My cityMy city

Submitted for:Submitted for:

Places and Perspectives Places and Perspectives Middle School Learning Circle 1 (PPM1)Middle School Learning Circle 1 (PPM1)

with iEARN, Spring 2009with iEARN, Spring 2009

Submitted by:Submitted by:

Grade 6 “B”,Gymnasium Grade 6 “B”,Gymnasium №№ 2 named after Shigabutdin Marzhani,Kazan , Russia 2 named after Shigabutdin Marzhani,Kazan , Russia:: Mukhutdinov Airat Mukhutdinov Airat

Mustafina AigulMustafina Aigul Kamalov Almaz Kamalov Almaz

Sibgatullina SumayaSibgatullina Sumaya

Students who also helped included:Students who also helped included: Sharafutdinov Tagir, Grade 9Sharafutdinov Tagir, Grade 9 “ “VV””

Porfiryeva Albina, Grade 9 “V”Porfiryeva Albina, Grade 9 “V”

Special thanks to Elena Babina, GubkinSpecial thanks to Elena Babina, Gubkin

Coat of Arms of TatarstanCoat of Arms of Tatarstan Flag of TatarstanFlag of Tatarstan

Location of Republic of Tatarstan on the map of Russia.Location of Republic of Tatarstan on the map of Russia.

The map of the Republic of Tatarstan.The map of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Kazan is the Kazan is the capital city of the capital city of the Republic of Republic of Tatarstan and one Tatarstan and one of Russia's largest of Russia's largest cities. Kazan lies cities. Kazan lies at the confluence at the confluence of the Volga and of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers Kazanka Rivers in central in central European Russia.European Russia.

The origin of the name is unclear. The literal translation of the Tatar word The origin of the name is unclear. The literal translation of the Tatar word qazan is a boiler or cauldron. Alternately, it may have been derived from qazan is a boiler or cauldron. Alternately, it may have been derived from qazğan, Tatar for qazğan, Tatar for dug [ditch]dug [ditch].. "Qazan" is originally a name for a special cooking pan, a variant of a wok, "Qazan" is originally a name for a special cooking pan, a variant of a wok, but more solid and heavier. It was believed that the city of Kazan is named after but more solid and heavier. It was believed that the city of Kazan is named after this object because of its geographical similarity with a "qazan"-pan; namely this object because of its geographical similarity with a "qazan"-pan; namely the city is situated in a U-shaped lowland.the city is situated in a U-shaped lowland.

The place where West and East meetThe place where West and East meet Kazan is the home of people of many nationalities and Kazan is the home of people of many nationalities and

religions religions

Suyumbike Tower is the pearl of the Suyumbike Tower is the pearl of the Kazan KremlinKazan Kremlin

Here is the legend about the Suyumbike Tower. Here is the legend about the Suyumbike Tower. Moscow tsar (King) Ivan the Terrible knew about the beauty of the Tatar Moscow tsar (King) Ivan the Terrible knew about the beauty of the Tatar

Queen. He wanted to marry her. He built a beautiful tower for her. Another legend Queen. He wanted to marry her. He built a beautiful tower for her. Another legend says that the Kazan people called the tower after Suyumbike who said “no” to the says that the Kazan people called the tower after Suyumbike who said “no” to the

Moscow tsar. It was very hard for Suyumbike to leave Kazan and become the Moscow tsar. It was very hard for Suyumbike to leave Kazan and become the Russia tsarina (Queen). She went to the top of the tower, looked around for the last Russia tsarina (Queen). She went to the top of the tower, looked around for the last

time and threw herself down on the sharp stones… time and threw herself down on the sharp stones…

.

Oh my language, Oh my language, native language!native language!

You’re my soul and You’re my soul and you’re my heart.you’re my heart.

Many things I’ve Many things I’ve learnt in this life,learnt in this life,

Through my Through my language, through language, through my tongue…my tongue…

G.TukaiG.Tukai

Kazan State UniversityKazan State University

Kazan is one of the biggest scientific and educational centers of Russia and Kazan is one of the biggest scientific and educational centers of Russia and the second biggest city by the number of students. About 10 000 young the second biggest city by the number of students. About 10 000 young people finish secondary schools every year. Approximately 120 thousands people finish secondary schools every year. Approximately 120 thousands study in 30 institutions of higher education and 23 schools and colleges. study in 30 institutions of higher education and 23 schools and colleges. The Kazan State University, one of the oldest sites of learning of Russia, The Kazan State University, one of the oldest sites of learning of Russia, celebrated its 200th jubilee in 2004. One of the most important celebrated its 200th jubilee in 2004. One of the most important peculiarities of education is the possibility to study in one’s native language peculiarities of education is the possibility to study in one’s native language in accordance with the “Program of Conservation, Learning and in accordance with the “Program of Conservation, Learning and Development of Language of people, living in the Kazan city”.Development of Language of people, living in the Kazan city”.

We are extremely proud of our hockey We are extremely proud of our hockey and football playersand football players