Active History: Games for Kids

Tsar Alexander III
 
 
 
 

I provide here two approaches to studying this unit. The first one is much more punchy and engaging: the teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the 'reformers' and the 'reactionaries' debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and inform students about what has actually been decided. It's a great way to maintain student interest and engagement throughout a unit which might otherwise be rather abstractly academic.

Approach 1: Roleplay Unit (recommended - based around this 30-slide presentation)

Student Resources (Tsar Alexander III)

Debate PreparationWord Document0.08MB
Debate Record SheetWord Document0.05MB
End of the ReignWord Document0.08MB
Comparison to AlexIIWord Document0.47MB
Keywords for essayWord Document0.04MB
TimelineWord Document0.05MB

 

Teacher Resources (Tsar Alexander III)

ROLEPLAY PRESENTATIONWeblink0MB
Factual TestWord Document0.26MB
Factual Test-AlternativeWord Document0.13MB
Comparison to Alexander IIWord Document0.07MB
Model Essay by Russel TarrWord Document0.05MB

 

Approach 2: Worksheet-Based

1. An Introduction to Tsar Alexander III's Reign
An overview of the upbringing and the personality of Tsar Alexander III. To what extent will his personality and politics equip him to be a good ruler of 19th Century Russia?
Tsar Alexander III
Tsar Alexander III
2. In-Depth Analysis of the Alexander III's Reign [interactive]
Students make notes from this interactive newsfeed exercise and then organise their findings into various themes and categories using this worksheet. By so doing they start to formulate a view as to how far Alexander's reputation as a reactionary is deserved.
3. Primary Sources and Questions
The next stage is to conduct some in-depth research based around primary sources from the time which cover some of the big themes: politics, education, the famine, the pogroms. These sources come complete with questions and discussion points to further understanding.
4. A Comparison of Alexander II and Alexander III: Research and Essay Planning Exercise
With the main research now completed, students should begin the process of comparing Alexander III to his father. Is it really fair to say that Alexander II was a reformer, and Alexander III a reactionary? This worksheet enables students to start organising their thoughts and provides a suggested essay framework.
5. The End of Alexander III's Reign
This final worksheet covers the last days of Alexander III and invites students to offer some closing judgments about his reign.
6. Keyword Checker: Compare and Contrast the reigns of Tsar Alexander II and Tsar Alexander III [interactive]
Students paste their essay into this interface and get a score based on how many keywords they have included. Excellent for ensuring topic coverage at first-draft phase.
Interactive quizzes on this topic [tips]
Interactive quizzes: Tsar Alexander III [tips]
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History in the News for Tsar Alexander III

1. Kim Jong-il: North Korean tyrant is to be embalmed and displayed like Lenin KIM JONG-IL has won the ultimate communist honour – being embalmed and displayed for public worship. The former North Korean despot is getting the same formaldehyde-and-fawning treatment as his dictator dad Kim Il-sung after he died in 1994. Visitors paying their respects at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Memorial Palace will have to bow three times...
2. Barack Obama compared to Hitler and Lenin in Tea Party billboard A roadside billboard created by a branch of the Tea Party in Iowa comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin has been condemned by other groups in the movement.
3. Vladimir Lenin died from syphilis, new research claims  
4. Lenin's nose put out of joint in Kiev  
5. China plans a Karl Marx musical  
6. CNBC claims "Comrade" Obama is a "Bolshevik" who is "taking cues from Lenin"  
7. Georgia fails to escape its past (BBC)  
8. Russia and Georgia move to brink of war  
9. Tens of Thousands March 90 Years After Tsar's Death  
10. Lenin statue vandalised by Ukrainian Nationalists  
11. The London haunts of VI Lenin  
12. Russian heir demands Tsar Nicholas II murder investigation  
13. Vatican thumbs up for Karl Marx after Galileo, Darwin and Oscar Wilde  
14. Romanov grand duchess's hidden jewellery found  
15. DNA testing ends mystery surrounding Czar Nicholas II children  
16. Bury Lenin's body, says Gorbachev  
17. Huge tribute to Lenin visible on Google Earth  
18. Crisis in Georgia: History repeating itself  
19. Stalin and Last Tsar in Neck-and-Neck Race  
20. Relics of the Soviet era remain in Russia #historyteacher  
21. Did Britain try to assassinate Lenin?  

 

 

 

 
 
 
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Recommended sites for KS3 History, GCSE History and A-Level History:
SchoolHistory | Spartacus | JohnDClare | SchoolsHistory | BBC History |
Channel 4 History | History Channel UK
 

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