November Inspirements

MONTHLY PRINCIPLE: Work and Property

MONTHLY FOCUS: Resilience

MEMORIZATION CHALLENGE!

...This is not required to have memorized to go to journeyman...

Scripture:   "Seest thou a man diligent in his business?  He shall stand before kings." Proverbs 22:29

Poem: 

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;
Beginners are many, but enders are few.
Honor, power, place, and praise
Will come, in time, to the one who stays.

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;
Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;
For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile 

Will come life’s victories, after awhile.

CORE CLASS:

 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEENS

Read the chapter "Begin with the End in Mind"
  -do the following:
1. bring one favorite story or quote to share
2. write your personal mission statement or ponder on it if you already have one and see if it needs revision
3. read through the baby steps and think about them
(you can pick one to do, if you'd like, and bring it to share)

KNOW: Study all of these  
1. Read the following excerpts from "This Country of Ours" by H.E. Marshall about Christopher Columbus:
http://www.heritage-history.com/?c=read&author=marshall&book=country&story=darkness
http://www.heritage-history.com/?c=read&author=marshall&book=country&story=fared
http://www.heritage-history.com/?c=read&author=marshall&book=country&story=columbus

2. Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh0zT7oTUGQ

3. Read the section in the talk by Thomas S. Monson on "Great Expectations" titled "Persevere Toward Goals"

4. Read through the poem and scripture at least three times each.


UNDERSTAND: Choose one or more of the following inspirement to create understanding of resilience:
-Do a word study on "fortitude," a synonym with resilience that wasn't in the 1828 dictionary.  Compare it with the modern definition of "resilience":
re·sil·ience

noun \ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s\

: the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

: the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc.

-Do some kind of presentation (a prezi, collage, skit, illustration, graphic summary, report, oral presentation) about the life of Christopher Columbus.  Please include something about the challenges he faced and how he dealt with them.
-Identify someone you know of that has showed "resilience" or "fortitude" in their lives that you know.  Interview them about their lives and ask for any words of wisdom they have about how to overcome difficulties.  Bring your findings to share!
-With your friends or siblings reinact the experience of Columbus on the ships in his first voyage.  Be Columbus (complete with hard tack, if you want...I know someone with a really great recipe ;)!  Come back and tell us how it felt to experience mutiny and uncertainty, as well as victory in the end.
-Make a map of the four voyages of Christopher Columbus like the one here.
-For you readers!  Read "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park and compare the main character in that book and Christopher Columbus.  Bring us any insights you have :)!

INTELLIGENCE:  Choose one or more of the following inspirements to create intelligence by doing something with what you learned :)!
-Look in your own life.  Where have you shown resilience or fortitude in the past?  Record it in your journal and share it if you would like to in class.
-Teach your family in Family Home Evening or as an activity what you learned about Columbus and resilience.  Challenge them to become more resilient in their own lives.
-Make a map of your own life so far, the "journeys" you have gone on, whether they be near or far. (For instance, your map could be of Utah and the many places you have visited there.) Take time to put stars on places where you have strong memories of experiences.  Bring it to class to share or share it with a family member.
-Think of something that you are struggling to do right now.  Either by yourself or someone you trust look at ways that you can be resilient and keep trying to accomplish it.  Set a goal and report it to your Running Partner, parent, or in your journal. 
-Go on your own journey--a bike ride, a hike, a run--and challenge yourself to stick with it!  Plan ahead for obstacles you might face (food, water, emergency kit) and then do it!  Come back and share in class how it went or share it with a parent or friend. 

JOURNEYMAN

FALLACIES

Read Chapter 2 and come prepared to teach us a fallacy that you liked.  We are going to act out one of the fallacies in class, so if you have any ideas for this, please bring them :)!

CIVILITY IN 60 SECONDS OR LESS

Pick a civility topic from "Choosing Civility" and come prepared to teach us about it in some way in 60 seconds or less (please call Sister Biesinger if you have any questions about this one!)

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JUSTICE?

KNOWLEDGE: Study the following to gain knowledge

1.Read Whatever Happened to Justice chapters 8 & 13. 

2. Read, listen to, or watch The Proper Role of Government by Ezra Taft Benson.  Here is a link to the full article, video or mp3 download.  Please read the full article, not the excerpts.  You will find the full article by clicking on the link on the right side of the screen. http://www.properroleofgovernment.com/ 

3.Read The Rights of The Colonists by Samual Adams at least through page 6. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/2009/20090211001ri/20090211001ri.pdf 

4. Read at least a few pages of Common Sense by Thomas Paine.  This will give you an idea of what “average” Americans read in the 17770’s.  For those doing the Master Class, I think you will be reading the whole thing later in the year. 

5. Read “Not Yours to Give”.  I will make a copy and give out  before class. 

UNDERSTAND: Choose at least one of the following or create your own inspirement to share with us in class.

• Choose 1 principle from the above reading. Teach us the principle (there are many different things you could teach us.  Choose one that is meaningful to you.) by doing a presentation, a skit, a poster, etc.
• Compare what Samuel Adams says about Natural Law and Natural Rights to what today’s politicians say about law and your rights.  Identify and Similarities or differences.
• Create something that shows a principle taught in the above reading—a work of art, a structure, a photograph—anything what will help you think about what you have learned and felt.  Share in class.
• Prepare and teach a  lesson to your family, grandparents, etc. about something you have learned.
• Think about how frequently today’s government disperses money to people that government determines are needful of public money.  Make a list of the ways you can think of. What do you think David Crocket (“Not Yours to Give”) would say if he were alive today?  What do you think about it?  How do you think we can and should help those who are in need?  What did Ezra Taft Benson say about this?

INTELLIGENCE: Choose at least one of the following or create your own inspirement.

• You have learned a lot about the proper role of government.  Brainstorm with your family or friends a list of ways that you can share with others what you have learned and how to be a good influence in your family, community and nation.  Choose one thing that you would like to do and set a goal to do it. Share with us your plan.  Let us know how it goes.
• Make a list of the moral laws that bring freedom to families, communities and nations.  Choose one law that you would like to work on and become better at living it.  Make a plan and let us know how it goes.
• Prayerfully make a list of people that you could share the gospel of Jesus Christ with.  Ask Heavenly Father to help you.  Our families, communities and nation will become better as individuals  and families learn about Gods plan for us.  He loves us and wants us to be free.  His commandments/laws help us to truly be free.
• Plan your own inspirement that will help you live and teach what you have learned.