Master Class Week 5

 This week we'll be reading The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass -- this may be the ONLY book I remember being required to read in high school that I actually enjoyed. I think you will really like it as well, it's inspiring, short and very interesting, so I hope you'll join me for master class this week!

You need to come to class with TWO thought-provoking discussion questions for our book discussion. We will go around the circle and give you all a chance to ask your questions. 

See you there!

American History, Week 5: Westward Expansion

First up: It's history week so that means VANBUCKS for MIRACLES. One buck for every miracle recorded on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Also, don't forget to study your notecards :) 

ALSO, your book groups had the assignment to have the books fully written and ready for illustration. If you didn't do this assignment last time when it was due then it is absolutely due this week, no exceptions :) 

Study and learn:

+Read and take notes on DK American History book pages 66-69

+Find out a cool fact about the westward trails that was NOT in the book and be prepared to share it in class. 

Know and Understand:

++Add these dates and your descriptions to your timeline. I will be asking to see timelines in class and if I forget I bet one of your classmates will remind me ;) We're nearly to the point where you will have a really cool timeline of early American history completed! 

1830- Joseph Smith organizes the church

1841- First wagon train on the Oregon trail

1847- Saints arrive in Salt Lake Valley

1849- Gold Rush

++This week we have one major goal: Get your history project NEARLY or COMPLETELY finished. So if you've been puttering along and without making major progress then THIS IS YOUR WEEK. 

We will be having our museum night on April 17th so our next history class assignment will largely have you working on how you will display your research. Also, I will be bringing in people to judge our museum (kind of like a science fair, but you wont be talking, your museum display will have to speak for itself) We will talk more about our museum night in class but I wanted you to know that it will involve judges and nice awards so it's time to pour on the heat and spend the time to create something that you are proud of! Spend as many hours as you need this week to have your project near completion. As usual we will be standing and showing/reporting on these in class. 

Become/Serve:

Watch this 16 minute video that was created for General Conference several years ago. When you are done I would like you to write in your commonplace book about what it took to be a pioneer -- dig deep, be specific. What traits do you have in common with the pioneers? What traits would you like to develop? How can you develop those traits in this modern world today? 

 

American History, Week 5 - Journeyman

Well, we are down to Week 5.
Let's not even think about being finished with the year yet,
because it might make us all cry, cry, cry big ol' tears of sadness!

Instead, let's just focus on the LAST TEN states to join the Union:

******************************

STUDY & LEARN

Assignment #1:
Hopefully you are getting really good at your song!
Or simply reciting the states and capitals from memory.

Here are the links to a few of the videos.  You can choose one of these or find one of your own that you like better.  Please find a little time to PRACTICE!

Fifty Nifty United States
50 States and Capitals (New)
50 States and Capitals (Old)
50 States and Capitals Song
The 50 States Song
Sing the States - Jack Hartmann


Assignment #2:
For the states that we are studying this week, spend some time researching and learning about.....

* The Main Landmarks/Attractions, some of which can be seen HERE.
* The State Flags.
* The State Nicknames.
* The State Population.
* The State Sizes.
* The Bordering States.
* The Rivers, Lakes, or Nearby Bodies of Water.
* Natural Features.
* National Parks included in these States, ALL of which are all found HERE.
* The Nearby Mountain Ranges.

Assignment #3:
Complete this worksheet for ALL THE STATES WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR:
The 13 Original Colonies from Week 1
+ the 9 states from Week 2
+ the 9 states from Week 3
+ the 9 states from Week 4
+ the 10 states listed above
= ALL 50 states!.

Find the information online, in an encyclopedia, an atlas, from your Great Aunt Agatha or Uncle Bob - from whatever source has the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Assignment #4:
Print out this blank map and write in the state names and capital cities for ALL THE STATES WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR:
13 Original Colonies from Week 1
+ the 9 states from Week 2
+ the 9 states from Week 3
+ the 9 states from Week 4
+ the 10 new states listed above
= ALL 50 states!

Be careful to spell everything correctly!
AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADD THE CAPITAL CITIES THIS TIME.

YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW ME
THESE TWO PAPERS IN ORDER TO ATTEND CLASS,
SO PLEASE HAVE THEM READY AT THE START OF CLASS.

******************************

KNOW & UNDERSTAND

Assignment #5:
Please complete AT LEAST ONE of the following items to bring to class and share with us all.  You can do more than one, if you'd like.  I will give out a Vanbuck for every one that you DO complete, so do as many as you'd like or have time to do.

1. If you have visited one of the 10 states that we are studying THIS WEEK and have pictures of cool places you've been while there, please bring 1-3 pictures to class and be prepared to tell us about your visit.  What awesome scenery did you see?  Which landmarks did you visit?  Why were you there?  (Vacation, choir tour, a funeral, flea market, you won a trip on The Price is Right, etc.)
   
   
2. Pick ONE of the 10 states that we are studying THIS WEEK that is home to one of the U.S.A.'s 63 National Parks (look them up!).  Research this National Park and come prepared to:  a) Tell us the name of the park.  b) Show us a picture of it.  c) Tell us why you think it is so cool.
   
   
3. Pick ONE of the 10 states that we are studying THIS WEEK and find an awesome tourist attraction found there (preferably a natural physical feature or something more interesting than Disneyland or Disneyworld!).  Research it and come prepared to:  a) Tell us the name of this attraction.  b) Show us a picture of it.  3) Tell us what is so awesome about this place.
   
   
4. Print a blank map of the area/region we are studying THIS WEEK and mark it with all of its physical features - mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, volcanoes, deserts, forests, etc.  Add all the state names and capitals for this area/region.  Add a compass rose to the map.  Color the map well and make it artistic.
   
   
5. Pick ONE of the 10 states that we are studying THIS WEEK and find a prominent historical person from this state.  Do a little research about this person and come to class prepared to tell us why their life is notable - something they did to contribute light and goodness to the world.
   
   
6. Print a blank map of the area/region we are studying THIS WEEK.  Add all the state names and capital cities, as well as the 2-letter abbreviation for each state and its State Nickname.  (For instance, Utah's nickname is "The Beehive State," and its 2-letter abbreviation is UT).
   
   
7. Memorize all of THIS WEEK'S 10 states and their capital cities and be prepared to recite them for us from memory - ALPHABETICALLY BY STATE NAME!
   
   
8. Cut up a blank map of the 10 states that we are studying THIS WEEK, carefully cutting out each state to preserve its shape.  Write the names of the states and their capital cities on the appropriate pieces.  Do a little research to find the size of each state in square miles, and write that on the piece.  Then, glue or tape the pieces onto a sheet of paper in the order of their size, from smallest to largest.
   
   
9. A project of your own that will help you to learn more about one of the 10 states we are studying THIS WEEK.  I will give you TWO Vanbucks for this option, if your project makes sense and you've carried it out well.
   
   
10. ***FOR THREE VANBUCKS:  Do some family history research to learn about any ancestors you have who came from one of the 9 states that we are studying THIS WEEK.  Tell us about them!  What were their names?  In what town were they born or buried?  How many children did they have?  Did you find a cool story about them that you can share with us.
    

AND ONE LAST THING.....

Complete this short questionnaire to let me know you will be in Journeyman class.

HAPPY STUDYING!!

I hope to see you in class!

American History Apprentice: Week 4

First up: It's history week so that means VANBUCKS for MIRACLES. One buck for every miracle recorded on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Also, don't forget to study your notecards :) ALSO, your book groups had the assignment to have the books fully written and ready for illustration. This week the illustrators and front and back cover group members need to do their part. Come to class with the final product ready to share. 

Study and Learn:

+Read and take notes on DK American History book pages 58-65. There may be a quiz like last time so come prepared ;) 

+Watch this three- part youtube video series on Lewis and Clark. The narrator does speak a little slow so feel free to speed it up, but I think you'll learn things you haven't heard before!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKRtJCCe7E4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVRn-sRqss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLsx7aNEBDg

+Watch this video about Harriet Tubman, I've seen kiddie videos about her many times over the years but I learned lots of new facts about this hero of the 1800's from this short video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7YhVKFqbQ

+Watch this video on Underground Railroad Quilts. This is an informal video caught at a historical reenactment of a woman sharing information on how quilts may have been used to direct enslaved people on their way to freedom. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKFtJ_ZqfMY

Know and Understand

• Remember your year-long history project that you have been working on?? You should be making some good progress at this point. We ONLY have 3 History classes left (including this week!) before we will organize our museum presentations!! Crazy. I need you to spend 1.5-2  hours THIS WEEK on your history project and come prepared to show or report in during class on how your project is going. I would love to see something concrete this week -- some of you did that last time and that is great. When you report I want to hear or see the progress :) 
• Add these dates to your pretty, tidy, illustrated, timeline with a blurb to explain what happened: 

1803- Louisiana Purchase

1804-06 - Louis and Clark Expedition

1812- War of 1812 1820- Missouri Compromise

1830- Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears

1831- Start of underground railroad

• Finally, I would like you to do a creative project :D You saw how the quilt squares could send messages and how quilt squares have meaning. I would like you to design your own quilt square with a design and patterns and colors that represent what FREEDOM means to you.
• What would your design look like? Can you find an existing design that makes you think of freedom or do you want to create your own design?
• What patterns of fabric would you use? Stripes, plaids, solids, gingham, floral, etc? Why?
• What colors will you use? What do they represent in your Freedom Quilt Block?

This quilt square should be 10x10 inches, it can be created using any artistic medium (paint? sew? cut out papers?) -- I'm going to leave this wide open but it needs to be recognizable as a 10 x 10 quilt square :) You will be asked to stand up and share the meaning behind your design, patterns and colors. 

Be creative! 

Here are examples of existing quilt designs and their meanings (super fascinating!): 

 https://www.nps.gov/home/planyourvisit/quilt-discovery-experience.htm

Become and Serve:

I feel like there are so many heroes in this era we're studying. Women who fought for the right to vote, men and women, white and black, who fought against the injustice of slavery and risked their life time and again to help the one. I've felt inspired by how so many were called to do the impossible  and how they rose to the challenge, fulfilling their mission.

I would like you to listen to this short video from President Nelson: 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/a-true-millennial-will-do-impossible-things?lang=eng

What difficult things has the Lord asked YOU to do? What work or mission have you felt called to already in your life? Write the answers and any thoughts and inspiration you receive while watching the video in your commonplace book.

 

American History, Week 4 - Journeyman

 

Can you believe that we are already HALFWAY through the Vanguard year?!
Time just flies when we're having FUN, right?!

NINE more states have joined the Union:

******************************

STUDY & LEARN

Assignment #1:
Hopefully you are getting really good at your song!
Or simply reciting the states and capitals from memory.

Here are the links to a few of the videos.  You can choose one of these or find one of your own that you like better.  Please find a little time to PRACTICE!

Fifty Nifty United States
50 States and Capitals (New)
50 States and Capitals (Old)
50 States and Capitals Song
The 50 States Song
Sing the States - Jack Hartmann


Assignment #2:
For the states that we are studying this week, spend some time researching and learning about.....

* The Main Landmarks/Attractions, some of which can be seen HERE.
* The State Flags.
* The State Nicknames.
* The State Population.
* The State Sizes.
* The Bordering States.
* The Rivers, Lakes, or Nearby Bodies of Water.
* Natural Features.
* National Parks included in these States, ALL of which are all found HERE.
* The Nearby Mountain Ranges.

Assignment #3:
Complete this worksheet for ALL THE STATES WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR:
The 13 Original Colonies from Week 1
+ the 9 states from Week 2
+ the 9 states from Week 3
+ the 9 new states listed above
= 40 states so far.

Find the information online, in an encyclopedia, an atlas, from your Great Aunt Agatha or Uncle Bob - from whatever source has the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Assignment #4:
Print out this blank map and write in the state names and capital cities for ALL THE STATES WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR:
13 Original Colonies from Week 1
+ the 9 states from Week 2
+ the 9 states from Week 3
+ the 9 new states listed above
= 40 states so far.

Be careful to spell everything correctly!
AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADD THE CAPITAL CITIES THIS TIME.

YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW ME
THESE TWO PAPERS IN ORDER TO ATTEND CLASS,
SO PLEASE HAVE THEM READY AT THE START OF CLASS.

******************************

KNOW & UNDERSTAND

Assignment #5:
Please complete AT LEAST ONE of the following items to bring to class and share with us all.  You can do more than one, if you'd like.  I will give out a Vanbuck for every one that you DO complete, so do as many as you'd like or have time to do.

1. If you have visited one of the 9 states that we are studying THIS WEEK and have pictures of cool places you've been while there, please bring 1-3 pictures to class and be prepared to tell us about your visit.  What awesome scenery did you see?  Which landmarks did you visit?  Why were you there?  (Vacation, choir tour, a funeral, flea market, you won a trip on The Price is Right, etc.)
   
   
2. Pick ONE of the 9 states that we are studying THIS WEEK that is home to one of the U.S.A.'s 63 National Parks (look them up!).  Research this National Park and come prepared to:  a) Tell us the name of the park.  b) Show us a picture of it.  c) Tell us why you think it is so cool.
   
   
3. Pick ONE of the 9 states that we are studying THIS WEEK and find an awesome tourist attraction found there (preferably a natural physical feature or something more interesting than Disneyland or Disneyworld!).  Research it and come prepared to:  a) Tell us the name of this attraction.  b) Show us a picture of it.  3) Tell us what is so awesome about this place.
   
   
4. Print a blank map of the area/region we are studying THIS WEEK and mark it with all of its physical features - mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, volcanoes, deserts, forests, etc.  Add all the state names and capitals for this area/region.  Add a compass rose to the map.  Color the map well and make it artistic.
   
   
5. Pick ONE of the 9 states that we are studying THIS WEEK and find a prominent historical person from this state.  Do a little research about this person and come to class prepared to tell us why their life is notable - something they did to contribute light and goodness to the world.
   
   
6. Print a blank map of the area/region we are studying THIS WEEK.  Add all the state names and capital cities, as well as the 2-letter abbreviation for each state and its State Nickname.  (For instance, Utah's nickname is "The Beehive State," and its 2-letter abbreviation is UT).
   
   
7. Memorize all of THIS WEEK'S 9 states and their capital cities and be prepared to recite them for us from memory - ALPHABETICALLY BY STATE NAME!
   
   
8. Cut up a blank map of the 9 states that we are studying THIS WEEK, carefully cutting out each state to preserve its shape.  Write the names of the states and their capital cities on the appropriate pieces.  Do a little research to find the size of each state in square miles, and write that on the piece.  Then, glue or tape the pieces onto a sheet of paper in the order of their size, from smallest to largest.
   
   
9. A project of your own that will help you to learn more about one of the 9 states we are studying THIS WEEK.  I will give you TWO Vanbucks for this option, if your project makes sense and you've carried it out well.
   
   
10. ***FOR THREE VANBUCKS:  Do some family history research to learn about any ancestors you have who came from one of the 9 states that we are studying THIS WEEK.  Tell us about them!  What were their names?  In what town were they born or buried?  How many children did they have?  Did you find a cool story about them that you can share with us.
    

AND ONE LAST THING.....

Complete this short questionnaire to let me know you will be in Journeyman class.

HAPPY STUDYING!!

I hope to see you in class!

Master Class, Week 3

 

This week we'll be reading The Holy Invitation by Anthony Sweat. I read this book (and it's companion, "The Holy Covenants") earlier this year and both books really impacted me so I wanted to share them with you! You are at the age to prepare to go through the temple to receive your own endowment so these books are timely and meaningful. 

This book also highlights the need for temples on earth which goes perfectly with what we've been learning about America being a covenant land where the restoration could take place, where religious freedom could flourish and temples could begin to dot the earth. 

After reading this book you can choose one of these two assignments:

First, if you feel like you know very little about the endowment and what it means to receive your endowment in the temple then head here:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=eng Spend at least 15 minutes clicking on topics that interest you or that you want to learn more about (such as the endowment, temple clothing, pictures of the inside of temples etc). 

Second, if you feel pretty familiar with what it means to receive your endowment, then listen to this talk by the same author, which talks about the covenants you make in the temple: 

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/anthony-sweat/we-need-an-endowment/

Text me if you're coming so I can figure out what treat to bring! And if you're all treated out after Christmas feel free to include that in your text so I know 👀

American History: Apprentice Week 3

Reminders: This week only, one Vanbuck for every miracle you record between Thursday, Dec. 29th and Wednesday, January 4th. 

Also: Study notecards!

Study/Learn:

Read DK Book pages 50-53, add notes to your commonplace book from this section.

Read “Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution” add notes to your commonplace book

Read or listen to: The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner, Ezra Taft Benson, BYU Speech

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/constitution-heavenly-banner/ -- add notes to your commonplace book

Finally, here are some miracles and Concise history of highlights of convention:https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/the-miracle-at-philadelphia -- add notes to your

commonplace book

NOTICE: Lots of note taking. Writing down what you learn is just another step in helping solidify  information in your brain as you engage another of your five senses. Don't sell yourself short and skim the reading and skip the note-taking. Engage, take notes, bring it up at the dinner table -- then you will be ready to participate in class :) 

KNOW/UNDERSTAND:

• Remember your year-long history project that you have been working on?? You should be making some good progress at this point. I need you to spend 1.5-2  hours THIS WEEK on your history project and come prepared to show or report in during class on how your project is going. 

• Add these dates to your pretty, tidy, illustrated, timeline with a blurb to explain what happened: 

September 17, 1787 - the delegates sign the constitution

June 21, 1788: Constitution is ratified by the final state needed.

September 25, 1789- the first Congress of the United States adopted 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution—the Bill of Rights—and sent them to the states for ratification

Become/serve: 

Read this scripture: 

D&C  101: 80 - 

80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.

What is being referred to when it says "for this purpose" -- for what purpose has the constitution been established in the land? Discover from chapter 101 WHY God established the constiution. When you are done offer a thoughtful prayer of gratitude to Heavenly Father for what you learned. Tell Him what you understand about the constitution and what you will do with this knowledge you gained from studying D&C 101.