Members of the Organising Committee of the National Centre RUSSIA return to their desks at the exposition "Geography Lessons
The National Centre RUSSIA hosted the opening ceremony of the exposition "Geography Lessons" — a large-scale narrative about the country, its space, history, and people. This educational project allows visitors to trace the development of the country through maps, understand the scale of Russia and its place in the world, and revisit their school years.
The First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia and Chair of the Organising Committee of the National Centre RUSSIA, Sergei Kiriyenko; the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia and Deputy Chair of the Organising Committee, Maxim Oreshkin; the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Chernyshenko; the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, Sergei Kravtsov; the Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova; and other members of the Organising Committee returned to school desks and took part in a geography lesson. They found themselves in a recreated classroom of the 1960s–1970s, where an ordinary lesson turned into a performance. Young artists from the Domisolka Children’s Musical Theatre presented a vocal and choreographic flash mob to the song "My Motherland" with lyrics by the poet Robert Rozhdestvensky.
The tour of the exposition was led by participants of the School of Young Guides of Russia — 14-year-old Arina Kaplina, 13-year-old Lev, and 10-year-old Ilya Tishchenko.
"I like everything about the exposition, because geography itself is a very interesting subject. What I liked most was the hall with the starry sky, because I really love astronomy," admitted 10-year-old guide Ilya Tishchenko.
The children were accompanied by geography teachers Yekaterina Shuvalova from the Kaluga Region and Vladimir Kosich from the Tula Region. Survival expert Denis Zabelin demonstrated how to pack a backpack for a hiking trip, while scientists together with children from the Young Geologist of Russia movement shared facts about the country’s natural resources, including Lake Baikal.
Yekaterina Shuvalova, a geography teacher from the Kaluga Region and a participant in the contest "Flagships of Education. Municipality", shared her impressions of the exposition. According to her, the display is designed so that every school student, regardless of age, can find something of interest.
"The exposition is multifaceted and unique, with material selected to be informative for every visitor. Fifth-grade students will find it interesting to learn about the ship 'Nadezhda', which carried the first Russian circumnavigation expedition led by Ivan Krusenstern and Yuri Lisyansky. Students in grades eight and nine will likely be interested in the section on the development of transport that connected remote parts of the country. For senior students, a special highlight is Frederick Rose’s map 'Angling in Troubled Waters', where European states are depicted as caricatures," Yekaterina Shuvalova said.
A veteran of the special military operation and a member of the Moscow Association of Veterans of the special military operation, Yuri Kutsy, noted that knowledge of history and geography is critically important for future defenders of the country, as it allows them to learn from the past, prevent threats, and effectively protect the nation.
"Geography is, first and foremost, the history of the country. It is closely connected with our people and defines our present and future. Maps and information about transport networks play an important role: they clearly show territorial features and are directly linked to military history, including strategic planning and defence. Solid knowledge of geography and history is therefore the foundation of readiness to safeguard the country," said Yuri Kutsy.
At the exposition, geography is presented as a story about people — travellers, researchers, and pioneers whose efforts helped explore vast territories and expand our understanding of the world. The exposition shows how the development of transport — from winter routes using imperial sledges to high-speed railway projects — has influenced the life of the country and the connectivity of its regions.
"Geography Lessons" helps visitors grasp the scale of Russia — from Arctic latitudes to southern steppes, from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean — and understand its place in the world. Geography here serves as a link between generations, cultures, and eras, showing how natural conditions, travel routes, and scientific discoveries have shaped a unified historical path.
The project is designed for a family audience. The exposition can be visited free of charge — visitors are invited to rediscover Russia at the National Centre RUSSIA. More information is available on the website russia.ru in the "Events" section.
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