Samhain: The Industrial Revolution
The world transforms! As we honor our ancestors at Samhain, we examine how industrialization changed work, cities, families, and the environment.
UU Principle Focus
2nd Principle: Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
🎯 Learning Goals
- • Understand the causes and effects of industrialization
- • Examine working conditions and reform movements
- • Analyze the environmental and social costs of progress
- • Master functions, linear equations, and graphing
- • Learn the nervous system and senses
- • Connect themes of transformation and honoring ancestors
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: The Agricultural Revolution
🕯️ Hearth Circle
New farming methods meant fewer farmers could grow more food—but many lost their land and way of life. How do we balance progress with tradition?
📚 Language Arts
Introduction to the Industrial Revolution. Agricultural changes that made it possible. Begin Oliver Twist (adapted). Write about change.
✖️ Math: Algebra I
Introduction to functions. What is a function? Function notation. Evaluating functions.
🧠 Science: Nervous System
The nervous system overview. Central vs. peripheral nervous system. Neurons and nerve impulses.
✏️ Form Drawing
Mechanical patterns—gears and machinery
🧶 Handwork
Samhain crafts; sketch industrial designs
📖 Story
The Enclosure Movement: Progress or Theft?
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Industrial Revolution Intro
- Nervous System Overview
Shows:
- The Industrial Revolution documentary
Audio:
- Oliver Twist audiobook
Week 2: Factories and Cities
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Factories brought jobs but also terrible working conditions. At Samhain, we honor ancestors who worked in these conditions. What do we owe them?
📚 Language Arts
The factory system. Child labor. Urbanization. Continue Oliver Twist. Write from a factory worker's perspective.
✖️ Math: Algebra I
Identifying functions from tables, graphs, and equations. Domain and range.
🧠 Science: Nervous System
The brain. Structure and regions. Functions of different brain areas. Brain plasticity.
✏️ Form Drawing
Cityscapes and smokestacks
🧶 Handwork
Continue Samhain crafts; create ancestor altar items
📖 Story
Child Labor in the Mills: True Stories
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Factory Life Documentary
- Brain Anatomy
Shows:
- The Victorian Slum
Audio:
- A Christmas Carol
Week 3: Inventions That Changed the World
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Inventions like the steam engine transformed everything. What inventions have transformed your life? What might transform the future?
📚 Language Arts
Key inventions: steam engine, spinning jenny, cotton gin. Inventors and their stories. Continue Oliver Twist. Write about an invention.
✖️ Math: Algebra I
Linear functions. Slope as rate of change. Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b.
🧠 Science: Nervous System
The spinal cord and reflexes. Sensory and motor neurons. Reflex arcs. Testing reflexes.
✏️ Form Drawing
Technical drawings—inventions and machines
🧶 Handwork
Create simple machines; Samhain lanterns
📖 Story
James Watt and the Steam Engine
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Steam Engine Explained
- Reflexes and Reactions
Shows:
- Genius of Britain
Audio:
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Week 4: Reform Movements
🕯️ Hearth Circle
People organized to fight for better conditions—abolition, workers' rights, women's suffrage. What causes are worth fighting for today?
📚 Language Arts
Reform movements: abolition, labor unions, education reform. Continue Oliver Twist. Write a persuasive speech for reform.
✖️ Math: Algebra I
Graphing linear equations. Finding slope from a graph. Writing equations from graphs.
🧠 Science: Nervous System
The senses: vision and hearing. How eyes and ears work. Processing sensory information.
✏️ Form Drawing
Protest posters and reform movement imagery
🧶 Handwork
Create a reform movement poster; ancestor offerings
📖 Story
The Reformers: Fighting for Change
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Labor Movement History
- How We See and Hear
Shows:
- The Abolitionists
Audio:
- Lyddie by Katherine Paterson
Week 5: Legacy & Samhain Celebration
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The Industrial Revolution created our modern world—with all its benefits and problems. How do we honor the past while building a better future?
📚 Language Arts
Legacy of industrialization. Environmental impact. Finish Oliver Twist. Write a reflection on progress and its costs.
✖️ Math: Algebra I
Review linear functions and graphing. Real-world applications: trends, predictions, rates.
🧠 Science: Nervous System
The senses: taste, smell, touch. Review nervous system. Create a final project.
✏️ Form Drawing
Create a Samhain celebration page honoring ancestors
🧶 Handwork
Complete Samhain crafts; prepare celebration
📖 Story
The World the Industrial Revolution Made
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Industrial Revolution Legacy
- Senses Review
Shows:
- How We Got to Now
Audio:
- Samhain stories and music
🎃 Samhain Celebration
- 🟡 Create an ancestor altar honoring workers of the past
- 🟡 Present research on an inventor or reformer
- 🟡 Display nervous system projects
- 🟡 Share stories of family ancestors
- 🟡 Reflect on transformation and legacy
- 🟡 Light candles for those who came before
📚 Recommended Resources
Literature
- • Oliver Twist (Dickens) - adapted
- • Lyddie (Katherine Paterson)
- • A Christmas Carol (Dickens)
Reference
- • DK Eyewitness: Industrial Revolution
- • The Brain Book (DK)
- • Primary sources: factory reports