Topic: Russia in 1917

Target group

7th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

XXV. First World War. Pupil:

5. describes the revolution and civil war in Russia.

General aim of education

Students learn about the February 1917 revolution in Russia and the process of taking power by the Bolsheviks.

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• to characterize the political and socio‑economic causes of the outbreak of the February Revolution in Russia in 1917;

• to describe the circumstances of the Bolshevik power takeover in Russia;

• to define the differences between facts and theses of the propaganda.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• 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;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

1. The teacher asks students to review information about the 1905‑1907 revolution in Russia. Students can take advantage of the e‑textbook lesson Próba sił. Rewolucja 1905‑1907 w Rosji i na ziemiach polskich.

Introduction

1. The teacher explaines the students the subject, the purpose of the lesson and the criteria for success.

2. In the course of a teaching conversation, he briefly presents the situation in Russia in the first years of World War I and the circumstances of the Tsar's abdication. To this end, he uses iconographic materials from the e‑textbook.

3. Students get acquainted with the appeal of the Provisional Government and do Task 1, followed by Exercise 1. They discuss conclusions with the teacher.

Realization

1. The teacher explains to students briefly the concept of dual power and its effects („power lies on the street”). Students match descriptions to the names of political parties (Exercise 2) and presented photographs with the appropriate names of politicians (Exercise 3).

2. The aim of the next part of the lesson is to analyze the reasons for the Bolshevik victory. The students together perform Task 2 and Exercise 4, discussing the conquest of the Winter Palace. The teacher then divides the students into two groups and assigns task each of them. During the work of groups, the teacher monitors students' work, provides help, and watches over time. He takes care of the feedback provided to students during solving exercises and executing tasks. Task for group I: Exercise 5. Task for group II: Task 3. Then the students present the results of their work. The others write down the information they need.

3. After completing the work by the groups, the information collected during the lesson is presented using the diamond ranking method. Representatives of groups read the reasons of the Bolshevik victory in the race for power (methods, assumptions, actions, propaganda) and stick them to the board. Then all together with the teacher wonder, which of them are the most important, important, less and least important. Self‑adhesive cards on the board are organized according to joint arrangements.

Summary

1. The teacher summarizes the students' conclusions and answers additional questions. He briefly discusses Europe's reaction to events in Russia.

2. The teacher assesses the students' work during the lesson, taking into account their input and commitment. For this purpose, he may prepare an evaluation questionnaire for self‑assessment and evaluation of the teacher's work and other students.

Homework

1. The teacher sets homework (it is not an obligatory part of the script): students interested in the subject search on the Internet for English‑language materials about the civil war in Russia. They prepare a presentation.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Russia in 1917

The state's inefficiency as well as the disastrous economic and social situation in Russia led to the outbreak of the February Revolution and overthrowing of tsar Nicholas II. The power in the country was taken over by the Provisional Government. The second very strong centre of power was the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Delegates, which was gradually subordinated by the Bolsheviks. As a result of the so‑called October Revolution, the Bolsheviks with Vladimir Lenin took over the power in Russia. In mid‑December 1917, Russia made a truce with the Central Powers and, several days later, engaged in negotiations with Germany, Austria‑Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria. In January 1918, the Bolsheviks dispersed the Constituent Assembly and announced the dictatorship of the proletariat.