| Unit Title | I Took the Road Less Traveled | Common Links in Diverse Cultures | Write On! | What’s the Matter? | Settle Down or Move On! | Water, Water Everywhere! |
| Central Idea | Risk takers cause lasting change in society. | Cultures share common elements. | Effective techniques empower writers. | Matter exists in changing states. | People migrate to meet a variety of needs. | Limited water resources lead to interdependence of populations. |