The Apple Fragrance by Ivan Bunin

UNIT MAP
School: Lane Middle School, PPS
Teacher: Olga N Volnycheva
Grade Level: 7/8

Time Frame: 02.01-02.05.2016

Subject: Russian Language Arts

Goal: Help students appreciate Russian literature and culture and develop the reading,
writing, speaking & listening skills to achieve proficiency Stage 5 (Intermediate-Mid)
according to Oregon Second Language Standards.
Message: Even though students in Russian Immersion Program can speak and read
Russian fairly well they often struggle with deep comprehension of the texts they are
reading. They have troubles with literary devices, authors message, and correct spelling
while writing. Their level of knowledge of Russian history & culture is rather poor. Thus, I
advocate for reading the authentic stories by famous Russian writers with my scaffolding in students deeper comprehension of a subject.
Standards: The Five Cs of Standards for Foreign Language Learning are embedded in the Oregon Second Language Standards that are
benchmarked by proficiency levels, rather than grade levels (ACTFL).
1) Communication: Communicate in Russian language
1.1 Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
1.2 Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
1.3 Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.
2) Cultures: Gain knowledge and understanding of Russian culture
2.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.
2.2 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.
3.1 Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the second language.
3.2 Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the second language and its cultures.
4) Comparisons: Develop insight into the nature of Russian language and culture
4.1 Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own.
4.2 Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.
5) Communities: Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world
5.1 Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting.
5.2 Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.
1

Antonov Apples, often referred to as The Apple Fragrance, is a short story by a Russian author Ivan Bunin (1870-1953), written in 1900.Ivan Bunin,
the first Russian to win the Nobel Prize for literature, is known among English-speaking readers mainly for one short story, "The Gentleman from San
Francisco."
Some facts of his life are that he grew up part of the Russian rural nobility during the years of its decline; he began his career as a poet; and he lived
in exile, fleeing Russia after the Revolution and settling in France. A 1917 diary entry captures the essence of his art: "How do I live? I keep remembering
and remembering." Bunin is the chronicler of lost youth and happiness.
Readers encounter Bunin's characters at moments of intense emotion - nostalgia for home, childhood, and youth in Russia. Mood and atmosphere
prevail over action. Feelings and experiences are bound up with colors, smells, sounds, lights, and shadows. Changes of season and variations in weather
leave sharp impressions. Nature is never dull and inert, the air is never merely fragrant instead a young man feels a part of his soul, his culture and his
native land in the aroma of apples.
The narrator of "The Scent of Apples" remembers the village where he grew up, finding beauty in the most ordinary objects and activities. The past,
near and distant, takes on a magical quality in this story.
DIGITALS
Dictation on Bunin ( ): http://dict.mosmetod.ru/single/11
Audio Antonov Apples by I. Bunin ( , , ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AyIu-aVUq4
Petr Tchaikovsky, Natha-Waltz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ULsIKDnXyE (3 min)
Petr Tchaikovsky, Sentimental Waltz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXqYJNP0p2k (2 min)
Petr Tchaikovsky, Waltz from Sleeping Beauty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb8Xtix7jc8 (4.5 min)
Petr Tchaikovsky, Waltz from Swan Lake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqec8RFouw8 (7 min)
Petr Tchaikovsky, Flower Waltz from The Nutcracker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO1nn9g2ngIn (7.5 min)
Plans & material on the Russian Immersion Website (Lane MS): http://russianimmersion.weebly.com/antonov-apples.html
Monday [02.01]
Ivan Bunins Biography
Literary Devices
Tchaikovsky, Natha-Waltz
Agenda (PowerPoint)
Online dictation on Bunin
New Vocab/authors bio
Bunins bio reading
Checking/comprehension
Brief discussion
Literary terms (PPoint)
H-work: Bunins bio/Lit.
Terms

Tuesday [02.02]
Time-machine
The Apples Fragrance, part
1/The garden& Estate
Tchaikovsky, SentimWaltz
Agenda (PowerPoint)
Online dictation on Bunin
New Vocab/ (KWL/PPoint)
Listening to/reading P.1
Brief discussion
See-Hear-Smell w-sheet-1
Literary Terms via PPoint
Liter. Terms worksheet-1
H-work: Read P.I to your
family/Finish worksheets

Wednesday [02.03]
The Apples Fragrance, part 2/
Nostalgia for childhood &
youth
Tchaikovsky, Sleeping
Beauty Waltz
Agenda (PowerPoint)
Online dictation on Bunin
Listening to/reading P.2
Brief discussion
See-Hear-Smell w-sheet-2
Liter. Terms worksheet-2
H-work: Read P.2 to your
family/Finish worksheets

Thursday [02.04]
The Apples Fragrance, part 3/
Following the hounds
Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake
Waltz
Agenda (PowerPoint)
Online dictation on Bunin
Listening to/reading P.3
Brief discussion
See-Hear-Smell w-sheet-3
Liter. Terms worksheet-3
H-work: Read P.3/4 to your
family/Finish worksheets

Friday [02.05]
The Apples Fragrance, part 4/
Nostalgia for Russian nobility.
Changes of season
Tchaikovsky, Flower Waltz
Agenda (PowerPoint)
Online dictation on Bunin
Listening to/reading P.4
Brief discussion
See-Hear-Smell w-sheet-4
Brief Narrative Essays:
- Nostalgia for childhood,
youth & Russian nobility
- Changes of Autumn in the
Story