12th Grade: Unit 2 – Mabon
6 weeks (Sept 8 – Oct 17)
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web
Eastern Religions & Statistical Thinking
Unit Overview
This unit explores the rich spiritual traditions of Asia—Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Students continue their capstone research while diving into trigonometry or statistics, and explore environmental science topics related to ecosystems and climate.
Key Topics
- Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto
- Trigonometry or statistical analysis
- Climate change and ecosystems
- College applications and financial aid
- Capstone research and drafting
Learning Goals
- Compare and contrast Eastern religious traditions
- Apply trigonometric concepts or analyze statistical data
- Understand climate science and environmental challenges
- Make progress on college applications
- Advance capstone research significantly
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Introduction to Eastern Religions
🕯 Hearth Circle: Meditation practice; centering and breath work; setting intentions for the season
📖 Language Arts: Research progress check-in; expanding annotated bibliography; thesis refinement
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: trigonometric functions introduction; or Stats: sampling methods and bias
🔬 Environmental Science: Carbon cycle and climate change; greenhouse effect
🌍 World Religions: Overview of Eastern religions; geography and history of Asia; Hinduism introduction
🎓 Senior Seminar: College applications: Common App, essays, deadlines; creating a timeline
Week 2: Hinduism: The Eternal Way
🕯 Hearth Circle: Exploring the concept of dharma; personal purpose and calling
📖 Language Arts: Capstone research: conducting interviews or surveys (if applicable); primary source work
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: unit circle and radian measure; or Stats: experimental design
🔬 Environmental Science: Deforestation and habitat loss; rainforest ecosystems
🌍 World Religions: Hinduism deep dive: Brahman, Atman, karma, reincarnation; the Vedas and Upanishads; yoga and meditation
🎓 Senior Seminar: Writing college essays: brainstorming, personal narrative, authenticity
Week 3: Buddhism: The Middle Way
🕯 Hearth Circle: Mindfulness practice; the Four Noble Truths in daily life
📖 Language Arts: Drafting capstone sections; organizing research into outline form
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: graphing trig functions; or Stats: observational studies vs. experiments
🔬 Environmental Science: Ocean ecosystems and marine conservation; plastic pollution
🌍 World Religions: Buddhism: Siddhartha's story, Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path; Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana traditions
🎓 Senior Seminar: Financial aid: FAFSA, scholarships, grants; understanding student loans
Week 4: Taoism & Confucianism
🕯 Hearth Circle: Balance and harmony; yin and yang in our lives; finding the middle way
📖 Language Arts: Peer review workshop; giving and receiving constructive feedback
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: trig identities; or Stats: correlation vs. causation
🔬 Environmental Science: Air quality and pollution; respiratory health and environment
🌍 World Religions: Taoism: the Tao, wu wei, naturalness; Confucianism: relationships, ethics, social harmony; comparing philosophies
🎓 Senior Seminar: Scholarship applications: finding opportunities, writing scholarship essays
Week 5: Shinto & Eastern Philosophy Synthesis
🕯 Hearth Circle: Nature reverence; honoring kami in everyday life; gratitude for the natural world
📖 Language Arts: Capstone progress report; addressing challenges; adjusting timeline if needed
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: inverse trig functions; or Stats: regression basics
🔬 Environmental Science: Soil health and erosion; sustainable land management
🌍 World Religions: Shinto: kami, purity, nature worship; synthesis: comparing Eastern approaches to meaning, ethics, and the sacred
🎓 Senior Seminar: Letters of recommendation: who to ask, how to ask, providing materials
Week 6: Mabon Celebration & Reflection
🕯 Hearth Circle: Mabon celebration; balance of light and dark; gratitude harvest ritual
📖 Language Arts: Reflective writing: what I've learned about research and myself
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: review and application problems; or Stats: interpreting statistical studies
🔬 Environmental Science: Seasonal changes and phenology; tracking nature's rhythms
🌍 World Religions: Comparative reflection: Eastern religions and UU principles; what resonates with you?
🎓 Senior Seminar: Mid-semester check-in: application progress, stress management, self-care
📺 "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: Research Phase
By the end of this unit, students should have:
- Completed annotated bibliography (10+ sources)
- Detailed outline for research paper
- First draft of at least one major section
- Preliminary ideas for creative component
- Conducted any interviews or surveys (if applicable)