20th Century: Russia

 

 

Unit Overview

This unit examines the establishment and development of communism in Russia. Students will begin by creating a map and timeline of significant communist governments around the world. This is help to highlight communism’s spread around the world as we study its origins in Russia. Students will participate in extensive reading to understand the foundations of communism with Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. They will also learn about the actions and impact of Russian leaders Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Mikhail Gorbachev. Students will create a comic, participate in class discussion, complete reading and note-taking, and complete a test to demonstrate their learning.

 

 

Personal Unit Overview: What did you achieve this unit?

Through every class and project done this unit, I was able to understand communism more, but also Russia. Before this unit, I knew very little, basic information about Russia and its communism. Learning about it in this unit gave me a clearer idea and better understanding of why Russia remains the way it is, and why it works the way it works.

 

 

Enduring Understandings:

• What are the benefits and downfalls of communism?

In Russia, communism seemed like a good idea at first: the poor would have better living conditions now, and everything would be shared equally among the people. But once the communist system of government was established in the country, the country struggled to industrialize: factories produced less products, and of worse quality than before. Workers did not put much effort into their job because, if they’re always going to make the same amount of money no matter how hard they try, then why try at all?

Russia’s communist system also led to an increase in the corruption level inside the government. There was no honesty between the citizens and the government, the truth was kept hidden to avoid problems.

 

 

Unit Standards:

Content:

• Analyze and describe the causes and effects of authoritarian governments

Process:

• Write argumentative and explanatory text focused on course-related content in appropriate tone

• Interpret central ideas and provide an accurate summary of sources while demonstrating relationship among ideas

• Integrate visuals and/or data to support ideas

 

 

Area(s) of Strength

When learning about the different Russian terms used to define different concepts, I was able to understand them and remember them easily.

 

Area(s) for Improvement

Throughout the unit, I had a hard time differentiating the names of the different Russian governments we learned about.

Also, for our timeline project, I lacked creativity, which made me take longer deciding on what I should do to present it, because I could not come up with anyway of making my poster look nice.

 

 

Evidence