Samhain: The Reformation
Martin Luther's challenge to the Church sparked a religious revolution. As we honor ancestors at Samhain, we study those who risked everything for their beliefs.
UU Principle Focus
2nd Principle: Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
🎯 Learning Goals
- • Understand the causes and effects of the Protestant Reformation
- • Analyze multiple perspectives on religious change
- • Study the Counter-Reformation and Catholic response
- • Master graphing linear equations using slope-intercept form
- • Study body systems: digestive, nervous, endocrine, immune
- • Connect Samhain themes to honoring those who challenged injustice
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: The Church in Crisis
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Before the Reformation, many people felt the Church had lost its way. When institutions fail us, how do we respond? When is reform necessary?
📚 Language Arts
Study the late medieval Church: corruption, indulgences, calls for reform. Read primary sources. Write about institutional accountability.
✖️ Math
Introduction to graphing linear equations. The coordinate plane. Plotting points from equations.
🔬 Science: Human Body
Digestive system: organs, digestion process, nutrition. How food becomes energy.
✏️ Form Drawing
Medieval church architecture and symbols
🧶 Handwork
Begin Samhain crafts; ancestor memory projects
📖 Story
The Church Before Luther: Calls for Reform
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Medieval Church History
- Digestive System
Shows:
- The Reformation
Audio:
- Church history podcast
Week 2: Martin Luther and the 95 Theses
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door, challenging powerful institutions. When is it right to speak out against authority? (5th Principle)
📚 Language Arts
Study Martin Luther and the 95 Theses. Read excerpts. Debate: Was Luther a hero or a troublemaker? Write a persuasive essay.
✖️ Math
Slope of a line. Rise over run. Calculating slope from graphs and points.
🔬 Science: Human Body
Nervous system: brain, spinal cord, nerves. How we sense and respond to the world.
✏️ Form Drawing
Reformation-era woodcut style illustrations
🧶 Handwork
Create ancestor altar; memory boxes
📖 Story
Martin Luther: Here I Stand
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Martin Luther Documentary
- Nervous System
Shows:
- Luther (2003 film)
Audio:
- Martin Luther biography
Week 3: The Reformation Spreads
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The Reformation spread rapidly thanks to the printing press. Ideas can change the world. What ideas do you think need to spread today?
📚 Language Arts
Study how the Reformation spread: Calvin, Zwingli, Anabaptists. Compare different Protestant movements. Write about religious diversity.
✖️ Math
Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b. Identifying slope and y-intercept. Graphing from slope-intercept form.
🔬 Science: Human Body
Endocrine system: hormones and glands. How hormones regulate the body. Puberty.
✏️ Form Drawing
Reformation symbols and imagery
🧶 Handwork
Carve pumpkins; create luminaries
📖 Story
Calvin, Zwingli, and the Spread of Reform
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Protestant Reformation
- Endocrine System
Shows:
- The Reformation: Age of Revolt
Audio:
- Reformation history
Week 4: The Counter-Reformation
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The Catholic Church responded to the Reformation with its own reforms. How do we respond to criticism? Can conflict lead to positive change?
📚 Language Arts
Study the Counter-Reformation: Council of Trent, Jesuits, Baroque art. Write about responding to criticism constructively.
✖️ Math
Writing equations from graphs. Finding slope and y-intercept from a graph.
🔬 Science: Human Body
Immune system: how the body fights disease. Vaccines and immunity. Staying healthy.
✏️ Form Drawing
Baroque art style—dramatic and emotional
🧶 Handwork
Day of the Dead crafts; prepare Samhain altar
📖 Story
The Counter-Reformation: The Church Responds
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Counter-Reformation
- Immune System
Shows:
- Baroque Art Documentary
Audio:
- Jesuit history
Week 5: Samhain: Honoring Those Who Challenged
🕯️ Hearth Circle
At Samhain we honor ancestors and those who came before. The Reformers challenged the status quo at great personal risk. Who do you honor for their courage?
📚 Language Arts
Write about someone who challenged injustice. Research a Reformation figure in depth. Present findings.
✖️ Math
Review linear equations and graphing. Real-world applications.
🔬 Science: Human Body
Review body systems. How do all systems work together to maintain health?
✏️ Form Drawing
Create memorial artwork honoring reformers or ancestors
🧶 Handwork
Complete Samhain altar; prepare feast for the dead
📖 Story
Martyrs and Heroes of the Reformation
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Samhain History
- Body Systems Review
Shows:
- Reformation Martyrs
Audio:
- Stories of courage
🎃 Samhain Celebration
- 🟡 Create an ancestor altar honoring reformers and family
- 🟡 Hold a 'dumb supper' in silence to honor the dead
- 🟡 Share stories of those who challenged injustice
- 🟡 Light candles for those who came before
- 🟡 Present research on Reformation figures
- 🟡 Reflect on courage, change, and standing for beliefs