12th Grade: Unit 3 – Samhain
5 weeks (Oct 20 – Nov 21)
2nd Principle: Justice, equity, and compassion
Abrahamic Traditions & Thesis Development
Unit Overview
As the veil thins at Samhain, we explore the Abrahamic traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam— that have shaped so much of world history and culture. Students push their capstone projects toward a complete first draft while studying energy resources and continuing college/career preparation.
Key Topics
- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
- Advanced trigonometry or hypothesis testing
- Energy resources and sustainability
- Professional skills and networking
- Capstone first draft completion
Learning Goals
- Understand core beliefs of Abrahamic religions
- Apply advanced math concepts
- Evaluate energy sources and their impacts
- Develop professional communication skills
- Complete capstone first draft
📝 Teaching Note: Approaching Abrahamic Religions
We study these traditions as cultural and historical phenomena, not as doctrines to adopt or reject. Many students may have personal connections to these faiths—honor their experiences while maintaining academic objectivity. Focus on understanding rather than judgment, and highlight the diversity within each tradition.
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Introduction to Abrahamic Religions
🕯 Hearth Circle: Honoring ancestors; remembrance ritual; lighting candles for those who came before
📖 Language Arts: Capstone drafting: introduction and literature review sections
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: analytic trigonometry; or Stats: confidence intervals introduction
🔬 Environmental Science: Energy resources: fossil fuels, formation, and environmental impact
🌍 World Religions: The Abrahamic family: Judaism, Christianity, Islam; shared roots, Abraham's story; monotheism
🎓 Senior Seminar: Interview preparation: mock interviews, common questions, professional presentation
Week 2: Judaism: Covenant and Community
🕯 Hearth Circle: The power of story; sharing wisdom across generations; oral tradition
📖 Language Arts: Capstone drafting: body paragraphs; integrating sources effectively
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: law of sines and cosines; or Stats: hypothesis testing basics
🔬 Environmental Science: Renewable energy: solar and wind power; technology and implementation
🌍 World Religions: Judaism deep dive: Torah, covenant, mitzvot; Jewish holidays and practices; branches of Judaism
🎓 Senior Seminar: Workplace skills: professionalism, communication, time management
Week 3: Christianity: Faith and Diversity
🕯 Hearth Circle: Exploring concepts of grace and forgiveness; healing and reconciliation
📖 Language Arts: Capstone drafting: analysis and argument development
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: vectors introduction; or Stats: types of errors in hypothesis testing
🔬 Environmental Science: Nuclear energy: how it works, benefits and risks, waste management
🌍 World Religions: Christianity: Jesus's teachings, the Gospels, salvation; Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant traditions; global Christianity
🎓 Senior Seminar: Networking: building professional relationships, LinkedIn basics, mentorship
Week 4: Islam: Submission and Peace
🕯 Hearth Circle: The discipline of practice; creating sacred routines; commitment
📖 Language Arts: Capstone drafting: addressing counterarguments; strengthening thesis
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: parametric equations; or Stats: chi-square tests
🔬 Environmental Science: Geothermal and hydroelectric energy; pros and cons
🌍 World Religions: Islam: Muhammad's life, Five Pillars, Quran; Sunni and Shia; Islamic art and culture; common misconceptions
🎓 Senior Seminar: Entrepreneurship basics: starting a business, side hustles, self-employment
Week 5: Samhain Celebration & Interfaith Reflection
🕯 Hearth Circle: Samhain celebration; honoring the dead; the veil between worlds; ancestor altar
📖 Language Arts: Capstone: complete first full draft; self-editing checklist
🔢 Mathematics: Pre-calc: polar coordinates; or Stats: review and application
🔬 Environmental Science: Energy conservation and efficiency; personal and community actions
🌍 World Religions: Comparative reflection: Abrahamic religions and social justice; interfaith dialogue; common ground and differences
🎓 Senior Seminar: Mental health check-in: managing senior year stress; self-care strategies
📺 "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: First Draft
By the end of this unit, students should have:
- Complete first draft of research paper (15-20 pages)
- All major sections written (intro, lit review, body, conclusion)
- Sources properly cited throughout
- Self-editing completed using checklist
- Creative component concept finalized