The LandThe LandUkraine has an area of Ukraine has an area of 233,089 square miles and 233,089 square miles and 603,700 square kilometers.603,700 square kilometers. The taiga is the largest forest in the world. Russia has wide open land and mountains and forests. A river runs through the taiga forest. These grassy fields are so flat that you can see for miles.

Climate or WeatherClimate or Weather

They have snow and rain. In Ukraine it is very hot in the They have snow and rain. In Ukraine it is very hot in the summer. In winter it is sometimes 21 degrees Fahrenheit summer. In winter it is sometimes 21 degrees Fahrenheit and 6 degrees Celsius. In the summer it is 68 Fahrenheit and 6 degrees Celsius. In the summer it is 68 Fahrenheit and 20 degrees Celsius. In January it is 32 degrees and 20 degrees Celsius. In January it is 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 degrees Celsius. The sun does not set for Fahrenheit and 0 degrees Celsius. The sun does not set for weeks. The sun does not wet in the summer. Ukraine’s weeks. The sun does not wet in the summer. Ukraine’s climate is a lot like the northern United States. The ground climate is a lot like the northern United States. The ground

is always frozen in Siberia, so no trees grow there.is always frozen in Siberia, so no trees grow there.

Plants and AnimalsPlants and Animals

Bison are tough animals in Ukraine. A lot Bison are tough animals in Ukraine. A lot of bison got killed in Ukraine. of bison got killed in Ukraine.

In Ukraine they have thick oak and maple In Ukraine they have thick oak and maple forests. They have a lot of trees in Ukraine. forests. They have a lot of trees in Ukraine. They have cows, pigs, horse, lizards and They have cows, pigs, horse, lizards and birds. Wild pigs are some of the more birds. Wild pigs are some of the more common animals found in Ukraine. wild common animals found in Ukraine. wild sheep and muskrats which at one time had sheep and muskrats which at one time had completely disappeared and then they completely disappeared and then they have now been brought back to Ukrainian have now been brought back to Ukrainian habitat.habitat.

HistoryHistoryNuclear power plant Chernobyl In 1986, Nuclear power plant Chernobyl In 1986,

the smoke spread across Europe . The the smoke spread across Europe . The smoke was from the power plant. The smoke was from the power plant. The smoke was poison gas. The poison smoke was poison gas. The poison gas made the plants, grass , and gas made the plants, grass , and leaves rotting. My dad was living in leaves rotting. My dad was living in Russia when this happened. He was Russia when this happened. He was 14 years old and he told me a few 14 years old and he told me a few things about the disaster. My mom things about the disaster. My mom knew about Chernobyl when she was 9 knew about Chernobyl when she was 9 years old. years old.

In June 2000, the In June 2000, the

government announced that thegovernment announced that the

Chernobyl nuclearChernobyl nuclear

power plant would bepower plant would be

closed down. Many people in and around closed down. Many people in and around the power plant got sick and got killed.the power plant got sick and got killed.

Ukraine Left the Soviet UnionUkraine Left the Soviet Union

People have lived in the area of present day People have lived in the area of present day Ukraine for thousands of years. Ukraine for thousands of years.

Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union, but in 1991, they wanted their own but in 1991, they wanted their own country their own rules and their own country their own rules and their own president. They need to have a president. They need to have a Constitution which means a list of laws. In Constitution which means a list of laws. In 1991 the Soviet Union broke apart into 15 1991 the Soviet Union broke apart into 15 different countries.different countries.

GovernmentGovernment

Ukraine is led by a president who is Ukraine is led by a president who is

elected for a five year term. Hiselected for a five year term. His

Name is Viktor Yushchenko. Viktor Name is Viktor Yushchenko. Viktor Yanukovych is the prime minister in Yanukovych is the prime minister in Ukraine. Verkhara Rada was elected Ukraine. Verkhara Rada was elected for a four year term. People can vote for a four year term. People can vote at the age 18.at the age 18.

AgricultureAgriculture

Farmers in Ukraine grow vegetables Farmers in Ukraine grow vegetables

and fruit. They have some animalsand fruit. They have some animals

on the farm. They have horses and on the farm. They have horses and cows. cows.

The farmers need horses so they canThe farmers need horses so they can

make hay. And they need cows too.make hay. And they need cows too.

so they could make milk. Beef and so they could make milk. Beef and milk are also important products. milk are also important products.

People and LifestylePeople and Lifestyle

Ukrainians wear big white shirts with colorful designs. Their clothing is different from that of people in Yemen or North America. They eat different food than North America.

EducationEducation

People at school do not have a lotPeople at school do not have a lot

of money to buy chips, ice cream,of money to buy chips, ice cream,

Crackers, or candy. At school theyCrackers, or candy. At school they

learn how to speak English andlearn how to speak English and

other kinds of languages. Now other kinds of languages. Now teachers teach Ukrainian history, teachers teach Ukrainian history, language, and cultures. language, and cultures.

ReligionReligion

At church people pray and sing too.At church people pray and sing too.

When the country was a part of the When the country was a part of the Soviet Union many Ukraine churches Soviet Union many Ukraine churches were closed.were closed.

LanguageLanguage

In Ukraine they have 33 letters in the In Ukraine they have 33 letters in the alphabet. Sometimes the letters alphabet. Sometimes the letters

sounds like English.sounds like English.Russia used to control everything. In Russia used to control everything. In

Kyiv and other cities theyKyiv and other cities theyalso speak Russian, too. They speak, also speak Russian, too. They speak,

read, and write Ukrainian, Russian, read, and write Ukrainian, Russian, and English. Most Ukrainians do not and English. Most Ukrainians do not speak Russian.speak Russian.

ArtsArts In Ukraine did you know that In Ukraine did you know that

they do arts and cultures they do arts and cultures are at a circus theater and a are at a circus theater and a puppet show, too. Ukraine puppet show, too. Ukraine consider that art is important. consider that art is important. Parents take their children to Parents take their children to any kind of place that has any kind of place that has arts. Family go to a concert on arts. Family go to a concert on weekends. Lesya Ukrayina weekends. Lesya Ukrayina wrote some stories and folk wrote some stories and folk tales. tales.

TheaterTheater People practice dances so People practice dances so

they could show them how they could show them how they dance in Ukraine.they dance in Ukraine.

They need to have strong legs They need to have strong legs to be a good dancer in the to be a good dancer in the whole Ukraine. Some whole Ukraine. Some members of the audience can members of the audience can go on stage or on theaters.go on stage or on theaters.

Painted EggsPainted Eggs

The eggs are decorated by The eggs are decorated by hand using melted wax and hand using melted wax and colored dyes. colored dyes.

A designer makes Easter A designer makes Easter eggs. An egg artist dyes an eggs. An egg artist dyes an egg then uses melted wax. egg then uses melted wax. The dye will not color any The dye will not color any part of an Easter egg that part of an Easter egg that has wax on it.has wax on it.

Fun & GamesFun & Games For fun and games Ukrainians play Tetris, chase, and skiing For fun and games Ukrainians play Tetris, chase, and skiing

and they can go outside too. There is a guy named Gary and they can go outside too. There is a guy named Gary Kasparov. He is the best chess player in Russia.Kasparov. He is the best chess player in Russia.

In Ukraine, soccer is the most popular sport. Winter ski trips In Ukraine, soccer is the most popular sport. Winter ski trips

have also become a popular sport.have also become a popular sport.

Newspapers and TelevisionNewspapers and Television

People in Ukraine cannot watch a lotPeople in Ukraine cannot watch a lot

of TV but they can look at a couple ofof TV but they can look at a couple of

newspapers. Sometimes they could newspapers. Sometimes they could watchwatch

a little TV. Ukrainians have dozens of a little TV. Ukrainians have dozens of radio stations. Before 1991 Ukraine radio stations. Before 1991 Ukraine kept up with the news by reading kept up with the news by reading magazines and news papers.magazines and news papers.

Holidays and FestivalsHolidays and Festivals

On holidays we do something On holidays we do something like praying to God and like praying to God and Jesus in church. We get Jesus in church. We get presents and candy for presents and candy for Christmas. Some Christmas. Some Ukrainians used to Ukrainians used to celebrate them in secret. celebrate them in secret. They celebrate Christmas They celebrate Christmas on the December 25. They on the December 25. They go home and they enjoy a go home and they enjoy a Christmas feast with their Christmas feast with their family. New year’s eve is family. New year’s eve is an important holiday to an important holiday to some Ukrainians. A lot of some Ukrainians. A lot of Ukranians celebrate New Ukranians celebrate New year’s eve with large year’s eve with large parties, street parades and parties, street parades and fireworks. fireworks.

FoodFood In Ukraine there food is good there.In Ukraine there food is good there. The food borsht, bread, fruit, meat and The food borsht, bread, fruit, meat and

vegetables are very good and healthy vegetables are very good and healthy for them.for them.

And they eat dessert likeAnd they eat dessert likewe do. They have ice cream, cookies and we do. They have ice cream, cookies and

cupcakes too. In the summer people cupcakes too. In the summer people eat plenty of fresh fruit and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Hulobtsi is a favorite food vegetables. Hulobtsi is a favorite food in Ukraine. At the end of the meal they in Ukraine. At the end of the meal they drink tea and coffee with candy and drink tea and coffee with candy and cakes.In the summer people eat planty cakes.In the summer people eat planty of fresh fruits and vegetables. In of fresh fruits and vegetables. In Ukraine the soups cold if you added Ukraine the soups cold if you added beef to the soup then it would be hot. beef to the soup then it would be hot. Holubsti is another favorite food in Holubsti is another favorite food in Ukraine.At the end of the meal they Ukraine.At the end of the meal they drink coffee or tea with cake and drink coffee or tea with cake and candy. candy.

MapMap