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
😫 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
When the full lesson feels like too much, try these lighter alternatives:
- 📺 Watch To Kill a Mockingbird (1962 film) or Renaissance documentaries
- 🎧 Listen to To Kill a Mockingbird audiobook (Sissy Spacek narration)
- 🎮 Play evolution simulation games (Species: ALRE)
- 📱 Watch Stated Clearly videos on evolution
- 🎨 Explore Renaissance art virtually (Google Arts & Culture)
See the supply list for optional "Just Can't" Day purchase suggestions.