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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Growth and Expansion: Russia and Japan

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the role of geography in both the political expansion of Russia and the isolation of Japan. They evaluate the costs and benefits of Russia's expansion. They complete a worksheet exploring Japanese feudalism and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tragedy at Sea

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the recent Russian submarine tragedy. They examine the facts related to the vessel's sinking, then research the opinions of others regarding this event. They explore the impact this event has on their world.
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Article
BBC

Bbc: Ukraine Still Feeling Gas Pressure

For Students 9th - 10th
A 2007 news report that examines on the dispute between the Ukraine and Russia over the cost of natural gas supplied by Russia.
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Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Russia

For Students 9th - 10th
A 29-page pdf file containing an enormous amount of information about Russia. Includes major cities, holidays, history, geography, climate, natural resources, population, religion, education, economy, government, budget, industry and...
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Website
George Mason University

George Mason University: Museum of Communism

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes origins of Communism in Russia and some of the reasons the Russian people adopted a communist government.
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Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: The Soviet Union and the United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ibiblio.org gives information about the historical relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. After reading the summary on this page, click on the links at the bottom of the page to read about early...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Perestroika

For Students 9th - 10th
In these revelations from Russian archives, perestroika is explained. Mikhail Gorbachev's program of economic, political, and social restructuring, became the unintended catalyst for dismantling the totalitarian state. Also contains...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Attacks on Intelligentsia Suppressing Dissidents

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of Russian documents (letters,telegrams, etc.) that supported the suppression of dissidents. Also includes an introduction explaining the dissidents.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America, Russia & Frontier Meeting

For Students 9th - 10th
This Web site is a multimedia English-Russian digital resource that describes the American westward-Russian eastward explorations and their frontier meeting.
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Website
NASA

International Space Station: Overview

For Students 9th - 10th
This is NASA's press release on the International Space Station
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Graphic
Library of Congress

Loc: Edmund Valtman

For Students 9th - 10th
This Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist was a specialist of the Cold war era having actually lived in the USSR at the time. View some of his most famous cartoons in this online exhibit.
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Interactive
BBC

Bbc: News: Collapse of the Ussr 10 Years On

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive information about the collapse of the USSR. Includes an interactive timeline from 1985 through 1991, an interactive map of the countries of the USSR with country profiles and timelines, eyewitness accounts of the collapse of...
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: History of Sochi

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the history of this Russian city from its earliest origins through the Middle Ages and into the present day.
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Article
CNN

Cnn: Former Russian Leader Yeltsin Dead

For Students 9th - 10th
Relays the story of the death of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin who at age 76 died from heart failure on 4/23/07. Discusses highlights of his years as President and links to many other articles relating to him.
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Handout
Association of Religion Data Archives

Association of Religion Data Archives: National Profiles: Russia

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about religion in Russia, in this Association of Religion Data Archives country profile; includes general facts, history, and religious data.
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Primary
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Truman Doctrine

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a copy of a speech given in 1947 that describes US intent in stopping the spread of communism. It outlines threats to communist expansion into Greece and Turkey, and the US response to such a threat. This is a great primary...
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Handout
BBC

Bbc News: Boris Yeltsin Master of Surprise

For Students 9th - 10th
This article is dated December 31, 1999, Yeltsin before Yeltsin surprised the world by resigning from the presidency. It talks about the problems that Russia Yeltsin under Yeltsin, and how unpredictable his behavior had become. There is...
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Website
PBS

Norman Stone on Russia

For Students 9th - 10th
Read all four sections of this interview with historian Norman Stone to gain a better understanding of Russia's economic, political and social positions at the beginning of World War I.
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Website
Other

Nypl Online Exhibition Archive: Russia Engages the World 1453 1825

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhibition that looks at Russia's emergence over the period 1453-1825 from a position of isolation into one as a world power. St. Petersburg, founded in 1703, played a significant role in facilitating interactions with the larger world.
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Website
Other

Embassy of the Russian Federation

For Students 9th - 10th
The official site of the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Find lots of information, including: the president, government, state symbols, economy, culture, geography, cuisine, religion, holidays, and more.
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Handout
Other

St.petersburg.com: Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery

For Students 9th - 10th
This article describes the Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery, where thousands of people from WWII are buried.
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Website
Other

Museums in St. Petersburg, Russia (Wwii and the Siege)

For Students 9th - 10th
This Website has descriptions of many historic landmarks from WWII and other historic monuments.
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Primary
Other

Hellenic Resources Network: Helsinki Final Act 1975

For Students 9th - 10th
This primary document is a copy of the Helsinki Agreements of 1975 which recognized the borders in central and Eastern Europe that were set up since the end of WWII. They show the acceptance of the Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. and...
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Website
Other

Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia

For Students 9th - 10th
A companion website to the film by the same name. Tells of the little known invasio. of Finland by Russia in the winter of 1939 that probably changed the course of WW II.