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.

November Apprentice Readings and Inspirements

Study--Know

1. Before you start your studies, make sure you complete your SAR (Student Accountability Report) or use another planning tool to plan out your week's studies

2. Read: The Witch of Blackbird Pond

3. Word Study: Choose a word from The Witch of Blackbird Pond and do a word study on it

• The Witch of Blackbird Pond is full of great words like punctilious (ch. 2), chagrined (ch. 4) and propitious (ch. 13). Try to find an unusual word that no one else uses. Anyone who has a complete word study with a unique word (from the book and you are the only one who did a word study on that word) will be rewarded. Just a warning, though, you may have to use one of the synonyms listed for the word to be able to find something in scripture or a talk.

4. Memorize: This month's geography is North, Central and South America. Memorize the location and capital of all the countries on the American continents. Sister Bird will bring BIG treats for anyone who can get them ALL right. Depending on her mood, there may be treats for trying too :^)

• These videos may help:
• http://quietube6.com/v.php/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYSHaL2uGGE
• http://quietube6.com/v.php/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw1H8aIhKNk
• http://memorize.com/central-and-south-american-counties-and-capitals

5. Make sure you have your summary sheet to hand in

6. Read: A poem a day from American History in Verse to "The Eve of Bunker Hill"

Teach--Understand/Serve--Become

This month I have combined the understand and become sections. The become part is bolded. Many of the become parts are personal so if you aren't comfortable sharing that part, it's ok. But, please still share the first part of your inspirement with the class.

Choose ONE of the following:

• Imagine that you are Kit and want to tell a friend in Barbados about your new life. Write a letter that tells how you feel about being persecuted for being different. Have you ever felt like you were being picked on or persecuted for being different? How should we react to persecution? Jesus has told us to turn the other cheek- is that your first reaction, or is that something you need to work on? Write out your thoughts, scriptures you find and make a plan for what you will do when this happens to you (not if, because it happens to everyone).
• In the story, Kit makes friends with Hannah and Prudence, even though they are shunned by the rest of the community. Why are Hannah and Prudence treated they way that they are? Think about the people you know- who do you know who is treated badly because of prejudice/the way people perceive them? What can you do for that person? Do something to make that person feel appreciated this week. Write down what you did and how you felt about it.
• When Kit moved to Wethersfield, the people there had very different expectations for her. Think of a circumstance where expectations for you might change- as you grow older, move somewhere new, etc... How will you handle that? What changes would you be willing to make? What parts of your character, personality or beliefs are you unwilling to change? Write in your journal what you think the best things are about you. Now, write one thing you want to change and practice that change for a full day. Write about how you did.
• Read The Story of Liberty ch. 31- Strangers and Pilgrims. Why did the pilgrims travel first to Holland, then to the American colonies? What was their motivation? Make a list of all the things the pilgrims had to sacrifice in order to get what they wanted. What is your main motivation? What do you think you might have to sacrifice to get it? Think of something you could sacrifice this week in order to get you closer to a goal. Follow through with your sacrifice for at least one full day.

November Journeyman Readings and Inspirements

Study--Know

Do ALL of the following:

1. Research: The Jewish "Feast of Tabernacles"

• Be sure to also read in Lev. 23:34-44 and Neh. 8:14-18 (pay attention to vs. 18)

2. Read: Joshua chapters 1-8, 10-11, 22:1-6, 23-24

• This is the story of how the Israelites conquered Canaan and set up their own government under the reign of the judges. Please take notes so that we can discuss this in class.

3. Memorize: The Ten Commandments, and the two that Christ gave in the New Testament (Exodus 20 and Mark 12:30-31)

4. Go to the website: blackroberegiment.wallbuilders.com

• Watch the video "What is the Black Robe Regiment?"
• Watch the video at the bottom of the page "An Election Sermon"
• Read one of the Historical Sermons (not the contemporary)
• Read the article "What is the Black Robe Regiment?" (you will have to click "continue" for the full article). Complete a study guide (look for an email to be sent out).

5. Do: A Word Study on ONE of the following words (unless you are doing a word study for Apprentice or Master Class):

• Atonement
• Harvest
• Tabernacle
• Awakening
• Choose
• Serve

6. Write: After studying the story in Joshua, write your opinion of what our responsibilities and our leaders’ responsibilities are to follow God’s law. And what effect do you think that the Black Robe Regiment had on our founding?

• Please have ready to turn in during class.

Teach--Understand

Choose ONE of the following:

• Research the Jewish Calendar and compare it to the Gregorian Calendar(ours). What does the way of determining and naming months say about each culture? What is important to them? If you want to do extra research, look into the Muslim calendar. What is different about it? Why?
• Research the life of George Whitefield, Cotton Mather or any of the preachers from the time of the revolution. Along with any basic biographical info, look for the truth in what they taught and how they came to know it. What impact did their preaching have on the views of the people? Which of those truths have you, or can you, incorporated in your life?
• Learn about and present 3 of the Jewish holidays (some choices might be Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Rosh Hashana, Tisha B'Av or Chanuka). Include when, how and why they are celebrated by the Jewish people. Also, make sure to include what their symbolism means to you.
• Draw a picture or make a model of a “Sukkah” (tabernacle). Be sure to research what they are and why they are built, then try to use the symbolism you found in your research.

Serve--Become

Choose ONE of the following:

• If you memorized the 10 commandments + 2, teach them to a sibling, parent or friend.
• Record in your journal any profound thoughts you had while you studied Joshua or the Black Robe Regiment. How has it changed the way you think?
• Ponder why God gave the Jews these traditions. What traditions has God given to you to help you remember the truths you have been taught? Record in your journal.
• Choose a “Become” from the Apprentice or Master readings

October Apprentice Readings and Inspirements

Study--Know

Do ALL of the following:

1. Before you begin your studies, plan this week's studies and discuss it with your parents. Use something like a SAR (Student Accountability Report) and weekly parent mentor meeting (PMM)

2. Read: The Story of Liberty

• Chapter 17: The Man Who Split the Church in Twain
• Chapter 18: The Queen Who Burned Heretics
• Chapter 21: Progress of Liberty in England
• Chapter 23: The Queen of the Scots
• Chapter 25: How the "Beggars" Fought for their Rights

3. Record: Do ONE of the following for each chapter:

• Write 3-5 sentences about what you thought was important in the chapter OR
• Draw a graphic summary or picture about what you thought was important in the chapter OR 
• Add 2-3 people/events to your timeline and bring it to class to share with us

4. Memorize: The following geographical locations:

• Equator
• Prime Meridian
• International Date Line
• Pacific Ocean
• Atlantic Ocean
• Indian Ocean
• Arctic Ocean
• Southern Ocean

4a. Memorize: The locations and capitals of:

• Austrailia
• New Zealand
• Tahiti
• Cook Islands
• Tonga
• Somoa
• Fiji
• New Guinea

5. Bring to Class: A short current events story to share for "World in a Minute". Be prepared to show us where on the map your story takes place.

6. Read: A Poem a Day from American History in Verse. Read to the poem "Our Country"

Teach--Understand

Choose ONE of the following:

This month I want to see a presentation, but no prezis - I want to hear from you, not read it on a screen. Your presentation must include a written form (essay, poem, character sketch, short story...) to be turned in, but we'd also love to see you put your personality into the presentation with costume, pictures, music and/or food. Choose ONE of the following topics for your presentation:

• Any of the characters from your history readings, examples would be Henry 8th, Sir Thomas More, Mary Queen of Scots, the English Queen Mary, or Queen Elizabeth
• The siege of Leyden
• Shakespeare (he was writing during the time of Queen Elizabeth)
• The English martyrs (or the French martyrs if you want to read the chapters I didn't assign)

Serve--Become

Choose ONE of the following:

• During this time, there were more and more people willing to stand up for what they believed. Take some quiet time to think about what you are willing to stand up for and write in your journal how you will do that.
• While discussing martyrs with a student recently she brought up the following point- do we really have to die for our beliefs? If God knows our heart and how we really feel, can't we just say that we recant and then go on believing in secret? What do you think about that? Discuss this with your parents!
• Choose a “Become” from the Journeyman or Master readings

October Journeyman Readings and Inspirements

Study--Know

Do ALL of the following:

1. Research: Captain James Cook, and take notes on his life and travels

2. Timeline: Place Captain Cook (not Hook) on your timeline
3. Read: Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry and choose a favorite quote, thought, or question to share with the class
4. Memorize: Be able to locate these islands of the Pacific:
New Zealand, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tonga, Sandwich Islands
(Hawaii), Somoa, Fiji, Easter Island and any others you wish.
5. Word Study: From your reading; some ideas are: colonization, explore, force, fear, or desire

Teach--Understand

Choose ONE of the following (these are required to turn in):

• Choose your own inspirement (this must be turned in as a hand written copy, so no prezis this time)
• Research Captain Cook or another explorer; Leif Ericson, John Cabot, Amerigo Vespucci, Vasco de Balboa, Vasco De Gama, Juan Ponce de Leon, Francisco de Coronado, Hernado De Soto, Samuel de Champlain, Hernando Cortes. Write a report telling us about the explorer, where he went, why and what kind of man he was. Don't forget the why, it makes a difference. And..don't forget to put him on your timeline.
• Find out about the settlement, Roanoak, and make up a story about what you think happened to them. Get creative! Be prepared to hand in :)
• Create a map with the travels of all of the explorers. Be prepared to turn in your map and share at least one of them in class.
• If you were to discover a new world what would you like it to be like? How did you get there and what adventures did you have on your way? Share this in a graphic summary , poem, skit or story. If you are doing a skit it should be printed out and parts assigned before class, and please hand in a written copy. Have fun with this!!!
• Find out about one of the islands that James Cook went to or one in the Pacific Ocean and do a presentation on the culture of that island. Again- no prezis!

Serve--Become

Choose ONE of the following to apply what you have learned:

• Mafutu, in Call it Courage goes through the process of becoming a man. What are some of the things your culture uses to define this right of passage? What are some of the experiences and responsibilities this week that show you are more capable than you have been? Record in your journal.
• It takes courage to travel where no one has been before. Do something this week that takes you out of your comfort zone. Record in your journal.
• Choose a “Become” from the Apprentice or Master readings.