October Apprentice

Study/Learn

1 - Read: “21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” Chapter 1: Character (10 min)

2 - Read: “The Young Traveler's Gift” Chapter 6: Having a decided heart (10 min)

3 – Read: Alma 57:27 (1 min)

4 – Do a word study on “firm” using the following definition: “Fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily moved; as a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent or supporter; a firm man, or a man of firm resolution.” (30 min)

5 – STUDY SKILL: Watch this video on “How to prepare to read a book”  (15 min)

6 - Read: “Laddie” Chapters 1-6.  (2 hours) Use this link to find background on the book and research the author, Gene Stratton-Porter.  (15 min)


Know/Understand

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TO DO:

• What does it mean to have a “mind that is firm” (Alma 57:27)?  Find similar scriptures and write down your own definition.  Is it the same as having a “decided heart”?  Find other examples of people in the scripture that had “firm minds” and us their stories to teach an FHE lesson to your family on why it is important to have a “firm mind” or a “decided heart”.  Be prepared to teach your lesson to us and share what you learned with the class.

• Read this news interview with Andy Andrews.   Using a notebook, write down all of the decisions you are asked to make in one day and what you decided and if it was an easy or hard decision.  Analyze the decisions you had to make.  Do you feel like you have a decided heart or not?  Are there some things that you could decide on that would make your decisions easier to make?  Journal for 15 minutes on these thoughts and come prepared to class ready to share your decisions and what you learned.

• Do you like to read?  If not, you probably don't like all of the assigned reading in Vanguard. :) Maybe you don't like to read because you don't see the point of it.  Watch the following videos (one 14 minutes, the other 7 minutes) about why reading is important and why reading classics is important.  Have you ever read a book that you liked, that changed or stayed with you somehow?  Think about why you liked that book so much .  Write a paragraph about that book and be prepared to share the book with us in class.  

Why Read?
                Why Read Classics?


Become/Serve
(If you are doing more than 1 level of class this week, just choose ONE Become/serve for the whole week.)

• Write down promptings you receive while doing your readings and inspirements. Act on one that serves someone else. Come to class ready to share.  

October Journeyman

“What is the answer to the dilemma that surrounds us?  The answer is to love our Founders, our country, our founding document, and the God that gave them to us.  We must teach that love to our children, pray for our leaders and plead for help.  The answer is to get involved.” - Pam Openshaw, author of “Promises of the Constitution”

Study/Learn

1 – Hero Study: Research and take notes on a person you admire from this time period (1850 to 1945). This could include someone from your family history, an inventor, musician, religious leader, author, government leader or someone else you admire and want to learn more about. Find information from a library book or other reputable source.  (Note: Wikipedia is not allowed. Copying and pasting is not allowed. This needs to be in your own words.) Here are some ideas of thing you could include in your notes: your hero’s life and experiences, how you think they filled the mission God sent them to live, how their hard work, education, talents, and even life challenges helped them become a better person and do something worthwhile, how you can see God's hand in his or her life, and what Christlike characteristics that person had that you admire. Be sure to take notes about your hero and hand in your notes. At the end of your notes, list the heroic qualities and principles you admire about your hero.

2 – Read: “Promises of the Constitution.”  p. 125-157.  Write one or more sentences at the end of each mini chapter that summarizes the main point.

3 – If you haven’t already, see if you can memorize the Preamble to the US Constitution. This “School House Rock” song makes it easy. The song left out one phrase.  Tell us what it is.



Know/Understand

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Watch these two videos (part 1 and part 2 are 15 minutes combined) that explain the Constitution. Take notes as you watch. Come prepared to share your notes with us.

                     Part 1
                     Part 2

• Do your own research to better understand the Constitution.  Write a paper to summarize what you learned.  Come prepared to read the paper to the class.  Or create a graphic summary, Power Point, poster or prezi of what you learned about the Constitution. 

• Search for and record ten different quotes or scriptures that you think relate to the Constitution. Find a creative way to display them and come ready to share them with the class. 

• Answer the following questions from Promises of the Constitution in your notebook and come prepared to share what you learned with the class. 

- What ways are people are supposed to be equal and ways they aren’t (p. 150-151).
- Draw a diagram of government’s horizontal powers and vertical powers (p. 148-149).
- Explain the what, why, and who of the Federalist Papers (p. 126-127).
- List the rights God has given us on (pages 142-143).


Become/Serve
(If you are doing more than 1 level of class this week, just choose ONE Become/serve for the whole week.)

• What heroic qualities did you most admire about the hero you studied? For 24 hours do your best to act out that quality. Record what you did. For example, if the heroic quality you admire is courage, write down ways you were courageous in your day, like “I had the courage to try a new dinner my mom made. I had courage to call and make an appointment for myself, to do my chores without being reminded, and to speak calmly to my sister when she was mad and I was tempted to yell. I was tempted to tell a lie but I had the courage to tell the truth.” 

October Master

Study/Learn

1 - Read the article “Decide to Decide”

2 - Read: “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli.  Mark passages that you like and would like to remember.

3 - Research the author, Jerry Spinelli.  (See “tools” on the blog).  How has your interpretation of the book changed by knowing about the author?  Did it change your understanding at all?  Be prepared to share what you learned with the class.

Know/Understand

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• In “Stargirl” we have many characters who who show having a decided heart and living true to themselves and many characters who do not.  Pick a character that is living a decided heart and one who is not and compare and contrast them.  Think about the following questions:  Is this person happy?  Would they be more or less happy if they we/weren't living a decided heart and being/not being true to themselves?  How would their life have been different if they did/didn't live a decided heart? Etc.  Journal about the differences in personality and what you have learned from analyzing these characters.  

• Who do you think is the happiest person in this novel?  Why?  Journal for 20 minutes on what makes that person happy and how you can find more happiness in your own life by emulating some of that person's characteristics.  

Become/Serve 
(If you are doing more than 1 level of class this week, just choose ONE Become/serve for the whole week.)

• In 1987, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Each of us has a choice between right and wrong. But with that choice there inevitably will follow consequences. Those who choose to violate the commandments of God put themselves at great spiritual and physical jeopardy. … Each of us, with discipline and effort, has the capacity to control our thoughts and our actions. This is part of the process of developing spiritual, physical, and emotional maturity”  Be very prayerful and make a list of at least 8 things you have decided to decide in your own life.  Share you list with your parents and commit to live by this set of standards that you have set for yourself.