Sessions

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Session 1: Central and Eastern Europe: Poland

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define national identity, ghetto and Holocaust.

Students will identify Poland's major physical characteristics.

Students will describe how WWII affected Poland's cultural patterns.

Students will explain how Polish people maintained their national identity and achieve economical prosperity after communism. 

HOMEWORK:

Review the information about Solidarity Movement that was presented in class. On your own, do some additional research. Then, create a time line to trace the rise and achievements of this historic movement. Be sure to explain how the Solidarity movement embodies the Polish national character. Be ready to present your timeline and explanation to the class in the next session.  

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Session 2: Central and Eastern Europe: Czech and Slovak Republics, and Hungary

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define velvet revolution, privatization and collective farm.

Students will present their Solidarity Movement timelines and explanation with the class. 

Students will summarize how the political and economic conditions in the Czech Republic has changed since the 1980's.

Students will identify the challenges that the two regions of Bohemia and Moravia face. 

Students will explain why Slovakia's economical transition has been difficult. 

Students will describe the effect privatization has had upon Hungary's economy.

HOMEWORK:

Use the internet to research economical and social problems within the areas we have studied in class. Using the information you have gathered, plan a series of summer work projects for American teenagers who are visiting Central Europe. Create a poster showing a project to be completed in each country. Base your projects on physical characteristics and economics found in each country. Be ready to share your poster with the class in the next session. 

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Session 3: Central and Eastern Europe: The Balkan Peninsula

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define balkanize, entrepreneur and multiplier effect.

Students will share their posters with the class. 

Students will explain how Romania's economical activities have changed since the end of Communist rule. 

Students will identify the signs of economical growth that can be seen in Bulgaria.

Students will explain why internal tensions continue to challenge the people of the Balkan nations. 

HOMEWORK: 

Use the internet to conduct research concerning a current situation about a country or ethnic group discussed in this session. Be ready to present to your findings in a short oral report during the next class session. 

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Session 4: Central and Eastern Europe: The Baltic States and Border Nations

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define annex and diversity.

Students will share their oral reports with the class. 

Students will explain how location has affected the history and economies of the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and  Estonia. 

Students will discover why many Ukrainians are eager to break free of foreign domination.  

Students will describe how Belarus is closely linked with Russia, and how Moldavia is closely linked with Romania. 

HOMEWORK: 

Draw a sketch map of the Baltic states and border nations. Using symbols and shading, indicate how different types of environmental change has affected this region. Include human and natural alterations to the environment. Be ready to present your map to the class in the next session. 

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Session 5: Russia

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define tundra, taiga, steppe, chernozem and permafrost. 

Students will share their maps with the class.  

Students will identify Russia's main physical characteristics.

Students will explain how location and climate affect Russia's ecosystems.

Students will describe how Siberia offers opportunities and pose unique challenges. 

HOMEWORK: 

Suppose you have been hired to work for a company based in Siberia. Write three journal entries. The first should describe your feelings before leaving for Siberia, and the second should describe your impressions upon arrival. The third should focus on how life in Siberia affects your work. You may wish to do additional research to complete this activity. Be ready to present your journal entries to the class in the next session. 

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Session 6: Emergence of Russia

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define czar, abdicate, soviet, command economy, glasnost and perestroika.

Students will present their journal entries. 

Students will examine how the Russian territory grew under the czars. 

Students will identify the economical and political conditions that marked the end of the Communist era. 

Students will explain how the end of Communist rule lead to changes in Russia. 

HOMEWORK: 

Create a map of the region that shows the former Soviet Union, its satellite nations within the region, and other nations. You may wish to use different colors for each of these categories. Be ready to present your map in the next session. 

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Session 7: Geographic Issues in Russia

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define ruble and black market.

Students will describe the defining characteristic of life in Russia today. 

Students will explain how ethnic turmoil challenges Russia. 

Students will identify the transportation methods that are common in Russia. 

Students will describe the economical and environmental problems that Russia faces today. 

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