Topic: Natural environment and economy of Ukraine

Target group

Sixth‑grade student of primary school

Core curriculum

VIII. Neighbors of Poland: changes in industry in Germany; the cultural heritage of Lithuania and Belarus; natural environment and tourist attractions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia; political, social and economic problems of Ukraine; natural and socio‑economic diversity of Ukraine; natural and socio‑economic diversity of Russia; relations between Poland and neighbors.

Student:

4) Understands Ukraine's political, social and economic problems;

7) Understands the need to shape good relations between Poland and its neighbors.

General aim of education

The student will learn about the natural environment and the causes of Ukraine's economic and social problems

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• you determine the location of Ukraine on the map of Europe;

• you will discuss the current political situation in Ukraine;

• characterize the natural environment of Ukraine;

• you will tell about the main branches of the Ukrainian economy;

• you will discuss Ukraine's economic and social problems.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• exposing

  • exposition.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers;

• educational platform Quizizz;

• Learning Apss learning platform;

• physical map of Europe;

• Statistical Yearbook;

• geographical atlases.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

• Students get acquainted with the content of the abstract. They prepare to work on the lesson in such a way to be able to summarize the material read in their own words and solve the tasks themselves.

Introduction

• The teacher gives students the topic and goals of the lesson.

• The teacher launches the Learning Apss application on the multimedia board and, using the interactive board, asks pupils and makes associations with the history of Ukraine. Discussion.

Realization

• The teacher at the previous lesson asked students to familiarize themselves with the source material concerning the history of Ukraine - reverse education. Students acquire messages at home and it is possible to have a rich discussion about difficult events that took place on the fate of Ukraine and their impact on the current political situation.

• Work of the whole class team. Students determine the geographical location of Ukraine. They indicate the neighboring countries.

• Work in pairs. Characteristics of Ukraine's natural conditions: shoreline, vertical configuration, river network, climate. Students use geographical atlases and a geography instruction manual as well as an e‑textbook.

• The indicated persons discuss the developed issue. They use the map from the e‑manual, displayed on the interactive whiteboard Ukraine - hypsometric map.

• The teacher displays on the interactive whiteboard a map from the e‑textbook Distribution of Ukraine's population. He asks students to read the most populated cities. Then he asks for information on the Internet resources concerning the size of Ukraine. Drawing conclusions.

• Work in pairs. Economy of Ukraine: Agriculture (soils and crops), industry (mineral resources and industries). Students use geographical atlases, a handbook for teaching geography and Internet resources. Discussing issues based on maps from the e‑manual displayed on the multimedia board screen.

• Work in pairs. The teacher divides the class into 4 teams. Students in each group develop the thematic area. Nuclear power plant - Are you for or against? Each group receives a sheet of A1 paper, markers. Students use source materials such as a geography teaching handbook, Internet resources, a geography textbook. Students use their „Chatting wall” method to present their suggestions.

Summary

• At the end of the class, the teacher launches the Quizizz.com platform. Didactic game checking knowledge of lessons about Ukraine. To play the game, the teacher invites several students to check their knowledge using mobile phones and Internet access. After the test, analysis of all tasks.

• The teacher asks for pupils' self‑esteem regarding cooperation in the team and the task performed. Evaluates the work of selected students.

• At the end of the class, the teacher displays on the interactive whiteboard exercises that are performed by the whole class team.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Natural environment and economy of Ukraine

Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe – the second largest on our continent, after the Russian Federation. It has an area of over 603 thousand kmIndeks górny 2², which is almost twice as large as that of Poland. The capital of Ukraine is Kiev.

Ukraine is a lowland and upland country with a small share of mountains. These mountains include, among others, the narrow range of the Eastern Carpathians, which crosses the south‑western part of the country along a stretch of about 200 km. The highest peak of Ukraine can be found there – Hoverla – 2061 m above sea level. Another mountainous region in Ukraine are the coastal Crimean Mountains. From the geological point of view, they are similar to the Carpathians – they too were created in the Alpine orogeny and are mainly composed of sandstones, shales, and limestones. Due to their coastal location, they have high relative heights. The highest peak is Roman‑Kosh (1545 m above sea level).

On the eastern side of the Ukrainian Carpathians, there are vast, undulating upland areas – Podolia and Volhynia, as well as the Dnieper Upland (on the right bank of the Dnieper River). The central part of Ukraine is covered by great lowlands – the Dnieper Lowland (on the left bank of the Dnieper River), and the Black Sea Lowland (along the sea coast). Another lowland is Polesye, which stretches in the north‑western part of Ukraine, along the border with Belarus. On the other hand, in the east of the country, there is the relatively small and low Donets Ridge.

The biggest river in Ukraine is the Dnieper – the fourth longest river of Europe. It flows through the middle of the country from the north to the south, escaping to the Black Sea.

Ukraine has a temperate, warm, continental climate. This climate has the lowest precipitation among other temperate climates, and the greatest annual temperature variations. In practice, this means that summers are generally hot and dry, and winters – cold and dry. In the western part of Ukraine, near the border with Poland, there is a slightly milder type of climate, similar to our transitional climate. However, these are relatively high areas, which means that the climate there remains harsh, especially in winter. The warmest weather is recorded in the south, on the Black Sea coast, where the climate has Mediterranean characteristics.

Ukraine currently has around 45 million inhabitants, slightly more than Poland. However, the population of our eastern neighbors has been steadily decreasing for years – after gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine had more than 52 million inhabitants. This decrease in population is mainly due to the unstable economic situation and poor economic development of the country. Uncertain future discourages young people from starting families and deciding to have children, and often forces them to emigrate. Moreover, on average, Ukrainians live much shorter (68 years) than other Europeans, which results in more deaths. All these factors contribute to a significant negative rate of natural increase and thus a negative actual rate of increase. The net migration rate oscillates around 0.

Ukraine is an agricultural and industrial country. Figuratively speaking, the occurrence of fertile black earths over large areas left no choice but to develop them for growing crops. Large harvests are reaped and sold abroad – Ukraine is presently a significant exporter of wheat, corn, and sunflower. In addition, sugar beets, barley, and other cereals, as well as vegetables and fruit, are grown there. In the south of the country, the climate is the warmest and allows to grow, e.g., grapes, or even citrus fruits.
Animal husbandry in Ukraine is also highly developed. Pigs, cattle, and poultry dominate, among which ducks are of high export importance.

The Ukrainian industry has developed on the basis of mineral resources. In the Donetsk region, bituminous coal (in the past also brown coal) is mined, and in the area of Kryvyi Rih – iron ores. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers of these two raw materials. In addition, manganese and uranium ores as well as small quantities of crude oil and natural gas are extracted. Ukraine, like Poland, is dependent on supplies of Russian oil and gas.

The political situation of Ukraine is complicated.

The war with Russia continues in the east of Ukraine. On March 17, 2014, the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea unrecognized by Ukraine announced Crimea as an independent state. Then they asked Russia to join it. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the recognition of Crimea as a sovereign and independent state. A day later, the new creation became another entity of the Russian Federation.