Curriculum
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Unit Documents
Unit Guide, Unit Storyboard, Lesson Calendar
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson One
Where is Russia? Unit Launch
Students learn the modern map of Russia, and review the unit storyboard and unit guide
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Two
The Last Russian Tsar (Q1)
Students learn the story of the fall of Nicholas II, the last Russian Tsar, and tell the story back in a four sentence story.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Three
The October Revolution (Q1)
Students learn the story of the revolution that established the Soviet Union, then tell the story back using “because, but, so” sentences.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Four
Lenin on Revolution and Power (Q2)
Students interpret an excerpt from a pamphlet in which Vladimir Lenin describes how he thinks the revolutionary government should use its power.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Five
Stalin's Soviet Union (Q1)
Students learn the story of Joseph Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union, then tell the story back in a four sentence story.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Six
The Triumphant Disaster of WWII (Q1)
Students learn the story of World War II in the Soviet Union, then tell the story back in a four box storyboard.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Seven
The Meaning of Soviet Victory (Q2)
Students interpret a Soviet propaganda poster from the end of World War II
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Eight
The Soviet Sphere of Influence (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, and tell the story back using “because, but, so” sentences.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Nine
Storyboard the Russian and Soviet Empires
Students use maps to tell the story of the Russian and Soviet Empires from 1914 to 1950
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Ten
The Soviet Union After Stalin (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Soviet Union under the leaders who followed Stalin, then tell the story back in a four sentence story.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Eleven
Soviet Dissidents Speak (Q2)
Students interpret a letter written by Soviet dissidents calling for democratic reforms
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Twelve
Gorbachev and the End of the Soviet Union (Q1)
Students learn the story of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms and the collapse of the Soviet Union, then they tell the story back using a four box storyboard.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Thirteen
The Rise of Vladimir Putin (Q1)
Students learn the story of Vladimir Putin’s rise to power in Russia, and tell the story back using “because, but, so” sentences
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Fourteen
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and tell the story back using “because, but, so” sentences
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Fifteen
Putin's Imperial Vision (Q2)
Students interpret an excerpt from a televised speech by Vladimir Putin in which he justifies the invasion of Ukraine
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Sixteen
Explaining Russia's Invasion of Ukraine (Q3)
Students learn about a correlating factor that may explain why Russia invaded Ukraine. They then compare other cases, and write a generalized hypothesis about the conditions under which authoritarian regimes invade their neighbors.
The Persistence of the Russian Empire Lesson Seventeen
Military Aid for Democracies (Q4)
Students judge whether western democracies should assist Ukraine in its war against Russia. They then write principles about under what conditions democracies should aid other democracies that are under attack.