October Week 2: Geo-Conquest

WEEK 2: Geo-Conquest

Look at examples of Virtue and how it relates to personal freedom  in the lives of people in history & around the world--and then learn from them!

 

*Each week, you need to meet with your parents or a mentor and review the material for the week so you can individually tailor it to your studies: powerful and necessary :).

"Starting Point":
1. Review the scripture and poem for the month
2. Read Chapter "Standing Firm" in Be the Change.  Record your thoughts or favorite quotes as you read by sharing them with others or writing them down.
3. Find a family history story that has to do with virtue (or the lack thereof) and bring it to share.
4. Label these things on a map: China, Japan, India, Himalayas, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Indian Ocean, Arabian Peninsula, Irael, Phillipines, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Ural Mountains, Russia, Siberia (in Russia), Turkey, Caspian Sea. (You can cut and paste the below on a paper or cut and paste an image from here or draw your own...)

5. Festival: Prepare for our Lantern festival by being prepared with the following: 

• Bring a pint size or smaller mason jar, tape, and scissors.
• Write your own riddle and bring it with you.  If you need help on how to write a riddle, you can find many resources on the web.
• Bring an Asian dish to share.
• If you have stilts and/or drums bring them.  If you don't have them and want to make some that would work, too. 

5. World in a Minute: Find a news article in Asia (preferably) or anywhere in the world that has to do with someone being virtuous or not.

"Bunny Trails":
Select from the following or pick your own--

- celebrate Asia by enjoying some of the dances that they have!  If you are interested, please contact Angie or Abby and let us know which one you would like to do.  Here is the list:  Research and perform a version of the Yangge dance (I think this is for girls), build a long, long dragon for us all to participate in the dragon dance, research and teach us how to do the land boat dance or perform it yourself or with some of your friends in Vanguard, research the lion dance and make a costume and perform the lion dance for us (this will require 3 people--recruit your siblings in Vanguard or your other friends in Vanguard).

-memorize 30 or more places, mountains, rivers, etc on a map of Asia or draw your own detailed map of Asia

-find more stories from your family history and share them with your family, put them into a presentation, or write up summaries or graphic summaries of them...or find some other way to research more in-depth family history

-after reading the chapter in "Be the Change," do more research about the people mentioned, find related videos, quotes, and articles, and present your findings

-look at people in Asian modern times and history that exhibited virtue like Saladin and the man mentioned in this article: Tankman Hero of China's Tianamen Square.  Find someway to learn more and teach more about them: a report, powerpoint, speech, etc.  Come teach us!

-research more news articles and their backgrounds finding reports to help us understand or give evidence of the following quote:

"The most recent warnings of Church authorites regarding the now imperiled bond between rights and moral responsibility suggest the need for continued reflection on the relationship between freedom and virtue as we renew our efforts to secure the political conditions for the fullest exercise of moral agency." Just and Holy Principles, pg xiii

"Project Time"
Get ready to present what you have done this month for your project with us!  It can be either the more recent one(s) you haven't shared or a main one that you have been working on all month.

October Week 3: Eureka!

WEEK 3: Eureka! 

Seek and ask for explosions of light and truth  as we penetrate deception in order to help us maintain the Title of Liberty
 

*Each week, you need to meet with your parents or a mentor and review the material for the week so you can individually tailor it to your studies: powerful and necessary :).

"Starting Point": Do all the following--
-Read Ch. 4 in "Lead Like Jesus." Record or share your thoughts or favorite quotes.
-Read "Hansel and Gretel" and look for messages in that fairy tale.
-Read the following scripture and quote and think about what virtue and geology have to do with each other:

 Moses 6:63 And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

"In the development of modern-day temples, careful attention is given to the design, engineering, and use of building materials. Thorough testing of the soils and geology takes place on the site where a temple will be built. Studies of wind, rain, and changes in the weather for the area are considered so that the completed temple can withstand not only storms and climate common to an area, but the temple is designed and positioned to withstand the unexpected earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and other natural calamities that may occur. In many temples, concrete or steel piles are driven deep into the earth to anchor the temple foundation."

Like the designers and builders of our time, our loving and kind Father in Heaven and His Son have prepared plans, tools, and other resources for our use so that we can build and frame our lives to be sure and unshaken. The plan is the plan of salvation, the great plan of happiness. The plan lays out for us a clear picture and understanding of the beginning and the end and the essential steps, including ordinances, which are necessary for each of Father’s children to be able to return to His presence and dwell with Him forever."--"A Sure Foundation" Davies, 4/13

Questions to consider...

-The earth has different levels and each has to work together to make it a functional planet

-We can learn from the past by looking down through the layers 

-Each rock is different and has unique properties that contribute to it's strength and ability to perform.

-Read one of the following about Geology or find your own reliable resource approved by your parent or myself:

 "The Geology Book" by Dr. John D. Morris

 First 3 chapters in "Geology for Kids" at this link (please note the chapters 1-5 are listed at the bottom left of the site--just do the first three).  Each section within the chapter is very short.

"Bunny Trails":
Select from the following or pick your own to take your studies further.  You can explore a couple things in minor depth or one in more depth. Come prepared to teach us more about what you learned :)!

-Take the chapter from Lead Like Jesus, make connections, find quotes, articles and videos that go with it, and present it to us or as a family home evening or devotional in your home.  Report to your parent or us how it went.  You can also write a paper or do a powerpoint/prezi on your findings.


-Go to https://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=geology and/or https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/earth?lang=eng and look for connections between Geology and the gospel.  Record them and share them in some way of presentation or display.  (This will also help with Journeyman if you are going to journeyman the next day.)

-Do a word study on Foundation and compare it to your word study on "Virtue" from earlier this month.  What connections do you find?  Write about it or create a presentation of your connections in some other way.

-Read Moses 7:48

 48 And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the earth; and he heard a voice from the bowels thereof, saying: Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face?

Think about how the earth is living and what that means to you.   How would you care for it more carefully? Look into ways you can do that, research the effects of pollution, erosion, and waste control or take your research wherever you feel prompted. Come and teach us what you learned!

-Look at these scriptures about how the earth was divided:

• Let the waters be gathered together unto one place:Gen. 1:9;
• In the days of Peleg was the earth divided:Gen. 10:25;
• After the waters had receded, it became a choice land:Ether 13:2;
• The earth shall be like it was before it was divided:D&C 133:24;

Compare scriptural and secular accounts of how the world was formed and created and present or record your findings somehow.

-Read "The Core and Crust of Leadership" by Clark (2 pages) and make any connections you can between geology, virtue and leadership...powerful!!!  Bring and share your ah-has or thoughts, write them down, or share them with a parent.

-Make a collection of rocks and use this article (or one of your own sources) to test how they are different.


"Project Time"
Time to report back on the progress of your month long project, your weekly one, or your currently adapted one!  Look at your life: how can applying virtue in some way improve your studies, your relationships with others, family, or God?  How can virtue change your life?  Prayerfully find a way and apply it.  Inspire us by sharing with us what and how you are doing!

We will be going on a field trip for the last part, after lunch, so please be prepared for that!

October Week 4: Imaginative Arts

WEEK 4: Imaginative Arts 

The week when we get to CREATE and EXPRESS OURSELVES using the arts of the beautiful lens, making what we learned a part of our lives forever….

 

*Each week, you need to meet with your parents or a mentor and review the material for the week so you can individually tailor it to your studies: powerful and necessary :).

MONTHLY FOCUS:  

 A look at Virtue through the Imaginative Arts Lens

"Starting Point":
1. Come ready to pass off our poem and scripture for the month!

2. Read "Red Scarf Girl" or "Wild Swans" or "Mao's Last Dancer."  Try to record your thoughts or favorite quotes as you read by sharing them with others or writing them down.

3. This week, pay attention to the different types of music you and those around you listen to.  How does it make you feel?  Who tends to listen to what kinds of music?  Ask them why and how it makes them feel.  Come to class and share what you found!

4. Read Chapter 2 in "Aspire" and record your thoughts in your journal.

Some questions you could answer in your journal are: What is a pathfinder?  Do I agree with the statement "Life isn't practice?"  Why or why not?  Who are the leaders in my life?  Why should I go the extra mile? Instead of writing, you could draw a picture or take a picture of something that reminds you of this chapter and what it means to be a pathfinder. Bring to class  to share during our discussion.

"Bunny Trails":
Select from the following or pick your own--
-Relating to the "Aspire" chapter do one or more of the following:

• Identify and honor a pathfinder that you know whose behavior best reflects a true Pathfinder by selecting a person and then reaching out to this person to explain to them what a pathfinder is and why they personafiy this word.  You could do this in person, with a letter or email.
• Identify one interest or talent in your life and choose 1 thing you can do each day to develop that talent.  Write it down and try doing it for 7 days in a row.  Share with us how it went.
• Do you have someone who is showing you the way?  Write about this person, how you met them and how they have or are helping you.  Share in class.
• Look for clues each day that will help you on "your journey".  Record them in your journal and act  upon promptings you receive.
• Think of one project, job, or service that you are currently doing.  Identify how you can go the extra mile and do it.

-Draw a picture of Ji-Li Jiang (or one of the other main characters in another of the approved books) and incorporate oriental aspects and images that evoke the need for virtue.  Use a different medium of art that you haven't used before.  Listen to oriental music while you are doing it.  Pay attention to how it makes you feel.

-Do a Character T-chart of two characters in the book or a graphic summary about the book.  Find some videos, music or articles that help you understand the characters or the book better.

-Gather videos, songs, poems, art or stories and combine them into a FHE lesson or devotional for your family, seminary or Vanguard.  If you do not share it with us, tell us how it went and share some highlights.

-Just like body language and art communicates, music does as well.  Do a research project studying the effect of music on people or research other studies that have been done. (Maybe, with your research, you can help your parents find something good about the music you like, if they don't already like it :).)

-Consider the article by Oliver DeMille "Government Secrecy Kills Freedom" and compare the ideas in it to what you found in Red Scarf Girl in a paper, speech, or some other presentation.


"Project Time"
Get ready to present what you have done this month for your project with us!  It can be either the more recent one(s) you haven't shared yet or a main one that you have been working on all month.

Sept: Week 4--Imaginative Arts

WEEK 4: Imaginative Arts 

The week when we get to CREATE and EXPRESS OURSELVES using the arts of the beautiful lens, making what we learned a part of our lives forever….

 

*Each week, you need to meet with your parents or a mentor and review the material for the week so you can individually tailor it to your studies: powerful and necessary :).

MONTHLY FOCUS:  

 A look at Humility through the Imaginative Arts Lens

1. Review the poem and scripture for the month and consider what they can teach you about humility.  Come to class prepared to pass it off!

2. Now, read another poem, this one about the wonderful Native American people who were present when the settlers first came to the American continent. Read the two selections from “Hiawatha” by Longfellow here: https://archive.org/details/childrenslongfel00long pgs 130-142  Highlight or otherwise note your favorite passages.

3. Read “Alone Yet Not Alone.”  Did the family’s faith and humility give them power?  What messages did this book send to you?  Were they all true? Write down at least three “messages” you heard in this book and use your “penetrating deception” exercise to find out if they are messages of godly truth.

Then please do one or more of the following:

- Write down your favorite quotes to share about the book.  Put them in your quote box.

-Look at the journey, time period, or location of the characters in the book, study more about them, and come prepared to teach us about them in some way.

-Do a character T-chart comparing the two sister’s, or two of any of the characters in the book.

-Do a brain map mapping connections between this book, your life, and what you have studied this month.

Do not read their “discussion questions” unless you want to...  They are silly  :).

4.  Do one or both of the following:

-Listen to, sing, or play the hymn “I need thee every hour” and ponder on what it teaches you about humility and trusting the Savior. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSQ-3TD7g_g  Think about when we need the Savior and about how we can reach for Him. Listen to it again.

-Listen to the 5th symphony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE1hI : listen to it and notice when the song becomes prideful, when God chides it, when the song fights back and when it finally decides to submit and listen to what God has in store for it.

Think about how music has given you strength and reminds you to be humble.

TOOLS OF THE LENS

Using the Imaginative Arts to express ourselves and share our message

5.  What is “body language”?  Look it up or ask someone, and spend a few minutes looking in the mirror watching some of your own body language.  Ask a parent or trusted friend what they have noticed your body language saying to them.  Come prepared to participate in  "Performing Arts" activity to learn more!

6. Let’s look at the power of words and how they can transform us!

READ the Forward, Intro. and Chapter 1 of Aspire.

WRITE about one or more of the following:

• How can having humility help me live the principle of Genshai?
• Find a scripture/scripture story that teaches the principle of Genshai and write about it.
• Tell about a person from this months study that demonstrates Genshai or who doesn't demonstrate Genshai. How did living or not living this principle effect their life.
• Use the author's journaling on Genshai as inspiration and record in your journal your own unique thoughts and reflections on Genshai.

DO one of the following:

• Select someone whose behavior best reflects the principles of Genshai.  Write that persons name in your journal.  Reach out and teach that person the meaning of Genshai and explain why he or she personifies this word.  You could do this in person, letter or email.
• Teach the word and what it means to your family in home evening.  
• Think about your own life.  Do you practice Genshai?  How could you improve?  Could you be more kind to yourself, to others you know or meet?  Set a specific goal of how you will practice Genshai?  Record in your journal your goal and write down your successes.
• Tape the word to your mirror and remind yourself each morning of your greatness and the greatness of others.
• Write a poem that demonstrates Genshai or bring or draw a picture that shows Genshai

7. Come prepared to be messy as we explore the messages sent through lines and colors!  Check out the blog for a whole list of lines and their meaning.  Practice doing some before class if you’d like.

Finalize your month with a project!

8. PROJECT TIME!  Take what you have learned this week or any week throughout the month and figure out a way to communicate it through an artistic medium: acting, singing, drawing, sculpting, writing, poetry, etc.   (This can also be your Master Class project.)

If you have been working on a month-long project, now is the time to create something that describes your project, was a part of your project, or is your project and then come and share it with us.