By distinguishing between the Soviet government and the Russian people in Soviet studies, teachers can assist students in forming positive but realistic attitudes about Russia. Geography, music, art, and literature offer a wealth of information about Russia. A good starting point is a discussion of Russian children: the age at which they enter school, their membership in the "Young Octoberists," entertainment, living situations, and a look at Russian cities. A discussion of geography should include information about the Soviet Union's vast size, the Russian people's strong emotional ties to the soil, Russia's long history of protecting her borders from invaders, and the effects of Russia's severe climate on the people and culture. Music and art can be used to narrate the history of the Russian people. Folk and Cossack songs can be compared to American cowboy and slave songs. The lives and music of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich communicate information about Tsarist Russia and the Soviet regime, respectively. Russian art, particularly church decorations, icons, and portraits, express the traditional values and lifestyles of the Russian people, as do fables, stories, and poems. (LP)