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Kiev Facts & Worksheets

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital city of Ukraine. It is in the north-central area of the country, within the Dnieper upland.

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Kiev or Kyiv is the capital city of Ukraine. It is in the north-central area of the country, within the Dnieper upland. Kiev is the 7th most populous city in Europe, with a population of around 2.8 million people. Kiev is a prominent scientific, technology, education, and cultural center of Eastern Europe.

See the fact file below for more information on the Kiev or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Kiev worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • The name of Kiev came from the word “kyi”. According to the Primary Chronicle, which is traditionally believed to have been written by a monk named Nestor in 1113, people knew Kyi as a ferryman.
  • In the legend, Nestor placed Kyi along with his brothers, Shchek and Khoryv, and his sister, Lybid, onto many hills at the right bank of Dnieper.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • Kiev is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. Some historians believed it was founded in the late 9th century, while others preferred around 482 AD.
  • Humans have lived in the territory of Kiev since the Paleolithic period (Stone Age). During the early Iron Age, certain tribes settled around Kiev practiced land cultivation and trading.
  • Many empires ruled Kiev, including the Khazar empire, Varangian empire, and the Mongol empire led by Baty Khan.
  • By the end of the 9th century, Kiev became the political center of the Eastern Slavs. The city began foreign and commercial trade due to its strategic position in the middle of trade routes between the Vikings and Greeks.
  • In 988 AD, the ruler of Kiev, Vladimir, established Orthodox Christianity as the official religion of the city.
  • Ancient Kiev reached its most significant period during the 11th and 12th centuries. However, after the death of Kiev’s Prince Vladimir Monomakh in 1125, Kiev entered a long period of feudal war. It began to collapse as the Mongol tribes came to invade the city. The city experienced significant damage and lots of buildings collapsed and burned down.
  • In the 15th century, Kiev attained the Magdeburg Rights. These rights allowed Kiev to have more independence to conduct commerce activities.
  • Ukraine’s journey to independence started in the 16th century. From 1648-1654, Ukraine’s Cossack leader, Hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky, declared several wars to liberate Ukraine from Polish and Lithuanian lords. Bogdan sought protection from the Russian Tsar in the Treaty of Preyaslavi. In 1654, Ukraine fell into the hands of the Russian Empire.
  • After the fall of the Russian Empire in 1918, Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union.
  • During World War II, Kiev suffered significant damage after the occupation of Nazi Germany again. The Germans massacred the local Jews, civilians, and Soviet soldiers at Babi Yar in Kiev from 29-30 September 1941. It is estimated that over 100,000 people were murdered at Babi Yar.
  • After World War II, Ukraine proclaimed the Declaration of Independence in Kiev on August 24, 1991. The city was later named the capital of Ukraine.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

  • Kiev is located on the forest-steppe biome. The city is a part of the larger Dnieper Upland. There are lots of woody hills, ravines, and small rivers surrounding the city.
  • Kiev has a warm-summer humid continental climate. It has four seasons, with mean temperatures of 13.8 to 24.8°C in the summer, and −4.6 to −1.1°C in the winter.

ECONOMY

  • Like any other capital city, Kiev has the highest level of business activity and population in Ukraine. It is a middle-income city with a lower cost of living than other western European countries.
  • Electricity, gas, water supply, and manufacture of food, beverages, and paper products, are some of the critical industries that have contributed to Kiev’s economic growth.
  • Kiev is also home to numerous scientific institutions and top universities.

HIGHLIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS

  • Kiev has many historical attractions. It is famous for its old churches, museums, and cultural centers.
  • The Monastery of the Caves and Saint Sophia Cathedral are famous attractions in Kiev. Over the centuries, many pilgrims visited both places to experience a spiritual journey.
  • Kiev’s prominent cultural centers include the Kiev Opera House, Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama, and the Kiev Puppet Theater.
  • The city has many influential art and historical museums, including the Kiev State Historical Museum, Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II, the National Art Museum, the Pinchuk Art Centre, and the National Museum of Russian Art.
  • The central area of Kiev is known as Independence Square. People like to gather around in the summer months since there are lots of restaurants, clubs, and outdoor cafes.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • Kiev has the shortest main street in the world, Khreschatyk Street. It only takes 2800 steps to walk across the street.
  • Motherland statue in Kiev is one of the biggest statues in the world. It is a figure of a woman holding a 16-meter-long sword and a shield. The statue stands at 102 meters high.
  • Kiev has its own anthem. It was affirmed in 2014 by Kiev city council. The title of the song is “How one cannot love you, Kyiv, my dear!”
  • Kiev is home to many professional and amateur football clubs.
  • In 2017, Kiev hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, a contest involving various artists from European countries.
  • The Mayor of Kiev is former professional boxer Vitali Klitschko. He has been serving the administration since 2014.

Kiev Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Kiev across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Kiev worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Kiev or Kyiv which is the capital city of Ukraine. It is in the north-central area of the country, within the Dnieper upland. Kiev is the 7th most populous city in Europe, with a population of around 2.8 million people. Kiev is a prominent scientific, technology, education, and cultural center of Eastern Europe.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Kiev Facts
  • Kiev Timeline
  • Explore the Churches
  • Kiev from Time to Time
  • Meet up in Kiev
  • Photo Hunt
  • Ukraine Holidays
  • Complete the Lyrics
  • Guess the Dish
  • Circle the Facts
  • Draw the Park

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Link will appear as Kiev Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 15, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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