Unit 4: Adaptation & Survival

Theme

How do species and societies adapt in times of crisis and rapid change?

CORE

Biology – Evolution & Ecology

• Evidence for evolution: fossils, anatomy, molecular data.

• Natural selection, adaptation, speciation, population change over time.

• Classification: domains, kingdoms, major groups and common ancestry.

• Ecology: food chains/webs, energy pyramids, water/carbon/nitrogen cycles.

• Population dynamics: carrying capacity, limiting factors.

• Human impacts: pollution, habitat loss, climate-related issues, conservation, biodiversity.

English

• Read poetry, short fiction, and songs about war, oppression, displacement, and crisis.

• Analyze tone, imagery, symbolism, and how artists respond to crisis.

• Practice literary-analysis writing that connects texts to historical or scientific contexts.

• Learn figurative language terms and use them purposefully.

• Practice advanced punctuation (em dashes, colons) for emphasis.

• Analyze primary documents and propaganda for bias and techniques.

• Learn early guidelines for using AI wisely in research and writing.

• Practice multimodal presentations that combine text, history, and arts.

World Civilizations – War, Decolonization & Globalization

• World War I: causes, consequences, interwar crises, rise of totalitarian regimes.

• World War II: major events, Holocaust, effects on civilians and world order.

• Decolonization and independence movements in Asia, Africa, Middle East.

• Cold War: superpower rivalry, proxy wars, arms race, fall of the Soviet Union.

• Recent global themes: globalization, human rights, terrorism, environment, democracy and development struggles.

OPTIONAL INTEGRATED ELECTIVE

Music History & Appreciation

• Early human music: rhythm, chant, ritual, folk traditions.

• Ancient and medieval music; Renaissance and Baroque music.

• Classical and Romantic eras and nationalism in music.

• Early jazz and blues; 20th-century popular music.

• Global music traditions from multiple regions.

• Film scores and media music; how music shapes mood and story.

• Listening skills and building personal musical taste.