ESU 11 2016-2017 Battle of the Books
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The Family Romanov
​                       Grades 5-8

Here is the tumultuous, heartrending, true story of the Romanovs—at once an intimate portrait of Russia's last royal family and a gripping account of its undoing. Using captivating photos and compelling first person accounts, award-winning author Candace Fleming maneuvers between the imperial family’s extravagant lives and the plight of Russia's poor masses, making this an utterly mesmerizing read.

Level 7.2; 12 points

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Activity One

Alexander Palace Time Machine
Visit the website (link found in the button below) and browse through what it was actually like to live at the time of the Romanov's. After you are done reading and learning about the different things during that time period, then go to the Alexander Palace Discussion Forum and post a question about something you wonder about. When you are through, you can either print the page or take a screen shot of it and send it to me (jjack@esu11.org). There are some pretty awesome pictures and amazing information found on this site, enjoy!!
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Alexander Palace
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Activity Two

Make two columns on a piece of paper or your computer/ipad. At the top of one column write Haves. At the top of the other, write Have-Nots. Read aloud
the opening of the book, “Russia, 1903.” For each column, write examples from the
reading that pertain to these two extremes of society, such as “masses of fresh roses, lilacs, and mimosas” (Haves); and “primitive log huts clustered around
rutted roads” (Have-Nots). Discuss how the rest of the book shows Imperial Russia from these vastly different points of view: the privilege of the royal family versus the poverty and substandard living conditions of the peasantry, factory workers, and the
lower classes of Russian society. Keep in mind the idea of juxtaposition as you read
through the text. ​(​the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect)
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Activity Three

​After reading the book, you will be able to draw parallels to major world events of the last few years, such as the Arab Spring, the ongoing war in Syria, and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Research contemporary events and describe how the lessons learned in The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia are still being played out today.
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