Black Sea
i. Caspian Sea
j. Baltic Sea
k. Ekaterinburg
l. Omsk
m. Tomsk
n. Lake Baikal
o. Yakutsk
p. Vladivostok
POST-ACTIVITIES:
1) Students will watch National Geographic video “Russia, After the U.S.S.R.”
2) Students will research current economic conditions in Russia. Students will rresearch what problems are currently creating economic uncertainty in Russia. Do not forget to explore the problems of distribution of food and goods. At the same time include what is being done to overcome these difficulties. How does the restructuring of the Soviet economy to a free market economy affect the average resident? Describe what controls were removed, what effect the demise of central planning had on government sponsored programs such as technology. How might the growth of a free market system in Russia affect the world economically?
3) Students will then create a Timeline showing events that led to the economic decline currently being experienced in Russia. Include the loss of important resources such as food when republics left the former USSR.
4) Students will discuss current economic conditions in Russia and thoughtfully answer these three questions:
- If you were Russian, would you choose to return to the era of Communist control for economic security?
- If you were Russian, would you choose to work individually for the benefits of freedom of speech, private ownership and a free market economy?
- If you were Russian, how would you make this choice. . . .. politically or economically?
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