starter activity

Study the information carefully. You have 1 minute to memorise as much information as you can. What additional information would you like to know that isn’t here?

The Russian empire

spanned two

continents. It

stretched 4,000 miles

West to East & 2,000 miles

North to South

Over 130 million people lived across the Russian Empire

The ruling family was the Romanov – ruling from 1613 to

1917

Tsar Nicholas II was the cousin of George V and a descendant of Queen

Victoria

The Trans-Siberian railway

opened in 1904. It took over a week

to cross the country by train

??????

How many people lived in Russia at this How many people lived in Russia at this time?time?

Nicholas II was cousin to which British king?Nicholas II was cousin to which British king? How wide was the Russian Empire?How wide was the Russian Empire? When did the Romanov dynasty end?When did the Romanov dynasty end? Which railway crosses Russia West to East?Which railway crosses Russia West to East? How many Russian dolls could you see?How many Russian dolls could you see? Who was taller in the photo – Tsar Nicholas Who was taller in the photo – Tsar Nicholas

or George V?or George V?

How many people lived in Russia at this time?How many people lived in Russia at this time? 130 m130 m Nicholas II was cousin to which British king?Nicholas II was cousin to which British king? George VGeorge V How wide was the Russian Empire?How wide was the Russian Empire? 4000 miles4000 miles When did the Romanov dynasty end?When did the Romanov dynasty end? 19171917 Which railway crosses Russia West to East?Which railway crosses Russia West to East? Trans-Siberian RailwayTrans-Siberian Railway How many Russian dolls could you see?How many Russian dolls could you see? FourFour Who was taller in the photo – Tsar Nicholas or Who was taller in the photo – Tsar Nicholas or

George V?George V? Tsar Nicholas IITsar Nicholas II

What was life What was life like in Russia?like in Russia?

TBAT describe conditions in TBAT describe conditions in Russia in C19thRussia in C19th

To develop note-taking skillsTo develop note-taking skills

To research the lives of 5 To research the lives of 5 important Tsarsimportant Tsars

Learning objectives

Key words: Tsar

Your taskYour task

You’ll find some textbooks arranged You’ll find some textbooks arranged around the room. Your task it is to find around the room. Your task it is to find the answers to the questions on your the answers to the questions on your sheet and record them. You are sheet and record them. You are allowed 3 max in a group. You only allowed 3 max in a group. You only have 5 minutes. How can you best have 5 minutes. How can you best organise the task? What sort of organise the task? What sort of information should you write down? information should you write down? What can you do to speed up your What can you do to speed up your note-taking?note-taking?

What is historical What is historical significance?significance?

According to a Professor of History at the According to a Professor of History at the University of Cambridge (Christine Counsell), to University of Cambridge (Christine Counsell), to be historically significant an event or individual be historically significant an event or individual must pass the 5 Rs test:must pass the 5 Rs test:

RemarkableRemarkable (an important and notable (an important and notable event/person)event/person)

Resulting in changeResulting in change RevealingRevealing (tells us a lot about a person’s time)(tells us a lot about a person’s time) RememberedRemembered (ways that it is remembered (ways that it is remembered

today)today) Resonant/’ripples’Resonant/’ripples’ (having an effect on future (having an effect on future

generations)generations)

Study the biography of Stalin, and highlight as many of the significance factors you identify. Be prepared to explain you choices. 1.Remarkable (an important and notable event/person)2.Resulting in change 3.Revealing (tells us a lot about a person’s time)4.Remembered (ways that it is remembered today)5.Resonant/’ripples’ (having an effect on future generations)

Group taskGroup task

Peter the Great1682-1725

Catherine the Great

1762-1796

Ivan the Terrible

1533-1583

Alexander II1855-1881

Nicholas II1894-17

Group taskGroup task Choose one of the TsarsChoose one of the Tsars Work in small groupsWork in small groups Focus on these ‘Rs’…Focus on these ‘Rs’… Remarkable Remarkable (an important (an important

and notable event/person)and notable event/person) Resulting in changeResulting in change RevealingRevealing (tells us a lot about a person’s time)(tells us a lot about a person’s time) RememberedRemembered (ways that it is remembered today)(ways that it is remembered today) Produce a ppt with 5 slides, 15 words per slide maxProduce a ppt with 5 slides, 15 words per slide max Produce an A4 handout with key facts, images, Produce an A4 handout with key facts, images,

tables – enough copies for everyone in the classtables – enough copies for everyone in the class

HomeworkHomework

Finish your presentation and print Finish your presentation and print out …. Factoids for the classout …. Factoids for the class

Use Sixsmith to read up on the lives Use Sixsmith to read up on the lives of each Tsar before the of each Tsar before the presentations so you are ready to presentations so you are ready to ask some probing questions!ask some probing questions!

PlenaryPlenary

Describe conditions in RussiaDescribe conditions in Russia Why did the Romanovs last so long?Why did the Romanovs last so long? What made Russia so difficult to What made Russia so difficult to

govern?govern? 3 note-taking skills?3 note-taking skills? Explain significanceExplain significance What challenges will you face with What challenges will you face with

this task?this task?