General Information Project Overview Curriculum Connections Technology Education Resource Connections Evaluation

  General Information

  Project Overview

The project is designed to commence with an overall view of the Former Republics of the Soviet Union. It will focus on the physical environment, history and day to day living of the various cultural groups.

The project's second emphasis will be the break up of the Soviet Union. Students will learn why the people of the Republics wanted their independence and the steps they took to gain such power. This section will also focus on problems and benefits which evolved because of separation.

Finally, the third section gears itself toward Russia, the largest country in the world. A comparative study will be conducted which will focus on such things as the size, physical environment, religion and employment between Russia and Canada.

  Curriculum Connections

Main Curriculum Areas:

1. Social Studies
2. Religion
3. Mathematics
4. Language Arts

School Curriculum /Instructional Philosophy will be addressed by:

1. Integrating several subject areas within one theme
2. Designing student centred instruction -- students play an active role in the learning process
3. Considering individual learning abilities and styles when planning a unit of work
4. Attempting to integrate technology in the instructional process
5. Ensuring that a unit is grounded in provincial ILOs

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

1. To describe the physical environment of the former Soviet Union
2. To outline significant events in Soviet history including the break up of the Soviet Union
3. To study the different cultural groupings which made up the Soviet Union
4. To investigate the newly formed independent countries which made up the Soviet Union
5. To conduct a comparative study of Russia and Canada
6. To study the lifestyles within the former Soviet Union

ILOs in Relation to Provincial ILOs:

All units planned must correspond to the ILOs outlined in the Department of Education Curriculum Guides.

  ILO's of Technology Education

The ILOs of this project have direct links to those dealing with technology education. For example, students will conduct research via the computer and use a word processor to complete this project. More specifically, students will be able to:

1. Use a word processor to:
 Create a new document.
 Save the document on a storage disk.
 Edit document (e.g., spell check, format, font, etc...).
 Send a print job to the network printer.
 Import graphics, charts and text art into the document.
 Search for information by using such software as: Compton's, Grolier, Encarta,
   World Atlas, Super Tom and Eloquent Librarian.
2. Access the Internet to obtain information by:
    Conducting net searches
    Downloading and/or printing files
    Using e-mail

  Resource Connections

Benefits of Stellar School Internet Connection:

Due to the many changes which have occurred in the former Soviet Union over the last 5 - 10 years it is difficult to find current information within textbooks and encyclopedias; however, Internet access will provide the most current avenue of study available.

Other Resources:

1. Travel Agencies
2. Embassies located in Canada
3. CD-Rom: Encyclopedia programs
4. Library Resources - books, periodicals
5. Interviewing
6. Newspapers
7. Resource Personnel

  Evaluation

ILOs in Checklist Form:

Students will be able to:

1. List the landforms found in the Soviet Union
2. Describe the natural region (climatic zones)
3. Explore famous rulers which helped shape the Soviet Union
4. Explore the "Russian Revolution"
5. Outline major differences and similarities between Canada & Russia (government, religion, cultural groups, schooling, etc.)
6. Analyse the whole concept of the break up of the Soviet Union

Evaluation Procedure:

 Test
 Projects - Written Assignments
 Poster Construction
 Flag Designing
 Interviewing
 Ability to access information from the Internet