12th Grade: Unit 1 – Lammas
5 weeks (Aug 4 – Sept 5)
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web
Senior Launch & Thesis Foundations
Unit Overview
Welcome to senior year! This unit launches the capstone project journey while introducing the study of world religions through indigenous spiritualities. Students will learn research methods, begin exploring post-graduation options, and connect with the harvest season through Lammas celebrations.
Key Topics
- Capstone project introduction and proposal
- Research methods and academic writing
- Indigenous spiritualities worldwide
- Environmental science foundations
- College/career exploration begins
Learning Goals
- Select and propose a capstone topic
- Demonstrate research and source evaluation skills
- Understand indigenous spiritual traditions with respect
- Explain Earth systems and environmental concepts
- Begin post-graduation planning
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Senior Year Launch & Capstone Introduction
🕯 Hearth Circle: Welcome back ritual; setting intentions for senior year; lighting the chalice
📖 Language Arts: Introduction to research writing; choosing a capstone topic; brainstorming and mind-mapping
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calculus review: functions, graphs, and transformations; or Statistics: data types and collection
🔬 Environmental Science: Introduction to environmental science; Earth systems overview
🌍 World Religions: What is religion? Defining terms: religion, spirituality, faith, belief; why study world religions
🎓 Senior Seminar: Goal-setting for senior year; creating a graduation timeline; post-graduation brainstorming
Week 2: Research Methods & Indigenous Spiritualities Introduction
🕯 Hearth Circle: Gratitude practice; honoring the harvest season; sharing summer reflections
📖 Language Arts: Research methods: primary vs. secondary sources; evaluating sources for credibility
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: polynomial functions and equations; or Stats: measures of central tendency
🔬 Environmental Science: Ecosystems and biomes; biodiversity and its importance
🌍 World Religions: Indigenous spiritualities: animism, ancestor veneration, land-based traditions; respect and cultural sensitivity
🎓 Senior Seminar: Resume building; identifying skills and experiences; volunteer and work history
Week 3: Capstone Proposal & Native American Traditions
🕯 Hearth Circle: Nature observation; connecting with the land; seasonal changes
📖 Language Arts: Writing a research proposal; thesis statement development; annotated bibliography introduction
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: rational functions; or Stats: measures of spread (variance, standard deviation)
🔬 Environmental Science: Climate and weather systems; local vs. global climate
🌍 World Religions: Native American spiritual traditions: diversity of nations, common themes, sacred sites, ceremonies
🎓 Senior Seminar: College exploration: types of colleges, trade schools, gap year options; what's right for you?
Week 4: Library Research & African Traditional Religions
🕯 Hearth Circle: Storytelling circle; sharing family stories; oral tradition
📖 Language Arts: Library and database research skills; taking effective notes; avoiding plagiarism
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: exponential functions; or Stats: probability basics
🔬 Environmental Science: Water cycle and water resources; conservation
🌍 World Religions: African Traditional Religions: Yoruba, Akan, and others; Orishas, ancestors, community
🎓 Senior Seminar: Financial literacy: understanding income, expenses, budgeting basics
Week 5: Lammas Celebration & Research Progress
🕯 Hearth Circle: Lammas celebration; bread-making ritual; gratitude for abundance
📖 Language Arts: Capstone check-in: proposal refinement; peer feedback; setting research timeline
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: logarithmic functions; or Stats: probability distributions
🔬 Environmental Science: Agriculture and food systems; sustainable farming practices
🌍 World Religions: Comparative reflection: common threads in indigenous traditions; connection to land and ancestors
🎓 Senior Seminar: Interview skills: preparing for college, scholarship, and job interviews
📺 "Just Can't" Day Resources
Need a lighter day? These free resources cover unit topics through videos and interactive content.See supply list for optional purchases.
🏆 Capstone Milestone: Proposal
By the end of this unit, students should have a completed capstone proposal including:
- Clear thesis statement or research question
- Explanation of why this topic matters to them
- Preliminary list of sources (at least 5)
- Timeline for completion
- Ideas for creative component