Additional Learning Resources for The Adventures in Russia with the Build Your Masterpiece Class

Contents of Week 1:

  1. Russia's Map, Flag and Passport

  2. Artist Spotlight: Wassily Kandinsky, Expressionist + Abstract Art

  3. Russian Nesting Dolls - Matryoshka Dolls Art Projects

  4. Russian Christmas Tea Cakes, Traditional Russian Vatrushka and Homemade Farmer's Cheese

Supply List:

Books/Read Alouds:

Russia ABCs: A Book about the People and Places of Russia by Ann Berge

Living in . . . Russia by Jesse Burton

The Magic Nesting Doll by Jacqueline Ogburn

The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Demas

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco

The Bun; A Tale from Russia by Marcia Brown

Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco

Babushka's Doll by Patricia Polacco

Babushka Baba Yaga by: Patricia Polacco

Babushka : An Old Russian Folktale by Charles Mikolaycak

The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Bliss

Babushka by Dawn Casey


Books About Wassily Kandinsky:

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock

Wassily Kandinsky by Paul Flux

Kandinsky by Hajo Düchting

Art Masterclass with Wassily Kandinsky by Hanna Konola and Katie Cotton


Art Supplies:

Paper, pencil, eraser, ruler, oil pastels, markers, and watercolor/acrylic paint is optional.


In the Kitchen:

powdered sugar, flour, salt, butter, vanilla extract, pecans plus more for the additional recipes included.



wassily-kandinsky.jpg!Portrait.jpg

Artist Spotlight: Wassily Kandinsky

1866-1944

Russian Expressionism + Abstract Painter

"Everything starts from a dot.” - Wassily Kandinsky

Read the book “The Noisy Paint Box” by Barb Rosenstock

Find our spotlight in our Adventures in Russia, Week 1 and the additional learning resources we found for you to watch below, to learn more about Wassily, and his art for inspiration for your art work this week.

Art Projects Found in this Adventure:

  1. Concentric Circles with Oil Pastels

  2. Kandinsky Style Abstract Art Projects


Matryoshka Dolls Dolls - Russian Nesting Dolls

We have included this folk art in our adventure, and wanted to share some inspirational videos for you and your kids to watch while learning about them through the books on our lists and coloring your own set, and designs.

I also found this really fun Origami Nesting Doll Tutorial that you and your kids may like to try:




Recipes included in this Adventure:

  1. Traditional Russian Vatrushka

  2. Homemade Farmer's Cheese

  3. Russian Christmas Tea Cakes


Educational Videos for kids about Russia:


Christmas in Russia

I wanted to include a variation lesson for you to loop back to during Christmas time, using the same resources found in this adventure.

Books for Christmas in Russia:

The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet by Deborah Hautzig

Babushka: An Old Russian Folktale by Charles Mikolaycak

Babushka’s Doll by Patricia Polacco

The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Bliss

Babushka by Dawn Casey

The Story of the Orchestra: The Nutcracker by Katy Flint

The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers

The Nutcracker by New York City Ballet and Valeria Docampo

The Tale of Baboushka: A Traditional Christmas Story by Elena Pasquali

A Very Russian Christmas: The Greatest Russian Holiday Stories of All Time by Lev Tolstoy

Art Project Ideas:

  • Color your Russian Nesting Doll printable again, this time creating your own ornaments for the tree. Print on cardstock, color as you wish, and then glue onto card-stock and hang up as ornaments on your tree.

  • Use the design your own nesting doll as a template to make your own clay or cardboard ornaments.

Recipe Included: Russian Christmas Tea Cakes

Educational Videos About Russia Christmas: