The journey that students will take in this unit spans nearly ten thousand miles and visits three countries. It is a huge mass of land that really allows teachers unlimited resources and choices as the journey unfolds. Literally hundreds of languages, cultures and lifestyles are traversed on this journey. The Trans-Siberian railroad will be the focus of much of this journey. There are actually three routes that make up the Trans-Siberian. The first is the Trans-Siberian, which stretches from Moscow to Vladivastok; the second route is the Trans-Manchurian and the third route, which I will be taking my students on in this unit, is called the Trans-Mongolian route. This route takes riders up from Beijing through Mongolia, into the Lake Baikal region of Russia and then across to Moscow.
This adventurous journey in reality would take nearly a week without any stop-offs. The train does make regular stops but they are brief and passengers are only given a chance to get out and stretch their legs on the platforms. That’s why planning ahead and penciling in some stops is key to a successful journey. I will spend some time discussing the journey with my students, looking over some guidebooks and getting their input on my proposed stops as I finalize our itinerary.
