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Year 9 - Geography

The story of Russia through maps (1914 - present)

Russia: How does geography shape the country?

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils about Russia's climate and biomes and how this affects its population. Pupils will also learn about Russia's natural resources and how this affects its relations with other countries around the world.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to analyse historical maps to understand how Russia's borders have changed since 1914.

Key Notes

  • Russia's borders have changed over time.
  • Russia lost territory during World War I, and instability led to the formation of the Soviet Union.
  • After World War II, the Soviet Union expanded in Eastern Europe.
  • The USSR collapsed in 1991, creating independent republics such as Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
  • Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an attempt to redraw their western border.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • USSR: also called the Soviet Union, it was a large communist country led by Russia (1922–1991)
  • border: a line that separates places like countries or regions
  • identity: how someone sees themselves, shaped by culture, history, beliefs, language, and experiences
  • communism: a system where the government owns property, and resources are shared equally
  • democracy: a system where people vote to choose leaders, allowing them to shape laws and decisions

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Russia and the USSR are the same.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

Russia's borders have changed over time. Russia lost territory during World War I, and instability led to the formation of the Soviet Union.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'USSR'

also called the Soviet Union, it was a large communist country led by Russia (1922–1991).

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: Russia and the USSR are the same. Correction: Russia was the largest part of the USSR, but they are not the same. The USSR was a union of 15 republics, including Russia. It dissolved in 1991, and each republic, like Ukraine and Georgia, became independent.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 9 Geography guide library.