“Astana study” – is a subject about Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, its history, inhabitants, sights

«The capital is, first of all, people. A special private world,
high culture, faultless formation and education should be inherent
to a man of the capital. All these should be brought up since the childhood.
We should bring up children dont break trees, dont make dirty in the street,
keep his city, make clear the world. It is necessary to cultivate at each inhabitant
the spirit of respect and love to capital. Astana becomes an original capital only
thanks to beauty, knowledge, high spirit and internal culture of its inhabitants».

N.A. Nazarbayev.

      Within the limits of the educational project “N.A.Nazarbayevs political initiatives in formation and development of the Republic of Kazakhstan” in 2010–2011 educational year on the basis of the Museum has been approved the training course “Astana study”.
      “Astana study” – is a subject about Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, its history, inhabitants, sights.
      Opening of the given course within the limits of the Educational program of the Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is proved first of all that today Astana is associated with Nursultan Nazarbayev and new Kazakhstan, being the realized dream, a child of the Head of the state. This city has strongly affirmed as a symbol of successful realization of the initiatives of N.A.Nazarbayev on the creation of Kazakhstan model of the development of the state.
      The emotional background has strengthened also the fact that exactly in the building of the first residence of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the Dome hall, on the 10th of December, 1997 the city was proclaimed as the capital of the republic. It is also important that there is presented a necessary base (both source study, and material-technical) for carrying out of the lessons.
      The author of the course – is the leader of the Research center of the Museum N.K. Mussina. The constant audience of the listeners of the course is the pupils of the 8th form of school-lyceum No. 35.

      The purposes and tasks of the course
      The aims of the course are development of personal qualities of pupils, education of love to the native land and native culture.
      Educative tasks:
      – education at schoolchildren of independent historical thinking, an active, moral position in relation to city problems, the respectful relation to history and the present of Astana;
      – development of patriotism feeling, civilization, pride and love to the native city.
      Educational tasks: :
      – methodical maintenance of learning with pupils of knowledge system about history, population, economy, prospects of development, cultural traditions of the native city;
      – disclosing of features and prospects of development of Astana, its place and role in the republic and the world;
      – development of orientation skills in the city;
      – consolidation of skills of independent research work of pupils.

      Within the limits of the lecture course “Astana study” there were spent 14 lessons.
      The program provided both lecture lessons, and carrying out of the practical trainings, excursions, etc. A special place in the given course is a wide use of independent, creative, practical works of pupils (carrying out of research works in libraries, museums of Astana etc.).
      On the 8th of November, 2010 at introduction lecture «Astana – is the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan» for acquaintance of pupils with the methodology of work with archival storage of Astana history has been specially invited the chief of department of publications and use of documents of the State archive of Astana Z.K.Aitzhanova. Time and again the employees of the capital archive responded to requests of pupils, explaining an operating procedure in the archive.

        The lesson “Working feat of akmola inhabitants in rear” on the theme “Akmolinsk in years of the Great Patriotic War” has passed on the 24th of January, 2011 in the hall of the State archive of Astana. The pupils had an opportunity to get acquainted with the exhibition “Eli erge sengen, eri elge sengen”. Though in the archives there are stored documents only on the paper carriers as a rule, but the employees of the capital archive at the exhibition have presented not only documents of military years, but also the subjects reflecting the history of the feat and the victory of the Soviet people in the years of the Great Patriotic War. The children were very interested in the front letters of inhabitants of Akmola, the documents on formation of akmola divisions, and also the subjects had found by the search groups in the places of violent fighting.

     Unlike traditional school courses the children had possibility to get acquainted with unique exhibits and documents of history of young capital of independent Kazakhstan from the funds of the Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. So, one of the lessons – “Astana – is a symbol of independent Kazakhstan” – took place at the expositions of the Museum.

    The lesson in the museum-memorial complex of memory of victims of political repressions "Alzhir" (Аkmola village of Tselinograd region of Akmola area) was devoted to the theme of mass political repressions, destiny of the Soviet intelligence, suffer from Stalin terror, and, in particular, destinies of prisoners of akmola camp of wives of traitors of native land. The photo materials, the personal things of prisoners collected during the research work of employees in St.-Petersburg, Moscow, Orenburg, Omsk, Tashkent, etc. have helped to open and inform the children the tragedy of those far years.

      Course studying has come to the end with the control test which included the questions and tasks on the basic of passed themes. At the same time the pupil should make the creative tasks and represent the scientific reports during the trained period because it was obligatory condition to allow to the test.

     The lessons of “Astana study” course have influenced the participation of children in city competition on the best excursion foot route “Prospectuses of the capital”, devoted to the 20 anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Our methodical help and the scientific management to the teacher of history Rahmetullina A.Z. at drawing up of the scheme of the route and the passports of excursion objects have helped to the expeditionary group to make interesting excursion across Astana and to be noted in this competition.

      It was a fine sunny day! Everybody had very good positive mood. We decided to make walking tour in our young capital. Our leader was the teacher of history Aiman Zhakanovnaand she explained the purpose of the excursion and we got acquainted with history and sights of our capital. We started the travel in the Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Then we walked along the avenue and started from the Ministry of tourism and sports to the Congress hall. And then through the Congress hall on the bridge we reached the Capital park. The Capital park is one the favourite places for inhabitants of Astana. We breathed fresh air of quay of Ishim river. There was a soft easy breeze, we had a rest near the monument of Kenessary khan. Then we passed through the park and reached the monument with the flag of Kazakhstan. Opposite it there is the circus of Astana which has the form of flying saucer. We walked along Kabanbai-batyr Street, went to the left and reached “Baiterek” monument. We were tired and decided to have a little rest near Baiterek. Nearby there is the National academic library of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We walked across green parkway, enjoyed beauty of the blossoming Astana, and reached the residence of the First President – Akorda.
We spent good time with advantage. Our class became more friendly and close-knit!

Syzdykova Nargiz
      8 “B” form, school-lyceum No. 35

      At the end of April our class made the excursion along our favourite city.
      … We visited set of sights of our capital. These constructions are bright embodiment of independence and prosperity of our state and symbolize the new period in the history of Kazakhstan.

Prokopova Valeriay
      8 “B” form, school-lyceum No. 35

      All buildings are unique in their own way. Whole day we walk on foot along the capital: we didn’t want to use public transport. The capital amazes me more and more. We invite you to visit Astana if you want to learn the history of other unique buildings.

Madiev Gaziz
      8 “B” form, school-lyceum No. 35