Causes of the Russian Revolution

1. Students will examine the Russian Revolution and the development of Marxist ideology under Lenin and Stalin.
2. Students will describe and explain the causes of the Russian Revolution.
3. Students will use a technological tool to explain one cause of the Russian Revolution.

Introduction (Orientation) Activities:
1.Students will reflect on what they know about revolutions. Students will answer in their notebooks the following question- What is a revolution? What are characteristics of a revolution? Identify historical examples of revolutions.
2. Students will share their reflection with another classmate (pair share)
3. Students will discuss with whole class as to what they believe a revolution is, its core components, etc. Ask questions as needed
4. Transition- Inform students that they will be learning about the Russian Revolution today. Ask them to write down anything they know about Russia today or if they remember anything from previous Social Studies classes. Create a list of at least five points.
5. Pair share list with a fellow classmate. With your partner, select the three most important facts for your classmates to know about Russia, then share them with the whole group.
6. Provide students a brief overview of the Russian Revolution by presenting a PowerPoint. Students write down notes.
7. In groups of 3-5, students will research one cause of the Russian Revolution. Assign each student to one of the following causes-
-The peasants’ lives
-Working conditions and Bloody Sunday
-The role of Rasputin
-Czar Nicholas II’s military
-Industrial workers support of the revolution
-The March Revolution 1917
8. Working in groups, students will conduct research and explain the significance and impact of their assigned cause.
9. Groups will create an infographic using the website- www.piktochart.com, explaining and describing their assigned cause. They will include primary and or secondary sources while creating their infographic.
10. Students will post their infographic on the wall. All students will conduct a gallery walk and write a rolling list of important facts for each cause. In addition, students will post a sticky note on the infographic with one question.
11. Original groups will respond to the sticky note questions.
12. Exit Ticket- Students write a summary explaining the causes of the Russian Revolution.

If a student wants to create an alternative product, they may choose from one of the following:
Powerpoint, Prezi, song or political cartoon.

-Write a diary entry from the perspective of a poor Russian peasant, a working class Russian, or a member of the royal family. Explain your situation, detailing the problems you see in Russia and express what should be done.

FPRI-Professor- Nikolas Gvosdev