By Mary Packard

RUSSIA

by Mary Packard

Alphabet (Cyrillic)

1/ 6 of Eart h’s surfa ce !

Brief Political History

Peter the GreatInnovations

• Visited Europe on an “educational” tour for two years. • Founded St. Petersburg in 1703 on swampland • Inspired by European ideals and architecture

St. Petersburg

Peter the Great

Revered in a positive, heroic manner by Russians

The Last of the Tsars (and a Tsarina)

(We’re jumping up to 1905 now…)

The Last Tsar- Nicholas II

Bloody Sunday

• 1905: Life was rough for general Russian population. • Peasants were marching to the Winter Palace with a petition for the Tsar • They were shot and killed by the military • This spawned more anger towards Nicholas.

Rasputin • A Siberian peasant monk • Spiritual advisor to the Tsarina • Mystic; claimed to have psychic and healing skills • Piercing eyes • Often heavily blamed for the Tsar’s ignorance to the negative attitude of the public.

Revolution: 1917 • The peasants have had enough of imperialism • Want to create a “Socialist Paradise” • The Bolsheviks – Vladimir Lenin

1918- Tsar and family are executed by the Bolsheviks

Lenin

Took over as Soviet leader in 1917

Formed Communists

U.S.S.R. 1922-1991

Joseph Stalin

Westerners usually associate him with: Cold War, Space Race, WWII, Siberian Gulags, Cult of Personality

Stalin is still considered a hero by some Russians.

2nd

Russian Rulers: Half of 20th Century

• Several changes from 19551991 • 1991: Mikhail Gorbachev resigns • Boris Yeltsin: First elected president • 1999: Putin

December 1991

Soviet Union falls; Russia becomes autonomous for the first time since 1922.

Modern Russia

Population Density

(New) President!

Dmitry Medvedev

Shopping

Cheburashka

“Pop” Stars

Elementary Classroom: Moscow 1931

Primary School/High School Ages 6-17 End of 9th grade: -Take national exam -Earn gold or silver medal -Continue to academic or vocational school

Elementary School: 2002

Project ‘Education’ Introduced in 2007 by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation Goal: to provide equal opportunities for all students regardless of areas of residence, economic status, etc.

Rewards for Teachers Financial incentives are part of Project ‘Education’. Federal support of the 10,000 best teachers on an annual basis.

Best Teacher in All-Russia Award

Technology in the Classroom • All teachers will receive an interactive technology set. • Includes: – interactive classboard – a teacher's computer – a multimedia projector

Internet Usage by Region

Zelenograd: 3rd Grade

Celebrating Graduation

Literature

Baba Yaga • Creepy Russian folk tale • Old hag/witch lives out in the woods in a hut with chicken feet • Offers to “help “people lost in the woods and then eats them. • Told to children as a warning.

Russian Orthodox Christianity

Russian Orthodox Christianity

Orthodox Holidays

Christmas: • January 6th and 7th • Attend church services between 12 and 3 am. • Meals with family at home

Easter Procession

International Women’s Day • May 8th • Honors all women over the age of about 20 • Similar to Mother’s Day, but for all women

New Year • January 1st-6th • Most importan t holiday in Russia

Sports

Ballet

Anna Pavlovna “The Death of the

Russian Imperial Ballet

Siberian Forest Cat- Russia’s Official Cat

Kvas

Borscht Schi (cabbage soup)

Perogies

Sour-Milk Okroshka

Natural Russia

Claims to the Arctic

Don’ts for a Trip to Russia • Don’t drink tap water • Don’t greet strangers • Don’t refuse vodka • Avoid the police; they are very corrupt • Don’t go out alone if you’re a woman