April Apprentice Readings and Inspirements

READ: Gladys Aylward, The Little Woman: Chapters 5-10

WRITE:

How is your mission statement coming? Asking questions is a great way to find your own personal mission and to create a blue print for your life. Have fun writing your answers to the following questions:

● Write three statements about yourself that you know are true. Begin each one, “I am ….”

● Choose a symbol that represents you. It might be a physical symbol like a mountain, or it might be an animal, or it might be a religious symbol. Why does this symbol represent you?

● Choose a color that represents you. Why does this color represent you?

● What are you really great at? What have people told you yo

u’re good at?

● What do you like to do to renew yourself physically and emotionally? What makes you feel like your battery is charged? Is it alone time, social time, exercise, casual discussion with friends, crying on someone’s shoulder, sleeping, reading, eating, playing?

READ: Acts 2:41-47 and Acts 4:31-37

WRITE:

● Define the word "common".

● What does it mean to have 'all things in common'?

● Describe the things in your life that are in common

● Describe the things in your life that are not in common.

PROJECT:

The following youth will present their presentations this week:

Cassia Bates, John Jensen, Rachel Wolsey

April Memorization

Vanguard Mission Statement:

“We will engage in a respectful and inspiring peer environment that will not only help us grow in faith, but will help us feel free to develop our unique strengths. We will gain a passion for learning that will allow us to

better ourselves, our families, our communities and ultimately the world.”

D&C 88:78-80:

78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.

April Journeyman Readings and Inspirements

Think About:

Communistic ideas have been around since history has been recorded.
Why do you think people are attracted to these ideas?
How do communistic ideas compare to the teachings of Jesus Christ?
Do you ever see these ideas taught in our society?
What names are used for these ideas in our times?
Karl Marx wrote these ideas into a document.
How did this give it power?

Inspirements:

Choose a term and submit to Sis Bird and Sis Shupe (so we don’t have duplicates). Prepare a one minute presentation of the term and how it applies to communism or Karl Marx. I also want you to get at least 2 adults’ opinion of your term. It is best if you choose 2 of different generations (the term sometimes means something different to different generations). I would highly recommend having at least one be from an older generation. Please submit which term you have chosen as soon as possible ☺

● Revolution
● Class Struggle
● Materialism
● Communist view of family
● Humanism
● Bolsheviks
● Communism
● Proletariat
● Socialism
● Utopia
● Bourgeois(French)
● Collectivism
● Communist view of private property
● Monopoly
● Law of Consecration (this is an LDS term, in D&C)
● Karl Marx’s Big Red Pill and 10 little white pills
● Working Class
● Or other…. (clear with Sis Bird or Shupe)

Read: (after you look up your term… the readings will help with the terms)

● Communist Manifesto- librovox takes about 1 1/2 hrs. Believe it or not…. Sparknotes is okay, IF you read all 3 sections. I know some of you have huge schedules.

● Selections of The Naked Communist: (this is about 60 pages)
If you have the book:

• Pages 1-5
• Pages 10-22 (to the end of the family of Karl Marx) 
• Pages 26-27 (the closing years) 
• Page 62 (The Industrial Revolution)
• Page 69 (What is Religion?) 
• Page 76 (Fallacy 11) 
• Pages 80-84(Fallacy 21&22) 
• Pages 85-86 (Fallacy 25)
• Pages 131-141 (Chapter on America and Labor Unions Drive)
• Pages 262-265 (top) (A Philosophy Becomes a Reality) 
• Page 266 chart 
• Pages 267-284 (Capitalism)

If you don't have the book, you can download the selections here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vfzc9wy4tyq5mce/GVf9xyA9Y0

April Master Class Readings and Inspirements

 Read: The Giver by Louis Lowry OR Anthem by Ayn Rand (both are in the public domain)

Read: Chapters 4,5,6 of The Cleansing of America by Cleon Skousen (You can download them HERE)

Make a list of comparisons and contrasts for ONE of these, be prepared to share in class:

1) Communism and Consecration

2) Karl Marx and Joseph Smith

3) Karl Marx and Brigham Young

4) Communism and the Declaration of Independence

March Apprentice Readings and Inspirements

1. Read: How Book Chapters 8, 29, 30, 32

2. Read: Just Like Jesus: The Touch of God

3. Finish: The Kidnapped Prince

4. Read: "You Are My Hands" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

OR

Read: The article entitled "Your Hands, Christ's Hands" (on the yahoo group)

5. Watch: 

6. Create:

Create a video, picture diary or artistic creation depicting hands serving the Lord. (you should use your own hands if possible ) Show your hands serving others and serving the Lord. If you are using a digital medium please send a link out on the blog on Thursday.

7. Think About:

Complete a word study on your chosen characteristic (for your leadership project). How does Christ emulate this characteristic? How does an effective leader emulate this characteristic? How does your chosen characteristic bless others?

8. Memorize:

Please pick your own thought, or poem, or quote AND scripture that has to do with Leadership, or the attribute you are studying for your leadership project this month. The following youth will share their memorization this week:

• Aaron
• Nic
• Jared
• Donovan
• Arianna
• Esther
• Josee
• Jennah
• Makenna

9. Project:

Study about the person who emulates the characteristic you are studying as a part of your leadership project for this month. Please come to class prepared with a 1-2 minute oral presentation to share with the class on your person. Remember to share how this person emulates the quality you are trying to develop. Please plan to share how they used their hands to serve others. Continue working on your plan to gain the attribute you are learning about this month.

March Journeyman Readings and Inspirements

1. Read: The Story of England by Samuel B. Harding HERE

You only have to read two chapters:

• Industrial and Social Change
• A Period of Reform

2. Email: Class Prep Sheet by Tuesday at noon 

3. Research: Choose one or more of the following.

Use more than just Wikipedia. Be prepared to share what you've learned. You will have 3 minutes to present your person and 2 more minutes to answer questions. Send out an email to the group that states who you are researching so that we don't have any duplicates. NOTE: You can bring pictures to show while you talk, but basically this will just be you speaking to us--no prezis, no skits, no interpretive dances ;^)

• James Hargreaves
• James Watt
• Robert Fulton
• Eli Whitney
• Samuel Morse
• Samuel Colt
• Henry Shrapnel
• Ada Byron Lovelace
• Louis Daguerre
• George Muehler
• Elizabeth Fry
• Samuel Slater
• John Deere
• Elias Howe
• Cyrus McCormick
• Elisha Otis
• Michael Faraday
• Matthias Baldwin
• Toussaint Louverture
• Charles Deslandes
• Thomas Clarkson
• William Wilberforce

March Master Readings and Inspirements

1. Read: Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt HERE

OR

Read: What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen by Bastiat HERE

2. Read: Why Freedom is Losing: The Battle for our Future HERE

3. Read: I, Pencil HERE

4. Watch:

5. Create:

For Master class this month, I want you to come up with your own business idea. Be creative and come up with something you could sell, a service to provide, etc... and come prepared to share YOUR business. You need to make a business plan (visuals would be good!) which will show what you would expect to spend, how much profit you would expect, how (and to who) you would market your product/service, how you would figure out your pricing, what suppliers would you work with for raw materials, will you be hiring employees, what regulations you would have to follow, etc...

Come prepared to pitch your business to us.

25 Cultural Literacy Terms

Here are this week's 25 cultural literacy terms for the game night at the end of the month! This is optional, but please study the terms and come if you can!

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

• Dickens, Charles

WORLD HISTORY SINCE 1550

• Bourbons
• Burke, Edmund
• Danton, Georges
• Enlightenment
• French Revolution
• guillotine
• Jacobins
• Louis XVI
• Marat, Jean-Paul
• Marie Antoinette
• Napoleon Bonaparte
• Reason, Age of
• Reign of Terror
• Robespierre

WORLD GEOGRAPHY

• Britain
• China
• Denmark
• Egypt
• English Channel
• Europe
• Federal Republic of Germany
• Finland
• France
• Frankfurt
• Germany
• Holland
• Iran
• Middle East
• Scandinavia

February Apprentice Readings and Inspirements

1. Read: The Freedom Factor ch. 11-20

2. Read: The following parts of the U.S. Constitution:

• Preamble
• Article I
• Article II
• Article III

3. Read: John 15:1-27 OR Matthew 5:1-48 (please choose only one)

4. Watch:

5. Project:

Continue working on your chosen project for this month. Remember, this project should be something that is personally meaningful and inspiring to you. This is the application part of apprentice (applying principles to ourselves). Are you being challenged? Are you blessing someone else? Don't forget: we will be giving presentations on our projects. Keep working on it. This week, write your feelings about what you are learning from your project. Send me an email about your feelings or bring me a little paragraph to class.

For History Class, you have each been assigned to ONE branch of government (look for an email; I didn't want to post it on a public blog). Please do the following for the branch of government that you have been assigned:

Legislative:

Study: Study and prepare a presentation on the roles and responsibility of your branch (you will be responsible to share your presentation with others who did not study about your branch of government so please make sure you do a thorough presentation).

Hero Study: Study about a person who has served in your branch, either today or during the period of history we are studying this year. Learn about how they handled their responsibilities as a member of that branch.

Watch:

(This video has quizzes at the end. You can continue watching and take them if you want, but it's not required).

Create: Create a visual presentation on the branch of government you are assigned. This can be art work, build something, write a paper, bake something, prezi, skit, etc.(If you choose to do a prezi or skit you will need to record it and send it out before class. We will not have enough time during class for prezis or skits).

Think About: Complete a word study on "Government."  Think about the following: How do checks and balances keep our lives in order? How do checks and balances between the different branches of Government keep our government in order? What has happened in history when balance is overridden? What happens in our own lives when we get out of balance? How do we fix our own lives?How can we fix our branches of government when they are out of balance?

Executive:

Study: Study and prepare a presentation on the roles and responsibility of your branch (you will be responsible to share your presentation with others who did not study about your branch of government, so please make sure you do a thorough presentation).

Hero Study: Study about a person who has served in your branch, either today or during the period of history we are studying this year. Learn about how they handled their responsibilities as a member of that branch.

Watch: 

(This video has quizzes at the end. You can continue watching and take them if you want, but it's not required).

Create: A visual presentation on the branch of government you are assigned. This can be art work, build something, write a paper, bake something, prezi, skit, etc.(If you choose to do a prezi or skit you will need to record it and send it out before class. We will not have enough time during class for prezis or skits).

Think About: Complete a word study on "Government." Think about the following: How do checks and balances keep our lives in order? How do checks and balances between the different branches of Government keep our government in order? What has happened in history when balance is overridden? What happens in our own lives when we get out of balance? How do we fix our own lives? How can we fix our branches of government when they are out of balance?

Judicial:

Study: Study and prepare a presentation on the roles and responsibility of your branch (you will be responsible to share your presentation with others who did not study about your branch of government so please make sure you do a thorough presentation).

Hero Study: Study about a person who has served in your branch, either today or during the period of history we are studying this year. Learn about how they handled their responsibilities as a member of that branch.

Watch: 

(This video has quizzes at the end. You can continue watching and take them if you want, but it's not required).

Create: Create a visual presentation on the branch of government you are assigned. This can be art work, build something, write a paper, bake something, prezi, skit, etc.(If you choose to do a prezi or skit you will need to record it and send it out before class. We will not have enough time during class for prezis or skits).

Think About: Complete a word study on "Government." Think about the following... How do checks and balances keep our lives in order? How do checks and balances between the different branches of Government keep our government in order? What has happened in history when balance is overridden? What happens in our own lives when we get out of balance? How do we fix our own lives? How can we fix our branches of government when they are out of balance?

February Journeyman Readings and Inspirements

In February, we are studying some of the things that were occurring in other parts of the world during the American Revolution. 

1. Read: These chapters from The Struggle for Sea Power:

• Marie Antoinette
• The Fall of the Bastile
• The Flight to Varennes
• A Reign of Terror

2. Memorize: The location of the following countries and be able to put them on a map:

• Norway
  
  
• Sweden
• Finland
• Denmark
• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• France 
• Spain
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Greece
• Morocco
• Algeria
• Libya
• Tunisia
• Egypt
• Turkey
• Syria
• Iraq
• Iran
• Lebanon
• Israel
• Jordan
• Afghanistan
• Pakistan
• India
• Nepal
• China

3. Email the Class Preparation Sheet to Sis. Bird and Sis. Shupe by the Tuesday before class. I would like them by noon, but I would allow them until 8 p.m. If I do not receive an email from you, then you will not be joining us for class.

Inspirements:

Pick one of the following to turn in (REMEMBER: PREZIS AND SKITS ARE OKAY FOR APPRENTICE BUT NOT, I REPEAT NOT, ALLOWED FOR JOURNEYMAN OR MASTER):

• Read one of these chapters from The Struggle For Sea Power: James Bruce and the Nile, The Trial of Warren Hastings, or Napoleon Bonaparte. Also, do additional research to share with the class. You can write a paper, write a story, or do an in-person presentation in class (no prezis) to teach us about what you've learned. I would love to see you be creative and show us more about the culture of India or the geography of James Bruce's trip up the Nile, or whatever you find interesting in those chapters.
• Research more about one of the people you learned about and present what you learned to the class. Your presentation should also include something written to turn in. Some examples of people would be: Marie Antoinette, Lafayette, Robespierre, Mirabeau, or King Louis.
• Research the form of government that France was under before and after their Revolution. Go into detail about how each worked or didn't work for each class of the French people.
• Find more about the French Revolution and find a way to share what you've learned: a paper, chart, presentation (in person), etc.
• Research the Women's March on Versailles. Share what you found out with us.
• Research the guillotine. Share with us. I would expect some sort of visual with this one. Anyone who builds a model gets a treat!

February Master Readings and Inspirements

1. Finish: A Tale of Two Cities

Inspirements

Pick your choice of the following (you can write an essay or other type of paper, make a video, write a blog post, or come up with something on your own-no prezis or skits-if you clear it with Sister Shupe or Sister Bird).

• A Tale of Two Cities is full of contrasts-"it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" is one of the best known beginnings to a novel. Choose 2 or 3 things or people to compare and contrast. Some examples would be: compare the reasons and results of the American and French Revolution, or contrast the characters of Carton and Darnay or the women of the French Revolution and Lucie. Make sure to consider the principles which influenced the people or events.
• A Tale of Two Cities highlights transformation-of France; of people. Share your thoughts about a transformation you found in the book and how or why it affected you. Did reading this book transform you in any way? Share that with us.
• Dickens used a theme of resurrection and redemption in A Tale of Two Cities. What examples did you find of this theme? Do you agree that this was the theme? If not, what do you think it was? Show examples.
• Write a story of your own using one or more characters from the book. Don't forget to include historical facts and/or stories and make sure your character(s) illustrate a principle that you found in the book.
• Some of the characters faced imprisonment, either physically, as a result of addictions, from circumstances in their lives, etc. Share your thoughts and examples with the class. Consider whether you also are bound in some way as a result of habits or thoughts or something else. How can you work on changing them? Make a plan and follow through.

25 Cultural Literacy Terms

Here are the 25 cultural literacy terms this week for the game night at the end of the month. You don't have to memorize them word-for-word, and you can choose whether you want to memorize them for the game night at the end of the month. This is optional.

All of the following terms can be found in the section "American Geography"

1. Baltimore
2. Beacon Hill
3. Berkshires
4. Boston
5. Brooklyn
6. Cambridge
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. District of Columbia
10. Georgia
11. Hudson River
12. Long Island
13. Manhattan
14. Maryland
15. Massachusetts
16. Mid-Atlantic States
17. Mount Vernon
18. New Hampshire
19. New Jersey
20. New York
21. North Carolina
22. Pennsylvania
23. Philadelphia
24. Rhode Island
25. Virginia

January Apprentice Readings and Inspirements

This week you have two choices. The following are inspirements for everyone. Then you can make a choice between two options.

1. Watch: Be the Change

What does this video teach you about initiative? Write down your thoughts about the video and what you can do today to "Be the Change" and show initiative. How does initiative change people's hearts?

2. Think About:

Do a word study on initiative, industry, or idleness. How do we show initiative? How does the Lord feel about idleness? In what ways are you showing initiative in your life right now? How is initiative different than idleness? Think of some of your heroes from history--how have they shown initiative?

3. Read: The first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence and the following article: 

http://billboards.values.com/backstory-pdf/Leadership.pdf

4. Read: The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

5. Read:

Girls: Understood Betsy from Betsy Goes to School to If You Don't Like a Conversation In This Book Skip This Chapter

Boys: Johnny Tremain chapters 4-6

6. Project:

Continue working on your chosen project for this month. Remember, this project should be something that is personally meaningful and inspiring to you. This is the application part of apprentice (applying principles to ourselves). Are you being challenged? Are you blessing someone else? Don't forget: we will be giving presentations on our projects. Keep working on it. This week, write your feelings about what you are learning from your project. Send me an email about your feelings or bring me a little paragraph to class.

Here comes your choice.

Read and study this:

Read the rest of the Declaration of Independence. Write down as many principles as you can find. Write down any "rights of man" or "unalienable rights" that are outlined in the declaration. Choose one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (see the list here). Please sign up for the one you are choosing. Read more about the signer that you picked (who they were, what their life was like before and after the war, family life, values, contribution to our country, etc.)

Create:

Prepare to come to class for a debate on "the rights of man" or our "unalienable rights". Come prepared to argue as if you were the signer you have chosen. Here are some inspirements you might choose:

• Write a paper as if you were your signer
• Create a picture or collage of what your signer looked like
• Create a Prezi about your signer
• Make a list of things that your signer did or was passionate about
• (See Teaching Ideas for further ideas)

OR

Read and study this:

Read about one of the heroes of our country during the Revolutionary War. Here is a website that lists a short biography of some of the heroes during this time period (I have not read them all, so please use cautious judgement when choosing your hero). As you study this person, please come prepared to show how your hero showed initiative. 

Create:

Prepare an inspirement that will teach us what you learned from your readings and your thoughts about diligence. In can be visual, written, an activity, something you make or build, an object lesson, etc. See Teaching Ideas if you need further ideas.

January Journeyman Readings and Inspirements

Consider:

This month we are learning about how, and why, our great country was established. In 1620, a group of Puritans, led by William Bradford and William Brewster, went through great hardships to reach a land where they could worship God according to their beliefs. But, before they even set foot on dry land, they drew up the now famous Mayflower Compact, America's first great constitutional document. Its purpose was to create, in God's presence, a covenant among themselves and "frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices... as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony." 150 years later, the American colonists were again ready to go through great hardships for their beliefs and again put down their thoughts on paper- this time as the Declaration of Independence.

1. Read: The Struggle For Sea Power HERE (Scroll down to see the chapters)

This book is written from the British point of view (interesting, right?) 

7 Chapters:

• The Struggle for North America
• George Washington--Soldier and Patriot
• How Pitt Saved England
• The Fall of Quebec
• The Great Lord Hawke
• The Boston Tea Ships
• The Declaration of Independence

2. Read: How to Write an I-research paper HERE

3. Learn and Memorize: The location of the original 13 colonies

• Virginia
• New Hampshire
• Delaware
• New York
• Massachusetts
• Pennsylvania
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Maryland
• Connecticut
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island

4. Email: Class Preparation Sheet by Tuesday at noon

Choose one of the following to research (use more than just Wikipedia), be prepared to share what you learned (including the principle[s] you found) in the form of an essay, paper, story, speech, etc.

Note: For History/Geography, skits can be done in Apprentice, but not Journeyman/Master.

• The early and mid 1700's were good years for the kingdom of Great Britain. Research more about what was happening to increase the size and power of their nation. How and why do you think that such a small island country was able to be such a force at this time in world history?
• Learn more about the British Acts which so angered the colonists. What were they? The king of England thought it only right that the American colonists should help pay back what had been used to protect them from the French. Why did the colonists refuse to obey them? Hint: Remember to look for the principles that were being disregarded.
• Read, understand and memorize the Declaration of Independence. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, the concept of everyday people being able to govern themselves was almost unheard of. In the countries these colonists came from, government was something only available to the top level(s) of society and the peasants/lower class weren't considered capable of understanding, let alone governing. And yet, when Jefferson wrote our Declaration, he was proclaiming that not only is the average person capable of, but has the God-given right/responsibility to alter, abolish and institute government which protects their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. There was a time in our history when every educated person knew the Declaration by heart and what better way to protect our freedoms, than by understanding what our forefathers were willing to die to defend (you can decide for yourself if you want to include the grievances to the King).
• George Washington is considered to be the “father of our country”. I'm sure you already know quite a bit about him, but I'd like you to study his life and consider/answer one or more of these: How did Washington's life prepare him for the role he eventually played for our nation? Even though Washington lost many of his military battles during the Revolution, he eventually won the war. Tell me what you learned about him as a military leader- how did he plan his battles? Why did men follow him? As the first President of our country, George Washington set many precedents which are still followed today- what are they? Why did the things he did then affect us now? Washington was called “bullet-proof” - why? Research some of the miraculous things that happened to him, especially during his battles, and tell me about them and if/why you think he was protected and helped.
• There were many other great men and women who did their part to ensure that this new country would be free. Learn more about one of them and tell us about them, including what they did and why. Don't forget to look for principles in their lives and relate them to your own. Here is a very small list of people to consider, feel free to use someone else you feel drawn to learn about: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Abigail Adams, Molly Pitcher, Patrick Henry, James Madison, Betsy Ross or Thomas Paine.

January Master Readings and Inspirements

Read: 1776 by David McCullough

This is the same book that Leadership used :^)

(You may also want to start on next month's master book for History/Geography-A Tale of Two Cities)

Inspirement

For your inspirement, I am simply asking you to take your apprentice or journeyman inspirement further. Dig deeper into the reasons for the revolution, or the people who were involved or the events that took place. I would like to see you use your talents and research to create something that could influence someone else to see the magnitude of what happened in this time. Remember, this is Master Class! I will not accept a Prezi, a 2-minute skit, or anything equivalent to that. Use your brain!

Here are some ideas that you can use, or you can come up with your own:

• Create a blog or webpage, or add to your current one--put up some thoughtful posts about what you have learned and why those things are important.
• Write a short story (or a long one--your choice) that incorporates what you learned and that can teach someone else about its importance.
• Write an essay about a person or event and how it shaped the revolution.
• Create a graphic novel that could teach someone what you learned about this time period and why it is important.
• Create a video explaining your research or telling the story of the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, etc.