Co-sponsored by the Center for European Studies and the Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia.
Registration is required for this event. Register here.
France and Russia, two countries separated by a continent, share histories of absolutist rulers, violent revolution, and colonialism. Sources of intellectual and cultural inspiration for each other, they also share complex concepts of identity and what it means to be French or Russian in their respective multi-ethnic societies. They have been both allies and adversaries in multiple global conflicts, and today are at odds over Russia’s war on Ukraine.
This 1-day teacher training workshop will help Wisconsin educators understand the current relationship between the two countries, and how their shared past as empires has shaped the modern-day identities and politics of their people and the relationship of the two regions with each other. Participants will hear from University of Wisconsin-Madison speakers knowledgeable about the regions’ legacy of empire on current events and concepts of identity – lessons that can be applied to classroom instruction on concepts of citizenship and the politics of migration in the United States.
Workshop recipients will receive a reader, visual media resources, and a certificate of completion with contact hours. The workshop will incorporate synthesizing activities that can be used in the classroom, and will address the following WI Standards for Social Studies:
- Standard SS.BH2.a.m: Wisconsin students will summarize the role culture plays in personal and group behavior. Categorize factors that contribute to cooperation and conflict among peoples of a country and/or the world (i.e., culture, language, religion, political beliefs).
- Standard SS.BH3.a.h: Wisconsin students will analyze the means by and extent to which groups and institutions can influence people, events, and cultures in both historical and contemporary settings. Become critically aware of ethnocentrism, its manifestations, and consequences in a world that is increasingly interconnected.
- Standard SS.Geog3: Wisconsin students will examine the impacts of global interconnections and relationships.
- Standard SS.Hist1: Wisconsin students will use historical evidence for determining cause and effect.
- Standard SS.Hist3: Wisconsin students will connect past events, people, and ideas to the present; use different perspectives to draw conclusions; and suggest current implications.
“Empire and Identity in France and Russia” will be of interest to teachers in a wide range of subjects, such as social studies, history, geography, politics, communication, and language arts. We welcome participation by teachers in other fields, as well as librarians, administrators, and pre-service teachers.
Registration cost (includes lunch and additional classroom resources): $35 for in-service teachers, $25 for pre-service teachers. Limited financial assistance will be available to cover hotel costs for attendees coming from outside Dane County.