Unit 3: Identity & Change
Theme
How do inner forces—genes and beliefs—drive people and societies to change?
CORE
Biology – Genetics & Heredity
DNA structure and function; chromosomes and genes.
Central dogma: DNA → RNA → protein (transcription and translation).
Mutations and their effects on proteins and traits.
Mendelian genetics: alleles, dominant/recessive, Punnett squares, genotype vs phenotype.
Patterns of inheritance: simple, incomplete dominance, codominance, pedigrees.
Genetic variation from meiosis and sexual reproduction.
English
Read stories and speeches about identity, family, and social change.
Analyze characterization, conflict, and how leaders argue for change.
Practice argumentative and persuasive writing on “inheritance vs ideas.”
Learn logical connectors and how to build clear arguments.
Learn to recognize basic logical fallacies.
Practice using semicolons in more advanced sentences.
Learn to evaluate sources and use simple MLA citation.
Practice structured discussions and debates using evidence.
US History – War, Cold War & Rights Movements
World War II: causes, major events, Holocaust, home front.
Early Cold War: containment, nuclear arms race, Korean War, McCarthyism.
Later Cold War: Vietnam and other key events.
Postwar prosperity, suburbanization, social change in the 1950s–1960s.
Civil Rights Movement and related movements (Chicano, Native American, women’s, LGBTQ+).
Late 20th–early 21st century: end of Cold War, globalization, 9/11, War on Terror, changing American identity.
OPTIONAL INTEGRATED ELECTIVE
Intro to Psychology
History of psychology and major perspectives.
Research methods: experiments, surveys, case studies, ethics.
Brain and nervous system basics and their link to behavior.
Sensation and perception; how we interpret the world.
Learning and memory: conditioning, observational learning, encoding and retrieval.
Lifespan development from childhood through adolescence.
Personality theories and individual differences.
Motivation and emotion: needs, goals, stress.
Social psychology: groups, conformity, obedience, prejudice, helping.
Psychological disorders, mental health, stigma, basic treatment ideas.
Digital curriculum unit in PDF format.
Main Quest lessons and Year 1 story chapters.
Side Quests for Fledgling, Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master students.
Integrated assignments, discussions, writing, and activities tied to the unit theme.
Labs and learning activities connected to biology and classification.
