Imbolc: New Growth
Renaissance, Reformation & Evolution
🌱 Unit Overview
At Imbolc, we celebrate the first stirrings of spring—seeds awakening beneath the soil. This unit explores periods of tremendous growth and change: the Renaissance and Reformation in history, and evolution in biology. We read To Kill a Mockingbird, exploring themes of justice and moral courage. In algebra, we work with polynomials—expressions that grow in complexity but follow patterns.
📚 Learning Goals
English I
- • Analyze To Kill a Mockingbird
- • Identify themes of justice and prejudice
- • Write analytical essays
- • Discuss moral courage and ethics
Algebra I
- • Classify and operate on polynomials
- • Multiply polynomials using FOIL
- • Factor using GCF
- • Factor trinomials
Biology
- • Explain evidence for evolution
- • Describe natural selection
- • Understand speciation
- • Discuss human evolution ethically
World History
- • Describe Renaissance humanism
- • Explain causes of Reformation
- • Analyze Age of Exploration impacts
- • Evaluate Columbian Exchange effects
Weekly Lessons
🕯️ Hearth Circle
New light emerging; creativity and rebirth
📖 Language Arts
Introduction to To Kill a Mockingbird; historical context; journal responses
🔢 Math
Introduction to polynomials; classifying polynomials
🔬 Science
Introduction to evolution; history of evolutionary thought
🌍 History
Italian Renaissance; humanism; art and architecture
🎨 Art
Renaissance art techniques; perspective drawing
🏃 Movement
Dance and movement of the Renaissance
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Growth and change; accepting transformation
📖 Language Arts
To Kill a Mockingbird: Scout's world; point of view; characterization
🔢 Math
Adding and subtracting polynomials
🔬 Science
Evidence for evolution: fossils, anatomy, embryology, DNA
🌍 History
Northern Renaissance; printing press; spread of ideas
🎨 Art
Printmaking basics; linoleum or foam printing
🏃 Movement
Outdoor nature walks; observing adaptation
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Adaptation and resilience; finding our strengths
📖 Language Arts
To Kill a Mockingbird: Boo Radley and prejudice; theme analysis
🔢 Math
Multiplying polynomials; FOIL method
🔬 Science
Natural selection; Darwin's finches; survival of the fittest
🌍 History
Reformation; Martin Luther; religious change in Europe
🎨 Art
Nature journaling; scientific illustration
🏃 Movement
Adaptation games; survival simulations
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Celebrating diversity; every being has worth
📖 Language Arts
To Kill a Mockingbird: The trial; justice and injustice
🔢 Math
Special products; difference of squares; perfect square trinomials
🔬 Science
Speciation; biodiversity; classification review
🌍 History
Counter-Reformation; religious wars; Age of Exploration begins
🎨 Art
Botanical illustration; plant studies
🏃 Movement
Biodiversity scavenger hunt
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Imbolc celebration; Brigid's flame; seeds of intention
📖 Language Arts
To Kill a Mockingbird: Aftermath; moral courage discussion
🔢 Math
Introduction to factoring; GCF factoring
🔬 Science
Human evolution; hominid timeline; what makes us human
🌍 History
Age of Exploration; Columbus; Columbian Exchange
🎨 Art
Brigid's cross making; candle decorating
🏃 Movement
Imbolc celebration activities; planting seeds
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Breaking down to build up; understanding foundations
📖 Language Arts
To Kill a Mockingbird essay; theme and character analysis
🔢 Math
Factoring trinomials; x² + bx + c
🔬 Science
Evolution and ethics; social Darwinism critique; stewardship
🌍 History
Conquistadors; Aztec and Inca empires; colonization impacts
🎨 Art
Aztec and Inca inspired art
🏃 Movement
Team building activities
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Reflecting on growth; celebrating progress
📖 Language Arts
Unit vocabulary review; literary analysis assessment
🔢 Math
Factoring review; polynomial assessment
🔬 Science
Evolution unit review; assessment
🌍 History
Renaissance and Reformation synthesis; assessment
🎨 Art
Portfolio review; main lesson book completion
🏃 Movement
Celebration of learning; sharing projects
😫 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
- 📺 Watch To Kill a Mockingbird (1962 film) or Renaissance documentaries
- 🎧 Listen to To Kill a Mockingbird audiobook
- 🎮 Play evolution simulation games
- 📱 Watch Stated Clearly videos on evolution
- 🎨 Explore Renaissance art virtually (Google Arts & Culture)